CHILE. Lagardère Travel Retail, in partnership with Chilean company Global Group Corporation (GGCorp) has opened five food & beverage outlets at Santiago de Chile Arturo Merino Benítez Airport. As reported, a new international terminal opened on Monday. These are Lagardère Travel Retail’s first F&B operations in South America.
The newly opened food concepts include popular Chilean brands La Maestranza, La Picá, Uncle Fletch, Lulupok and Yogen Früz. Three more will open soon, depending on traffic recovery: Krossbar, a beer and pizza concept, Kaki (Asian woks) and Beercode (beer concept). In total, Lagardère Travel Retail will run 20 restaurants at the airport, with 12 more to open before 2023., when the remodelling of the existing terminal is completed.
In line with Lagardère Travel Retail’s CSR commitments, the concepts have been developed to minimise environmental impact.
The company said in a statement: “From the sourcing of local food products and raw materials up to energy and waste management, we have enforced the highest standards of sustainable practices. We are also working to reduce our dependence on imports and have consequently developed strong partnerships with Chilean companies to support their local development and better promote local know-hows and expertise.
Practices to support the sustainability of its local operations include:
- Purchasing vegetables from the first vertical culture of Chile, free of pesticides and preservatives, and from one of the first circular economy-based vegetable producer
- Exclusively sourcing eggs from cage-free hens
- Working with several start-ups and small local suppliers who produce raw materials with renewable energy, or which support the circular economy
- Using compostable or recyclable packaging
- Gluten-free and vegan offer
- Recycling used frying oil
- Working with the commercial team of Arturo Benito Menitez Airport to develop sustainable solution for waste.
“We are very proud of these openings which took place in a very challenging environment and are thankful to our local partners who have worked hand in hand with us,” commented Juan Pablo Gana, General Manager of Lagardère Travel Retail Foodservices Chile.
He added: “This helped us to realise how important it is to be able to rely on local providers when imports are so uncertain.”
Lagardère Travel Retail said it will create over 380 new jobs locally by 2023 to play a part in the country’s post-pandemic recovery.
