Lagardère Travel Retail France has won both the travel essentials and duty-free tenders at France’s Marseille Provence Airport.
Lagardère has been operating at Marseille Provence Airport for more than 30 years and already runs several Relay stores, offering travel essentials, as well as Aelia duty-free stores.
The tender organised by Marseille Provence airport covered major contracts, with an eight-year term for travel essentials and duty-free activities and a ten-year term for the foodservice unit. The project is part of the overall overhaul of the airport's Terminal 1, including the centralisation of passenger flows to a single screening system for the restricted area. Marseille Provence, which celebrated its hundredth anniversary in 2022, is the second largest regional airport in France, with 9.1 million passengers in 2022.
Marseille Provence Airport is anchored in a region with a strong identity and a particularly dynamic tourism and economic development
In the new commercial area that is opening up at the exit of the large walk-through store, Lagardère Travel Retail France will offer a new multi-brand fashion universe, covering more than 140m2. The extra Schengen zone will feature a large core duty free area.
The area dedicated to travel essentials will cover more than 1,000m2 divided into four Relay stores, including a new boutique in the public area at the heart of the Terminal 1 traffic flow, also featuring a local offer through the "Grand Large" concept, bringing together souvenirs and fashion items.
In the domestic flights area, Lagardère Travel Retail France will develop the first walk-through Relay store.
In Terminal 2, the stores will be given a facelift, with a completely revamped duty-free area of over 400 m2. A 300m2 space dedicated to travel essentials will focus on a wide range of products in an optimised space, offering maximum efficiency to passengers in a hurry, the company said.
Vincent Romet, CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail France and regional COO, Middle East, said: “Marseille Provence Airport is anchored in a region with a strong identity and a particularly dynamic tourism and economic development; we have therefore designed a global commercial offer that provides the creativity and efficiency needed to support the ambition of Marseille Provence Airport.
“The new environment offered to passengers by the airport is exceptional and ambitious. We had to provide an innovative, highly authentic offer, through the local and artisanal brands that were carefully selected by the Lagardère Travel Retail France teams, who were keen to offer passengers at Marseille Provence an experience and services that surpass the best international standards.”
Lagardère Travel Retail France will also deploy its expertise in foodservice by opening a 500m2 restaurant, strategically located in a public area in the heart of the central building. This new living space will have a large surface area, including an indoor/outdoor terrace of nearly 200m2. With a focus on French-style bakery and pastry, this space will offer a range of local products and a view of the kitchens, enabling customers to discover how the products are made.
Image: Lagardère Travel Retail
