INTERNATIONAL. ES-KO, which specialises in providing duty free (PX) and food & beverage operations for NATO and UN personnel, is expanding its business around the world with a programme of openings and tender bids.
The Retail Business Unit is being led by former Aldeasa executive Pedro Badanelli, who joined the privately held company in March 2011.
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Former Aldeasa executive Pedro Badinelli is driving the ES-KO retail business |
The division hopes to generate turnover of over US$30 million this year, with growth of more than +38%.
ES-KO trades as “˜The Blue’ in PX retail and Azzurro in food & beverage.
Its PX duty free shop locations include Haiti (three stores); Monrovia (two); Darfour (four); Islamabad (one for diplomats and UN personnel); plus Kabul (two), Herat (four) and Camp Bastion (one) in Afghanistan.
The company has also bid on an Ivory Coast location and plans to open a downtown shop in Islamabad before December.
Working in “difficult places”, the company aims to provide western-standard outlets with a wide range of products, Badinelli said.
In recent times the company has bolstered its traditional duty free offering with a wide range of supermarket and convenience items.
ABOUT EK-KO
ES-KO is an internationally recognised logistical support provider of integrated services in remote and challenging locations worldwide.
Its four business units operate in both the public and private sectors, providing turnkey camp infrastructure, engineering design and support, supply of food and non-food products, catering and life support services, retail services (PX/Duty Free, bars and cafés), and all associated logistical services.
ES-KO’s Retail Business Unit provides international PX/Duty-Free facilities and management to multinational customers, including civilian and military contingents and international organizations, anywhere in the world.
ES-KO currently manages over 20 retailing (PX/duty free and supermarket) operations in Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and the Caribbean, supported by internet cafés, bars, cafeterias and coffee shops.
