SAUDI ARABIA. Lagardère Travel Retail has expanded its food & beverage presence at Madinah’s Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport with the opening of Marché and Sawa concepts.
The venues extend the travel retailer’s dining network in Saudi Arabia to 20 restaurants across Riyadh, Dammam and Madinah airports.
They also mark the latest development in Lagardère Travel Retail’s partnership with Madinah airport operator and landlord Tibah Airports.
The relationship began with the launch of duty-free operations in 2023 and has since expanded into travel essentials and, over the past year, food & beverage.
Marché makes Madinah debut
Lagardère Travel Retail has introduced its proprietary Marché international food hall concept to the airport’s international passenger area.
The 52-seat venue features a linear counter divided into four culinary sections covering Italian, Indian, Lebanese and coffee & grab-and-go.
The menu combines international dishes with regional favourites including hummus, shawarma, falafel, mana’eesh and shakshuka, complemented by local touches such as karak tea.
The Indian selection includes an extensive vegetarian offer.
The venue’s souk-inspired design features warm sandy tones and produce displays, reflecting the location while targeting Madinah Airport’s diverse international passenger base.
Food is prepared on site, with vegetarian and vegan choices forming an important part of the menu.
The operation also incorporates Lagardère Travel Retail’s PEPS (Planet, Ethics, People and Social) sustainability programme, including measures to reduce single-use plastics and increase recyclable alternatives.
Sawa extends regional network
Lagardère Travel Retail has also opened a 225sq m Sawa restaurant in the international arrivals area.
The menu centres on Lebanese and wider Middle Eastern cuisine, including mezze, mana’eesh, shawarma, grilled dishes, wraps and Lebanese rice dishes, alongside an extensive coffee and beverage selection.
The Madinah restaurant features Sawa’s colourful contemporary design, combining modern styling with references to regional culinary culture.
Importantly, the location has a wider operational function within Lagardère Travel Retail’s Madinah business. Its expanded kitchen acts as a central production facility supporting several of the company’s other F&B brands at the airport, including Marché, So! Coffee and Trib’s.
Lagardère Travel Retail said the approach allows it to support a diverse portfolio of concepts while improving operational efficiency across its airport estate.
Reaction
Lagardère Travel Retail COO France & Luxembourg and COO MEA & Asia Vincent Romet said, “Saudi Arabia is a vital market for Lagardère Travel Retail, and we are pleased to see our dining activities continue to take shape across Riyadh, Dammam and Madinah.
“These openings reflect the strength of our local teams and our ability to combine our international expertise with a strong understanding of each location.
“By adapting our concepts, offers and operating models to local environments, we aim to provide relevant and enjoyable experiences for travellers while continuing to support our partners and our operations in the Kingdom.”
Lagardère Travel Retail Saudi Arabia CEO Mélanie Guilldou added, “Marché and Sawa are representative of the approach we are taking in Saudi Arabia: developing a diverse dining portfolio while ensuring each concept is relevant to its environment and to the passengers we serve.
“We are particularly proud of the work of our local teams, who combine operational agility with a strong understanding of the market.
“These openings are another step in our ongoing work with our airport partners to enhance the passenger experience.”
Madinah is one of Saudi Arabia’s most important aviation gateways, serving millions of religious visitors as well as playing a growing role in the Kingdom’s tourism development and economic diversification ambitions. 
