GERMANY. Leading travel retailer Gebr Heinemann and travel food specialist Casualfood have partnered to create a joint venture called ‘Smartseller’ that will integrate retail and grab-and-go in one concept.
It will target small and mid-sized airports in Europe with a pilot project set to begin at Münster Osnabrück Airport. Expansion and roll-out at other sites throughout Europe is scheduled for 2021.
The partners said: “The ‘Smartseller’ joint venture brings the core competencies of the two companies together with the aim of creating a novel shopping and consumer experience: integrating grab-and-go outlets and duty free and travel value products into a cohesive concept.”
Gebr Heinemann COO Raoul Spanger said: “The Smartseller concept combining our classic duty free sales outlets with first-class in-store culinary delights will add to the appeal of our sales outlets and boost business.”
As reported, Swiss food group Orior took a 35% stake in Casualfood in 2018, with plans to grow its shareholding in tranches over several years.
Orior Group CEO Daniel Lutz and directors of its subsidiary Casualfood Stefan Weber and Michael Weigel said that collaborating with Gebr Heinemann represented “a relevant step that will unleash new opportunities”.
The joint venture will operate as an independent company under the management of senior Heinemann executive Karl Niendorf, who until recently was Managing Director of Heinemann Italia. Gebr Heinemann and Casualfood each hold a 50% stake. Regulatory approval of the joint venture is still pending.
Casualfood develops and operates food concepts for airports, stations and motorways. It has a portfolio of catering and store concepts ranging from fast food to an Italo-American deli concept. The company reported a +11% year-on-year increase in net sales in 2018, to €57.3 million.
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The company also organises the annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards. FAB 2020 will be held in Istanbul on 23 and 24 June. Istanbul Airport will host the event, which will be a celebration not only of the best in international airport dining but also of Turkish cuisine and culture. FAB 2020 will be supported strongly by Tum & Ictur, the concessionaire managing 34,000sq m of food & beverage space at Istanbul Airport.
