FRANCE. Lagardère Travel Retail France has inaugurated five retail stores and five food & beverage outlets airside at Toulouse Blagnac Airport.
The openings conclude a major transformation programme initiated by Toulouse Blagnac in 2017. The airport’s aim was to “combine Toulouse art de vivre with live tech”.
The retail units offer sportswear, fashion, accessories and gifts and Lagardère said it had put a strong emphasis on Sense of Place. The five Foodservice concepts cater to different passenger needs, from counter to self-service, on the go, or at the table, Lagardère said.
The 250sq m Relay-Stade Toulousain-Fnac ‘combi-store’ (pictured above) combines three concepts: travel essentials brand Relay, Fnac’s cultural products and high-tech accessories, and Stade Toulousain, the official store of the Toulouse rugby team which offers official and lifestyle polo shirts and merchandise. It is located in Hall D.
Relay-Trib’s, a 200sq m fast-casual concept (pictured above), offers “good, simple and fresh” products all day. There is also a dedicated 70sq m Relay unit, offering press & books, snacks & drinks, electronics and toiletries.
The 100sq m La Tête Dans Les Etoiles is a bespoke retail concept dedicated to air and space. It offers games, toys, gadgets and souvenirs, as well as model airplanes and aerospace themed merchandising. It also incorporates Looping, a concept targeting children that offers a selection of books, toys and confectionery.
The Fashion Place is a 180sq m multi-brand store dedicated to fashion and accessories, and features brands such as Lacoste, Hugo Boss, Superdry, Calvin Klein, Herschel, Kipling and Samsonite.
Le J’Go Store is described as a traditional outlet from the south of France, and showcases local products. It is located in 150sq m of space. A 400sq m J’Go Restaurant is scheduled to open airside in September 2019. It will feature a bar and seating in a bistro setting.
Eric Kayser is a premium French bakery concept featuring speciality breads and freshly prepared items, to be eaten on the premises or on the go. There is a 200sq m unit and a 120sq m self-service shop.
Prêt A Manger will open in January 2019 in 250sq m of space. The brand offers handmade freshly prepared food and organic coffee, made daily on the premises from natural ingredients.
Finally, a gourmet pop-up has been opened that will be changed each season. Yummy & Guiltfree will occupy the space in winter, while Zumo will take over in spring, offering smoothies. Ô Sorbet D’Amour will serve sorbets and ice cream in summer, while Maison Pariès is a traditional chocolate maker from the Basque country and will take over the space in autumn.
“Toulouse Blagnac is rooted in a region with a strong local identity and a dynamic international development,” said Lagardère Travel Retail Chief Operating Officer France & Luxembourg Vincent Romet. “Our global commercial offer brings the necessary creativity and effectiveness to support the airport’s commercial expansion. Our concepts are qualitative and innovative, to ensure our passengers live unforgettable experiences.”
Toulouse Blagnac Airport President of the Board Philippe Cebassa commented: “We chose Lagardère Travel Retail France because they offered a great balance between global brands (Prêt A Manger) and local brands (J’Go), and tailor-made offers that highlight the strong ties of Toulouse with aerospace.
“At the same time, the offer is modular, which will enable us to adapt to evolving passenger profiles. They are a partner we can trust to accompany our development and deliver the best service possible to our passengers.”
Lagardère Travel Retail Deputy General Manager, Travel Essentials & Foodservice Matthieu Mercier added: “From the start, we were completely aligned with Toulouse Blagnac’s vision to reinvent the passenger experience and to renovate the space associating tradition and innovation. We selected the most appealing brands that would offer world class experiences and services. The new environment is exceptional and ambitious.”
