Lagardère Travel Retail opens 18 Duty Free and Food & Beverage outlets in the new Terminal A of Abu Dhabi International Airport

Lagardère Travel Retail, through its joint venture Lagardère Capital with Abu Dhabi Capital Group, became one of the largest concessionnaires in the new Terminal A with the opening of 12 Duty Free and 6 Food and Beverage outlets at Abu Dhabi International Airport. One more retail unit and one more restaurant are due to open in mid-2024 when the US pre-clearance facility of the new Terminal will also open to the public. 

Lagardère Travel Retail’s operations cover over 5,200 square meters and the company serves as the master concessionaire for liquor, tobacco, confectionery, and fine foods, as well as perfume and cosmetics. It also is one of the major Food & Beverage operators outside the international departures lounge. 

In addition to having entirely redesigned and enhanced Abu Dhabi Duty Free stores, Lagardère Travel Retail also crafted four distinctive bespoke duty free concepts exclusively for Terminal A, underpinning an ongoing commitment to elevating the traveler experience. These bespoke concepts comprise of: 

• Le Gourmet, a flagship fine food store, immersing visitors in the rich culinary heritage of the region. It offers an exquisite selection of regionally sourced products and globally celebrated brands, reflecting the best of Arabian hospitality. 
• Le Club and Little Le Club are havens for enthusiasts of champagnes, wines, spirits, and tobaccos sourced from all corners of the globe.  
• Scent, a luxurious beauty emporium, offering a wide collection of fragrances and cosmetics sourced from renowned brands worldwide. 

Lagardère Travel Retail’s commitment to food and beverage is highlighted with this new offer which features a premium culinary concept crafted with celebrity chef Todd English, through quality grab-and-go options. The Todd English Pub & Market is an exceptional 1,000 square meters food hall, with 5 different counters including a licensed bar and one of the few airport woodfire pizza oven globally; The Majlis, a highly localized café boasts customized drink creations alongside popular classics; and The Meat District, offers a delectable range of New York-style hamburgers, hotdogs, fries and milkshakes. Lagardère Travel Retail have also introduced their own brands SO! Coffee and Culto Café, that are new to the region and which will provide passengers with excellent barista crafted coffee and quality grab-and-go offerings. 

Lagardère Travel Retail has prioritised all aspects of the traveler experience, ensuring that their Retail and Food & Beverage concepts meet the diverse needs of passengers. From conceptual development and store designs to product selection, every detail has been carefully considered to cater to the international traveler, ensuring that a comprehensive range from everyday essentials to luxurious and premium products is available. 

Experiential and immersive spaces have been created across the portfolio, which includes an impressive 11-meter high screen fascia’s at Le Gourmet and Le Club, tasting activation bars providing customers with the opportunity to taste before they buy, and for those looking for a rare or limited edition bottle, the opportunity to visit “The Collection”: a private tasting room showcasing some of the world’s most coveted bottles. Additionally, Lagardère Travel Retail has built two walk-in humidors where aficionados can explore a carefully curated selection of fine cigars. 

Lagardère Travel Retail’s dedication to sustainability is at the core of the new operations. Throughout the construction of the outlets in Terminal A, we ensured full compliance with Estidama, a framework that promotes sustainability in planning and construction. The commitment extends to every touchpoint from product sourcing through to service and waste management. All outlets provide sustainable guest supplies, which are 100% recycled and biodegradable from carrier bags through to rPET bottles and cutlery. 

Lagardère Travel Retail is dedicated to sourcing local products to reduce its carbon footprint and only serve cage-free eggs. A partnership with Bean & Beyond, a local organization that repurposes coffee waste to cultivate gourmet mushrooms, also contributes to a circular environment. Lagardère Travel Retail continually reviews, measures and evolves its sustainability efforts across all its businesses, and already has plans to further enhance its sustainability program in Abu Dhabi over the coming months. 

Vadim Motlik, CEO, Lagardère Travel Retail UAE, commented, "We are honoured to have been selected to partner with Abu Dhabi Airport on this remarkable project. With the launch of our 18 new retail and F&B outlets in Terminal A at Abu Dhabi International Airport, our objective wasn't simply to open stores, but to create a destination that enhances the passenger experience and establishes a new standard for excellence. Our goal was to develop concepts that seamlessly blend innovation, sustainability, and exceptional service to ultimately deliver unforgettable traveler experiences. We look forward to welcoming passengers and shaping the future of Travel Retail."