Top Travel Retailers Report (continued)
WHSmith Travel
2021 Sales (million)
€477
2021 Rank
14
In 2021 (year to August) sales in the Travel division of the WHSmith group were £401 million (€477 million at 31 December exchange rates), down -27% on 2020. This is around half the figure of €965 million in 2019 (at exchange rates to the UK Pound at the time), with the business affected by a significant number of store closures through the pandemic, alongside government travel restrictions.
WHSmith Travel is a diversified global retailer with a strong presence in UK travel locations and an increasing portfolio through its North American businesses, Marshall Retail Group (MRG) for speciality retail and InMotion for technology retail in travel locations.
WHSmith recently opened its flagship Heathrow store spanning a range of categories from news & books to wellness. Below, InMotion continues its rollout from the US to other global markets.
Recovery in the business has been accelerating in recent months. In its latest trading update in July, WHSmith noted that group revenue in the 15 weeks to 11 June 2022 was ahead of 2019 levels for the first time (107%), with Travel at an encouraging 123% of 2019 numbers for the period. In two of the major markets, UK and North America, Travel division revenue was at 104% and 111% of 2019 levels respectively in the period.
The company maintains its strong faith in the growth of the global travel retail market with over 125 store contracts won and yet to open across the portfolio.
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The Moodie Davitt eZine Issue 313 | 28 July 2022
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