BAHRAIN. Lagardère Travel Retail and Jashanmal National Company (JNC) have expanded their partnership to open two new Relay stores at Bahrain International Airport.
The stores are both located in the new passenger terminal building, one in an airside Level 2 Departures Hall space (160sq m) and the other on Level G in the Arrivals Hall (171.5sq m).
The product assortment in both stores includes newspapers, magazines and books, travel and tech accessories, toys, tobacco, snacks, soft drinks and stationery. In addition, the arrivals hall Relay store will soon introduce grab and go food and also sell fresh flowers.
The new openings are the fifth and sixth in a series of Relay stores operated under a franchise agreement between Lagardère Travel Retail and Dubai-headquartered JNC. The other four stores are all located at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Founded in 1919 by Rao Sahib Jashanmal in Basra, Iraq, JNC now has interests in over 150 stores in countries including Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. It also has a distribution and wholesale network to over 1,000 retailers across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and India.
Speaking to The Moodie Davitt Report, JNC General Manager ‑ Travel Division Christian Vinsot said that together with Lagardère Travel Retail, the partnership is currently seeking opportunities to expand its airport presence in other Middle East countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar.
Also speaking to The Moodie Davitt Report, Lagardère Travel Retail Chief Business Officer Lucio Rossetto said: “Lagardère Travel Retail is proud to partner with the Jashanmal Group, both on the opening of two new Relay stores in Bahrain International Airport and as a franchisee for the Relay brand in Abu Dhabi International Airport.
“The opening of the Bahrain stores during the COVID-19 pandemic is a testament to Jashanmal’s professionalism, and their capabilities and expertise in the Middle East. The Middle East region is a key area of growth and expansion for us, and we are looking forward to growing the presence of the Relay brand in this important region in partnership with Jashanmal.”
Lagardère Travel Retail now has a portfolio of more than 1,000 Relay stores globally, in just over 100 airports.
