UK. Lagardère Travel Retail unveiled a refurbished and expanded Aelia Duty Free flagship at London City Airport on 2 November. As reported, The Moodie Davitt Report was in attendance.
Later this month, the grand opening will be supported by a series of events and activations for travellers to enjoy – from tastings to interactive installations and personalised consultations.
The store and product offerings have been developed to convey the retailer’s commitment to creating sustainable shopping experiences that embody a true Sense of Place.
Aelia Duty Free offers an immersive shopping environment that combines interactive features, cutting-edge technology and ergonomic design.
The store weaves together the stories of its local brands. The range of products, from artisanal crafts to gourmet delights, promotes popular brands and producers from the east London community.
In addition to a variety of local and sustainable brands, the flagship features products from Cooper King Distillery, which is UK’s premier gin distillery and the first to achieve carbon negativity; Two Drifters Distillery, a family-owned establishment committed to carbon negativity with each rum bottle purchased; and Penrhos Spirits, which is known for its 100% recyclable aluminium bottles that are lightweight, sturdy and eco-friendly.
Earl of East, a lifestyle brand and store that celebrates the ‘art of ritual over routine’, is also spotlighted in the store. The brand crafts home fragrance and bathing products using natural ingredients. Its curation of candles, home mists, bath salts and selfcare products is now available to travellers at London City Airport.
From the Scottish family-owned spirits company Ian Macleod Distillers, the store features a range of spirits including the travel retail-exclusive Vintage Single Malt Whisky Series from Rosebank Distillery in the Lowlands; Highland Single Malt whiskies from Glengoyne, one of Scotland’s greenest distilleries; and Edinburgh Gin, pioneers of naturally-flavoured gin.
Ian Macleod Distillers Global Travel Retail Director William Ovens said: “We are delighted to be developing our partnership with Lagardère Travel Retail. We congratulate the team on the opening of this new flagship store and wish them huge success.”
Another standout brand at the store is Whittard of Chelsea. Whittard’s story began in 1886 in an attempt to offer the people of London fine teas, coffee and hot chocolate. The brand’s curiosity for distinctive blends and flavours continues to be its driving force. London City passengers can now take along Whittard gift packs and seasonal products.
The store also features a whisky wall adorned with an array of Diageo’s premium range. ‘What’s Your Whisky?’ is part of the Exploration component within the Diageo Global Travel strategic approach. It simplifies the whisky-buying experience and empowers shoppers with the knowledge they need to make informed choices.
Customers can explore a diverse spectrum of whisky tastes and notes. Lagardère Travel Retail is among the first to embrace this innovation, signifying its forward-thinking approach and commitment to enhancing the shopping experience.
Diageo Global Travel General Manager Nick Cook said: “At Diageo we set a bold ambition to double the size of the alcohol category by 2030 through a four-part category strategy. The ‘What’s Your Whisky?’ tool is the Exploration part of that strategy.
“Lagadère was one of the first to adopt it, and at scale. We are delighted to be partnering with them for their exciting new store.”
In the beauty category, the store features products from Dr Barbara Sturm. Dr Barbara Sturm is a renowned German doctor, aesthetics expert and anti-inflammatory pioneer with a background in orthopedic research. Her products utilise research into anti-inflammatory medicine.
The brand’s range of Molecular Cosmetics skincare, haircare and supplements is built on 25 years’ of scientific research, with more than 300 products gaining global recognition.
Lagardère Travel Retail UK & Ireland Managing Director Marion Engelhard said of the opening: “We are excited to unveil our flagship store, which embodies our strong concept and unique selling proposition. Our goal is to create a shopping experience that transcends traditional retail by offering customers a space where they can enjoy the best of international brands as well as authentic brands from the east London culture and community.
“We are also proud to be at the forefront of sustainability, as we believe that more responsible business practices are critical to our industry’s long-term success.”
London City Airport Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Hodges added: “We are delighted to launch our Aelia Duty Free store which champions ‘Brand London’ by offering customers a range of fantastic products from across the capital.
“Today’s opening is one of many exciting upgrades that we are making to our departure lounge which significantly improves our customers’ experience, and we look forward to completing the overall project early next year.”
Aligned with their corporate social responsibility roadmap, Lagardère Travel Retail UK & Ireland teams have designed a concept to encourage eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient lighting and innovative waste management systems – aiming to minimise its environmental footprint.
Lagardère Travel Retail has pledged to achieve its contribution to global carbon neutrality, across scopes 1 & 2 emissions, before the end of 2023. By prioritising environmentally friendly practices, the company aims to support customers who seek to make more responsible purchasing choices and look forward to contributing to a greener travel retail environment. ✈
All photographs by Andrew Baker
