ATÜ Duty Free
ATÜ Duty Free’s Antalya Airport move underlines expansion ambitions
ATÜ Duty Free this week announced the capture of the upcoming duty-free contract at Antalya Airport. We present details plus comment on the company’s wider expansion in 2024.
A pioneering force in the Turkish travel retail market since 1999, ATÜ Duty Free is marking its 25th year of operations by accelerating its expansion drive. This week the company – a subsidiary of the TAV Airports and Unifree Duty Free/Gebr. Heinemann joint venture – announced that it has been awarded the upcoming duty-free contract at Antalya Airport.
Antalya will become ATÜ Duty Free’s fifth airport operation in Türkiye. The incumbent retailer is Avolta-owned Dufry.
The travel retailer will manage a 12,000sq m shopping footprint, including core duty-free stores, ATÜ’s multi-brand concept Luxury Square, and its local concept brand Old Bazaar.
ATÜ Duty Free said it will bring its industry expertise, knowhow and qualified human resources to Antalya Airport, leveraging the experience gleaned from an operational network already spanning 21 airports and a cruise port across seven countries.
ATÜ Duty Free CEO Ersan Arcan said: “Thanks to the strong synergy we have established with Antalya Airport and all our partners with strong global experience, we aim to bring the best service to our operation at Antalya Airport by leveraging our industry’s most experienced expert team, our knowledge, and expertise.
ATÜ Duty Free CEO Ersan Arcan
“We are excited about the prospect of launching a travel retail operation at Antalya Airport that is tailored to the unique characteristics of the airport and the region, a destination that continues to grow each year with its historic sites, beaches, international sports events, conferences, and other activities, attracting both domestic and international tourists.
Impressions of the new duty free environment at Antalya Airport {Photos: ATÜ Duty Free}
“Antalya Airport is a strategic step for us, and we are eager to offer a world-class shopping experience here. By bringing the world’s leading brands to Antalya, we aim to play a key role in making the airport a hub for international travel retail.”
The addition of Antalya Airport to ATÜ Duty Free’s portfolio marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth strategy, as outlined in our September Magazine edition.
“Antalya Airport is a strategic step for us, and we are eager to offer a world-class shopping experience here”
–ATU Duty Free CEO Ersan Arcan
A further highlight this year was the opening of a retail operation at the new Almaty International Airport terminal, the main gateway to Kazakhstan.
That venture was a first for the retailer in Central Asia. In the initial phase, ATÜ Duty Free occupies around 1,200sq m of core category duty-free space plus a Luxury Square concept in departures, as well as 300sq m of arrivals shopping. Soon to come in departures are local concepts plus monobrand and multibrand boutiques.
Arcan told us in a recent interview: “In our duty free areas at Almaty Airport, we focused on creating modern, well-organised stores offering a range of products from luxury goods to local specialities, aimed at providing a pleasant shopping experience.
“Additionally, the new terminal brought several advantages, including expanded retail space, which allowed for more room for a diverse range of products and improved store layouts.
“Improved customer flow led to smoother passenger movement, potentially increasing foot traffic, as we offer passengers a unique shopping experience in our conveniently located stores after passport control.
“Furthermore, ATÜ Duty Free enhanced the shopping environment with updated facilities, ensuring that customers can easily access all products through effective category placements and clear directions. And we have opportunities for refreshed branding and advertising thanks to our global and local product suppliers.
“Regarding early performance, we aim to increase sales figures, receive positive customer feedback, improve our operational efficiency and achieve higher foot traffic in our duty-free stores.”
Assessing the wider network, Arcan singled out a series of upgrades to existing stores, with fresh designs and technology additions to boost operational efficiency.
Examples include the main Bodrum-Milas Airport departures duty free store, now featuring a walk-through concept, as well as Riga Airport stores that now operate with self-checkout.
“At nearly all our [stores] we increased our product offerings, including new luxury and local brands, to attract a broader customer base and cater to diverse traveller preferences,” says Arcan.
“These investments and openings are pivotal for ATÜ Duty Free’s growth, enabling the company to strengthen our presence in key markets, improve customer experience and stay competitive in the evolving duty-free retail landscape.”
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The Moodie Davitt eZine Issue 338 | 27 September 2024
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