UAE. Lagardère Travel Retail, through its joint venture Lagardère Capital with Abu Dhabi Capital Group, has opened 18 outlets at the new Abu Dhabi International Airport Terminal A, which began business on 1 November. The portfolio includes 12 duty free and six F&B units. An additional retail unit and one more restaurant are due to open in mid-2024 when the US pre-clearance facility of the terminal will open to the public.
Lagardère Travel Retail’s operations cover over 5,200sq m and the company serves as the master concessionaire for liquor & tobacco, confectionery and fine foods, as well as perfume and cosmetics outside of the international departure lounge at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
In addition to having entirely redesigned and enhanced Abu Dhabi Duty Free stores, Lagardère Travel Retail also crafted four duty free concepts exclusively for Terminal A. These include:
- Le Gourmet, a flagship fine food store, immersing visitors in the rich culinary heritage of the region. It offers regionally sourced products and globally celebrated brands, reflecting the best of Arabian hospitality.
- Le Club and Little Le Club aim to attract enthusiasts of Champagnes, wines, spirits and tobaccos sourced from around the globe.
- Scent, a luxury beauty emporium, offering a wide collection of fragrances and cosmetics sourced from major brands worldwide.
Lagardère Travel Retail’s food & beverage offer features a premium culinary concept crafted with celebrity chef Todd English, through to grab-and-go options.
The Todd English Pub & Market is a 1,000sq m food hall, with five different counters including a licensed bar and one of the few airport woodfire pizza oven globally. The Majlis is a highly localised café with customised drink creations alongside popular classics. The Meat District offers New York-style hamburgers, hotdogs, fries and milkshakes.
Lagardère Travel Retail has also introduced its own brands SO! Coffee and Culto Café, each of which are new to the region.
Experiential and immersive spaces feature across the portfolio, which includes 11m-high screen fascias at Le Gourmet and Le Club, tasting activation bars providing customers with the opportunity to taste before they buy, and for those looking for a rare or limited-edition bottle, the opportunity to visit ‘The Collection’ – a private tasting room showcasing some rare and niche bottlings.
Additionally, Lagardère Travel Retail has built two walk-in humidors where aficionados can explore a curated selection of fine cigars.
Lagardère Travel Retail said its dedication to sustainability is at the core of the new operations. Throughout the construction of the outlets in Terminal A, the company ensured compliance with Estidama, a framework that promotes sustainability in planning and construction. The commitment extends from product sourcing through to service and waste management. All outlets provide sustainable guest supplies, which are 100% recycled and biodegradable from carrier bags through to rPET bottles and cutlery.
Lagardère Travel Retail is sourcing local products to reduce its carbon footprint and only serve cage-free eggs. A partnership with Bean & Beyond, a local organisation that repurposes coffee waste to cultivate gourmet mushrooms, also contributes to a circular environment.
Lagardère Travel Retail said that it continually reviews, measures and evolves its sustainability efforts across all its businesses, with plans to further enhance its sustainability programme in Abu Dhabi over the coming months.
Lagardère Travel Retail UAE CEO Vadim Motlik commented: “We are honoured to have been selected to partner with Abu Dhabi Airports on this remarkable project. With the launch of our 18 new retail and F&B outlets in Terminal A at Abu Dhabi International Airport, our objective wasn’t simply to open stores, but to create a destination that enhances the passenger experience and establishes a new standard for excellence.
“Our goal was to develop concepts that seamlessly blend innovation, sustainability, and exceptional service to ultimately deliver unforgettable traveller experiences. We look forward to welcoming passengers and shaping the future of travel retail.”
Abu Dhabi Airports Chief Commercial Officer Maureen Bannerman said: “We are pleased to welcome Lagardère Travel Retail to Terminal A, the state-of-the-art new terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport. With 163 food & beverage and retail options, Terminal A will enhance the passenger experience and help redefine travel retail excellence. We look forward to working with Lagardère Travel Retail as we shape a new era of aviation in Abu Dhabi.” ✈
