Lagardère Travel Retail opens as master concessionaire at Karratha Airport

Published: 30/11/15

Source: ©The Moodie Report

By Dermot Davitt

The retailer was awarded the food service and travel essentials master concession, with the first stores opening in October

AUSTRALIA. Lagardère Travel Retail has opened its first stores as master concessionaire at Western Australia's Karratha Airport. The opening, in 470sq m of space, grows the company's footprint in the region and is part of a A$35 million development of the airport.

The travel retailer, which was awarded the food service and travel essentials master concession, has opened a Link Karratha store and a combined food service outlet featuring a café, bar and Eagle Boys Pizza outlet.

The Link Karratha store continues the rollout of the concept within Australian airports, and the dining operation is a strategic step for the travel retailer as it seeks to become an alternative player in food service within the region.

The Link store has been tailored specifically for Karratha Airport, said the company, and features an extensive technology and accessories offer, including casual surf wear, apparel, beauty and travel essentials. The range is designed to appeal to the growing Fly-in, Fly-out (FIFO) and Visiting Friends & Relatives (VFR) passenger mix. Link recreates the traditional books, news and convenience offer as a comprehensive travel essentials offer, it added.

The dining offer extends Lagardère Travel Retail Pacific network as it aims to become a key regional player in food service

Lagardère Travel Retail Pacific CEO Matthieu Mercier said: "We are thrilled to be operating these stores at Karratha Airport, Western Australia's second busiest airport and Australia's busiest airport for helicopter traffic.

"The award of the master concession is enormously rewarding, and we are delighted to have now successfully opened these stores within such a progressive regional airport. Considering the remoteness of the location, the process from tender to involvement with space allocation and build was seamless."

The combined café, bar and grill is the first of its kind in the region operated by Lagardère Travel Retail. Lagardère Travel Retail's expansion of its supply agreement with Eagle Boys Group has enabled a wider range of bar and snacking products to reach Karratha through the restaurant brand's national supply chain.

Karratha Airport General Manager Mitchell Cameron said: "The City of Karratha is delighted to have Lagardère Travel Ret ail as our concession partner at Karratha Airport. We wanted to provide a depth of offering that is not typical in regional ports; we engaged early with Lagardère Travel Retail working together to provide the travelling public with a seamless and wide range of products and food & beverage options. The stores have been a pivotal part of the redevelopment of Karratha Airport and in demonstrating what can be achieved with good planning and an open partnership."

The contemporary fit-out also brings a strong Sense of Place that reflects Karratha and the Pilbara region, said Lagardère Travel Retail.

The store design and branding aims to convey a Sense of Place

Source: Lagardère Travel Retail opens as master concessionaire at Karratha Airport