ITALY. Gebr. Heinemann subsidiary Heinemann Italia has secured a contract extension at Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport following a selection process conducted by airport operator Aeroporti di Puglia.
The agreement includes a new walk-through duty-free store spanning more than 1,000sq m, scheduled to open on the terminal’s second floor in the second half of 2028.
The opening is subject to completion of renovation and modernisation work in the departures terminal’s airside passenger areas.
The extension comes as Heinemann Italia reported a +21.5% year-on-year increase in sales across its two Bari Airport shops for January-September, supported by rising passenger numbers and a growing proportion of foreign travellers.
The retailer currently operates a main store of around 600sq m and a gate shop of approximately 30sq m.
Both will continue trading until the new store opens, when the existing Level 1 main store will close. The gate shop will remain operational.
Gebr. Heinemann noted regional products will retain a central role in the new store, with the larger footprint allowing Heinemann Italia to broaden its presentation of other categories.
Gebr. Heinemann Director Sales Christoph Stump said: “For Gebr. Heinemann, Italy is an important market within our European business. Reliable partnerships and concepts tailored to each location are key to our long-term success.
“The contract extension in Bari underlines both our long-term commitment to Italy and our shared ambition with Aeroporti di Puglia to continuously enhance the travel experience at the airport.”
Heinemann Italia Managing Director Fulvio Fassone commented, “The results achieved confirm the strength of the collaboration between Gebr. Heinemann and Aeroporti di Puglia, which began in 2020.
“I am very pleased that the partnership between Heinemann Italia and Aeroporti di Puglia has been confirmed for the coming years.
“With the new duty-free space, we will be part of the comprehensive modernisation and expansion of the departures area at Bari Airport.”
Aeroporti di Puglia President Antonio Maria Vasile positioned the agreement within the operator’s wider strategy to support traffic growth through investment in infrastructure, services and retail.
He highlighted the importance of an international retail partner able to respond to an increasingly diverse passenger mix, while emphasising that the new store should reflect Puglia’s identity and local products as part of the airport’s modernisation. ✈
