USA. WHSmith North America has revealed new details of its tender win at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The tender will see the opening of eight new stores in New Terminal One, scheduled to open in 2026.
The expansion will mark the debut of the first WHSmith branded store at JFK, complementing the company’s two existing stores in Terminal 5. The openings will include a mix of WHSmith-branded and bespoke retail concepts featuring products from local New York businesses.
Among the concepts set to debut are two WHSmith own-brand formats – WHSmith Travel Essentials and Skybound by WHSmith – alongside locally inspired formats such as The Queens Borough Market and The Canopy.
Other New York City brands will include Made in Queens, Magnolia Bakery, Jacques Torres Chocolates and Greyston Bakery. The concepts will feature locally made goods from New York City’s boroughs including granola from Queens-based Baked by Noon, art from Johnnerdraws, cookies from Brooklyn Bites, coffees and syrups from Transcenden Coffee, handmade soaps from Treestar, drinks from Red Jacket Juices and infusions from Salut, brittle from Brittle & Beyond and caramels from Cobblestone Candies.
In addition, WHSmith is partnering with three Airport Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) organisations: C&E Global Solutions, On-Site Retailers and Love from USA JFK to add local relevance to its retail programme at New Terminal One.
As reported, three graduating companies from the Port Authority’s Institute of Concessions (IOC) are joining WHSmith North America in the team of joint-venture partners to deliver the travel essentials experience at the terminal.
The New York-based firms – Beautiful Amore Skincare, Rincon Salvedoreno and Brooklyn Blend – will contribute products and investment through an incubator programme.
WHSmith CEO Carl Cowling said: “Our win in the iconic JFK demonstrates growing demand for our world-class travel essentials offer and why North America is our most exciting opportunity for growth. This is significant for WHSmith North America and our partners, and we are delighted that our leading travel essentials proposition has been selected for the highly anticipated New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
“The team are always working hard to enhance and improve our offer and strengthen our partnerships with local suppliers, and this award is testament to their efforts. We look forward to bringing a distinctly New York experience to our stores as passengers travel through the new terminal.”
WHSmith North America has been significantly expanding its presence across major American East Coast airports following a series of tender wins.
In addition to a pipeline of openings, the retailer now operates over 50 stores across key airports in the East Coast including Newark Liberty and LaGuardia in New York and Ronald Reagan and Dulles International in Washington. Globally, WHSmith operates over 1200 stores across 32 countries, including more than 300 across North America. ✈
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