Nice Airport
Blending ‘local heritage with international influence’ in Nice
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport senior management outline the thinking behind a recent leasing drive that will reinvigorate retail at the French Riviera gateway. By Dermot Davitt.
“What is clear is that customers are more demanding of retail than ever. They want the exceptional. What drives performance today is luxury, emotion, story-telling authenticity and the desire among customers to please themselves. Today people are treating themselves more than ever and this has pushed sales forward, especially impulse sales.”
That’s how Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur Director of the Commercial Business Unit Candice Cadreils described the pillars upon which commercial strategy and recent retail tenders were based at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport. She was speaking in Cannes as the airport company hosted its annual cocktail for partners during TFWA World Exhibition in early October.
Nice Airport launched a major tender for space in September 2023 – and a year later named the partners and brands for 28 outlets at the heart of its three commercial and business aviation terminals. The outlets will open gradually between 2025 and 2026.
The final choice will offer travellers unique experiences, tranquillity, wellbeing, local expertise and “luxury à la française”, the airport company said.
Candice Cadreils addresses guests in Cannes alongside airport CEO Franck Goldnadel {Photo: Yann Savalle}
Cadreils told partners in Cannes: “The world has changed a lot in ten years – tech and social media has accelerated everything. We listened to the market and left the floor to our partners to come up with new, innovative concepts.
“In the new spaces you’ll see luxury, you’ll see concepts that address families’ needs, plus we have trendy brands and a strong local flavour too.”
Spread over almost 4,500sq m, the 28 retail spaces put out to tender represent over 80% of all sales made in the airport’s terminals 1, 2 and General Aviation outlets.
“Nice Côte d’Azur is the link between the Riviera and the rest of the world,” said Cadreils as the new partnerships were announced.
“It’s a showcase for brands that express the richness of a local heritage with international influence, but also for the standard-bearers of French know-how.
“It takes account of the increasing diversity of our passengers, all of whom want to take with them some of the magic of the Côte d’Azur while enjoying a unique airport experience.”
CEO Franck Goldnadel says passenger traffic has reached new heights this year {Photo: Yann Savalle}
Lagardère Travel Retail maintains its concession for the duty-free zone, including the two main outlets, whose sales areas have been increased.
The retail footprint will include areas dedicated to local products and other French specialities. Lagardère Travel Retail will also run eight other sales units:
- Renowned luxury brands with, for the first time in a French airport outside Paris, two retail units for Chanel and Dior. The luxury duo will offer a range of products linked to beauty and wellbeing, a fast-growing segment;
- A high-end Longchamp boutique;
- Another focusing on exceptional French perfumes, named L’Artisan Parfumeur;
- An innovative concept highlighting the Côte d’Azur’s gastronomic expertise with Bottega della Riviera;
- Two multi-brand areas in terminals 1 and 2, with a range of clothing and fashion accessories;
- In an airport first, a sales area devoted to children of all ages, with Looping. The concept brings together two of the biggest brands on the children’s market, Disney and Pokémon, as well as the Marvel licence.
Franck Goldnadel pledges a bright future for partners at the airport {Photo: Yann Savalle}
Avolta took seven retail units in the tender:
- Two Fragonard boutiques, located in the two commercial aviation terminals, showcasing the expertise of the Côte d’Azur and its internationally renowned cultural heritage;
- Two luxury Hermès and Zegna boutiques, opening in response to strong demand for luxury products from France and Italy, with a range of textiles and leathergoods;
- A store featuring renowned French brands Lacoste and Longchamp;
- A luxury multi-brand unit, including a second-hand range, a new feature requested by the airport as part of its CSR policy;
- A Suncatcher boutique, a concept created by Avolta that brings together several major sunglasses brands.
“Spend per passenger has grown tremendously. It’s above 2019 and also ahead of 2023, sometimes by double digits.”
Alongside these two major retailers, Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur has also selected two brands to operate directly.
The Kooples is keeping its clothing, footwear and accessories space in T2. Millenium is making its debut at the airport, with three Obsentum shops in each of the commercial and business aviation terminals, offering exclusive niche (mainly French) fragrances in a luxury atmosphere.
The new contracts build on a strong existing business at Nice Airport.
The next two years will see exciting additions to the offer across terminals (Photo: Didier Bouko)
Cadreils said: “Spend per passenger has grown tremendously. It’s above 2019 and also ahead of 2023, sometimes by double digits.
“We have developed more traffic to North America and Middle East and we see the positive impact on retail.”
Commenting on performance at the Cannes event, airport CEO Franck Goldnadel said: “It has been a wonderful summer for business. We have set new traffic records and have now even more European and international traffic compared to 2019, thanks to our airport team, developed along with our airline and tourism partners.
Extending the offer in Terminal 2 (Photo: JF Roméro)
“We now await the extension of Terminal 2, and with the full support of our shareholders we are working towards this. We expect to open new facilities next year.”
Cadreils sounded a note of optimism about the future to guests as the Cannes event concluded: “We thank all the companies that took part in the tenders. They left us inspired about the future and about the joy we will together bring to travellers.”
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The Moodie Davitt eZine
Issue 339 | 22 October 2024
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