GERMANY/DENMARK. Gebr. Heinemann today (1 June) took over management of the onboard shops on six ferries operated by Danish-German ferry company Scandlines along with the latter’s two port border stores in Puttgarden and Rostock, Germany.
Gebr. Heinemann manages the business through newly established subsidiaries Heinemann TRFB Danmark and Heinemann TRFB under a ten-year concession agreement.
The partners had initially announced the planned move in January. Until now, Gebr. Heinemann has operated under a supply agreement for both Scandlines’ retail channels.
Merle Abildgaard Wilkens, Managing Director of the two new companies, said, “Today is a special day for us: with the takeover of the onboard Travel Shops and the two Border Shops, we are taking the next step together.
“Our goal is to elevate the shopping experience for our customers to a new level and contribute our expertise in international travel retail. We are particularly looking forward to working with the local teams.
“Many employees have transferred from Scandlines to us and bring valuable experience with them. Established services such as the webshop and pre-order will, of course, remain available to our customers in the two Border Shops.”
In her new role as Managing Director Wilkens brings extensive experience of key projects with Gebr. Heinemann in Düsseldorf and Amsterdam, plus she led the Hamburg Airport operation as Interim Managing Director.
“We see great potential in the expanded partnership with Gebr. Heinemann. With their international expertise in travel retail, we gain new opportunities to strengthen and develop our retail offering, making the ferry crossing and the Border Shop experience even more attractive for our passengers,” said Scandlines Senior Vice President Business Unit Retail Kenneth Bjerge Nielsen.
A statement added, “The partnership combines the strengths of both companies and creates the foundation for further developing the retail offering along the entire travel route – on board the ferries as well as on land.” 🛳️
