Dufry AG Chairman, Juan Carlos Torres Carretero.

Today, Dufry inaugurated three refurbished Hellenic Duty Free shops – with a combined footprint of 1,466sq m – at Rhodes International Airport ‘Diagoras’, in the presence of representatives from the political and business communities.

The company’s new commercial space has grown by 38% in total and is split between the ‘Intra’ and ‘Extra Schengen’ areas of the airport.

The walkthrough self-service shop has a footprint of 1,074sq m and offers perfume, cosmetics as well as a wide range of spirits, confectionery, traditional Greek products, tobacco and electronics, travel accessories and souvenirs as well as ‘natural, Greek cosmetic products’.

In a central area of the shop, the bespokely designed ‘Hellenic gourmet’ section offers traditional dairy food and spirits from Rhodes and the rest of Greece.

LUXURY BRANDS APLENTY

With a footprint of 146sq m, the luxury store offers branded fashion items (watches, accessories, sunglasses, etc), including products from Emporio Armani, Hugo Boss, Prada, Guess, Swarovski, Folli Follie and Swatch.

Dufry and Hellenic Duty Free executives and board members: L-to-R: Christos Copelouzos; Dimitirs Copelouzos; George Velentzas; Juan Carlos Torres Carretero; George Dilos and Pedro Castro.

Finally, with a total surface area of 246sq m, the ‘Last Minute’ shop offers a smaller collection of bestselling products such as perfumes and cosmetics, tobacco, Greek products, souvenirs etc and has been designed with ‘last-minute shoppers’ in mind.

The construction to refurbish and set up the new shops was reportedly completed in a ‘short period of time’, says Dufry, with the ‘excellent cooperation of Fraport Greece’, within the framework of their refurbishment project for 14 Greek regional airports.

Top and above: Dufry AG Chairman, Juan Carlos Torres Carretero.

Dufry AG Chairman, Juan Carlos Torres Carretero said: “Our relationship with Greece started five years ago and every year our sales and profits have increased. We are committed to improve the customer experience in all Greek airports.

“I am confident that passengers will appreciate the effort made and we will meet their highest expectations. Airports are the gates to the country and the first and last impression on your trip. Our cooperation with Fraport Greece aims at improving the experience and providing a comfortable and enjoyable environment for all travellers”.

‘BEST EXPRESSION OF EUROPEAN GREECE’

Pedro Castro, Dufry CEO Southern Europe & Africa stated: “It is a pleasure to come back to wonderful Rhodes and see the improvement of our commercial offer with the new shops inaugurated today.

“We have taken another step forward in our partnership with Fraport Greece, investing in developing a world class retail offer. Hellenic Duty Free Shops, as part of the Dufry group, with their enthusiastic and devoted team always deliver a ‘best in class’ experience to the customers.”

Yorgos Velentzas, CEO Hellenic Duty Free Shops S.A, said: “I am very happy to be here today to launch the new stores of our company, whose image is completely different from what you have experienced in the past. Following the renovation and refurbishment plan of Fraport Greece, our company proceeded to the first phase of the complete reorganization of spaces and passenger flow to the new terminal.

“This place is the best expression of European Greece. A place where tidiness, respect, smiles, elegance, courtesy and friendliness co-exist. These elements are inspiring everyone, even the most ‘difficult’ Greek to adapt to the environment and to feel wonderful. We believe that Hellenic Duty Free Shops also contribute in the creation of this unique environment.”

George Vilos – Executive Director of Commercial & Business Development concluded: “A year ago we started a strategic collaboration with Hellenic Duty Free Shops aiming for the creation and development of modern commercial spaces.

“Today, we are launching the new Hellenic Duty Free Shops at Rhodes Airport ‘Diagoras’ and this fills us with great pleasure to watch our vision being realized.

“Very soon, all 14 airports managed by Fraport Greece will have commercial areas designed according to international standards, worthy of the expectations of the passengers and the destinations served and offering an upgraded travel experience.”

Dufry and Hellenic Duty Free executives and board members: L-to-R: Pedro Castro; George Dilos; Juan Carlos Torres Carretero; Alberto Iglesias; George Velentzas; Dimitris Copelouzos and Christos Copelouzos.