Dufry has been awarded a new eight-and-a-half-year concession contract at Sofia International Airport in Bulgaria.
The retail specialist will operate 13 shops, 11 of which will be duty-free and two of which will be duty-paid. Sofia Airport selected Dufry following an international tender process.
Dufry will take over the operation of the 1,433m² of existing commercial space as of June 2022 and will develop a new 1,800m² walkthrough shop and a new 170m² Arrivals shop, both of which will be in Terminal 2. This new concession further consolidates Dufy’s footprint in Bulgaria by introducing an additional location on top of its existing operations at the Burgas and Varna airports.
Sofia Airport is the largest international airport in Bulgaria and handled over seven million passengers in 2019. A major redevelopment is underway, including the construction of a new terminal. The retail space in the existing Terminal 2 will be totally transformed with the construction of the 1,800 m² main walkthrough duty-free store and the new duty-paid Arrivals shop. The core product categories will be offered across the various commercial outlets and in the new walkthrough store customers will find internationally renowned brands, exclusive products and new launches. There will also be a strong focus on local products, which will be showcased within the store in a “Taste of Sofia” area.
Commenting on the new contract, Alberto Iglesias, Dufry chief operating officer, Mediterranean, Eastern Europe & Middle East, said, “Dufry is proud to have been awarded this important new concession in Bulgaria. We will use our extensive knowledge and expertise to take the airport’s shopping experience to an entirely new level. A key element of the new walkthrough store will be the integration of digital technologies.”
Jesus Caballero, Sofia Airport chief executive officer, added: “Our travellers deserve a better commercial experience on the airport premises and Dufry is going to deliver it.”
