Lagardère Travel Retail enters the Romanian Duty Free market with Duty Paid tender win at Bucharest International Airport
Lagardère Travel Retail, a global leader in Travel Retail, is pleased to announce the opening of its first Duty Paid stores in Romania, after winning the tender organized last year by the Bucharest National Airport Company (CNAB).
With the new openings at Henri Coanda International Airport, Lagardère Travel Retail expands its presence and portfolio in Romania, introducing the world successful Aelia Duty Free brand to Romanian travelers. The Aelia Duty Free concept offers an immersive, locally adapted shopping experience, personalized to passengers’ profiles, needs and preferences over an international network of about 150 stores. It incorporates digital solutions and omnichannel services such as "Click & Collect" (order your favorite products before arriving at the airport) or "Shop & Collect" (flexible system that allows buying products upon arrival at the airport and picking them up when returning).
The new retail mix positioned on 2000 sqm will also feature the globally recognized RELAY brand, offering essential products for travelers, along with “Discover” – a concept store for souvenirs promoting local authenticity. Additionally, a new concept, created especially for this airport, is aimed to be a surprise for the Romanian market, that will be unveiled live at the inauguration.
Marius Văcălău, CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail Romania, stated: “We are honored to have been selected to partner with CNAB. We will foster an ecosystem of Romanian entrepreneurs and brands, alongside the most desirable international brands to promote local culture and create a true ‘Sense of Place’ in our stores. Our presence at Bucharest airport will also support the efforts of Romanian institutions to upgrade services for travelers in the light of Romania’s entry into the Schengen region.”.
Lagardère Travel Retail is present in Romania since 1996, with stores in urban transit areas (airports, railway stations, hospitals, shopping malls, and business centers), and operates a network of 300 stores for the segments News & Convenience, Travel Essentials, Gifts & Souvenirs and Foodservice, under 6 main brands: Inmedio, Relay, 1Minute, HUB Convenience, So Coffee and Pizza La Mia Stazione.