TOP 10 OPERATORS 2018 3: LAGARDÈRE TRAVEL RETAIL
seasons, while others are more permanent. One example is the world’s first-
ever digital bartender, allowing brand ambassadors to introduce products and tasting experiences supplied through the multimedia. Meanwhile, an in-store VIP
lounge provides VIP members with personalised shopping advice and the opportunity to preview limited edition products. “We are above our objectives,”
Rasmussen updates TRBusiness. “I don’t have the year-on-year figures buy we are in line with budget. Fondeur adds: “We see the joint
venture with CDFG, conceptually, as a base to grow.” Asked if Lagardère Travel Retail
is entertaining future joint-venture arrangements in China, Rasmussen says there are discussions with local alliances to assess growth opportunities surrounding duty paid, but nothing is concrete.
Abu Dhabi wait goes on Elsewhere, the long-awaited opening of Abu Dhabi Airport’s new Midfield Terminal continues, having been originally due to open in September 2017. That date was pushed back to 2019 owing to a series of delays. “The latest message is it is
planned to open at the end of 2019,” Rasmussen relays to TRBusiness. “I think there is a real political
ambition to do that – I don’t think it will be delayed by more than a quarter or two. I’ve seen the site, walked the terminal – they will deliver it.” Abu Dhabi Airports Company
was not immediately available to update on a potential December 2019 date opening when approached by TRBusiness. Lagardère Capital – the joint
Looking for the un-blocked version?
since the beginning. “No major changes,” confirms
Rasmussen. “We will probably have to do some work due to reduced [pax] traffic, nothing fundamental.” Another important development
in the past seven months has been the tie-up with startup accelerator Lafayette Plug and Play, with the partnership engineered toward launching new initiatives to improve the overall shopping experience. With revenues from digital and
e-commerce accounting for an ever-increasing share of the travel retailer’s sales it would be foolish to ignore its impact; quite whether retailers should make digital the sole focus of their resource investment, however, is up for question. “What is important for us is to
have a consumer-led strategy, not digital per-se” comments Fondeur. “We are a consumer-led travel
retail company. Within this, digital is a key element and we fully integrate digital in our retail strategy.” Rasmussen says investment in
digital assists priorities such as training to educate staff on pillars of the business, including facilitating knowledge on brand storytelling or price comparing between airports and downtown. “It is really consumer-driven
and supports the sales staff,” he reiterates. “We don’t want to be [known as] e-retailers, we don’t think that’s our strategy and we don’t think that would fit into the business model in airports.” Rasmussen acknowledges digital and innovation as two separate –
Ambroise Fondeur, Chief Business Officer, Lagardère Travel Retail
and equally important enablers – but makes clear that innovation is not just about digital. Regarding the partnership with
Lafayette Plug and Play, Lagardère Travel Retail is working with them to deepen innovation. “We’ve created an innovation
team, which is small and I want to keep it small as we want that team to use our usual way of working: create networks and help with local projects and innovation.”
Vienna fashion contract It is the emergence of smaller, often regional, channel or category- specific teams that appear to be shaping investment strategies in the industry. In the same month as the Duty
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20th Anniversary Edition Official Partner
Zero inauguration, Lagardère Travel Retail/Global Duty Free announced two appointments to a new, separate fashion entity distinct from its core business activities. Nathalie Santonja was named
Executive Vice President Fashion and Bruno Gouisset as Executive Vice President Merchant Core Business. The move is intended to help
Lagardère Travel Retail fulfil its ambition of becoming a ‘leading privileged partner for airports’ and
“We see the joint venture with CDFG, conceptually, as a base to grow.”
venture between Abu Dhabi Capital Group and Lagardère Travel Retail – won a 10-year concession to operate liquor, tobacco, confectionery and fine food in 2014 [Aer Rianta International won the other concession for perfumes & cosmetics, skincare, sunglasses and jewellery – Ed]. Interestingly, the travel retailer
maintains that the delays to the opening will not alter its retail design blueprint, which has not changed
OCTOBER 2018
Subscribe to TRBusiness magazine to receive a digital copy of the TRBusiness Top 10 International Operators 2018.
Contact:
janice@trbusiness.com Renovations at Riyadh King Khaled Airport, Terminal’s 1 and 2 completed in July. TOP 10 OPERATORS 27
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