L-R: Kreshnik Bajraktari, General Director of the Port of Durrës; Catherine Suard, Ambassador of France to Albania; and Stanislav Beranek, CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail Albania, cut the ribbon of the new store.

Lagardère Travel Retail has opened a new duty -free store at the Port of Durrës, the largest seaport of Albania, operated by Lagardère Travel Retail Albania.

A joint venture between Lagardère Travel Retail and Kastrati Group, the new opening marks another milestone in Lagardère’s growing footprint across the Balkans, following the successful inauguration of the company’s operations at Tirana International Airport – one of the region’s fastest-growing travel hubs.

Building on the launch of duty-free activities there in January 2025, the expansion underscores Lagardère Travel Retail’s commitment to deepening its presence in Albania, a market rapidly emerging as a key tourism destination.

“The opening of our new duty-free store at the Port of Durrës represents an exciting new step for Lagardère Travel Retail in Albania,” commented Stanislav Beranek, CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail Albania. “Following our successful start at Tirana International Airport, we are proud to extend our partnership with Kastrati Group and to bring our retail expertise to one of the country’s most strategic travel gateways.

“We look forward to serving passengers at Durrës with a modern, welcoming shopping experience that reflects both international standards and local authenticity.”

Located in the transit area of the port just after the border crossing checkpoint, the new 100m² duty-free store offers travellers a comprehensive range of premium products including tobacco, alcohol, perfumes and cosmetics.

The opening of the new duty-free store follows the successful inauguration of Lagardère Travel Retail’s operations at Tirana International Airport.

The new store features a carefully-curated assortment of international brands designed to appeal to ferry passengers travelling between Albania and Italy, alongside a range of authentic Albanian specialties – from raki and local wines to confectionery and souvenirs – offering visitors a true taste of the country.

Serving close to one million passengers annually, the Port of Durrës stands as Albania’s busiest maritime hub and a vital gateway for both tourists and residents. Renowned for its picturesque coastline and growing visitor numbers, the Durrës region continues to strengthen its position as a leading destination on the Adriatic.

The store features both international brands and authentic Albanian specialties.

The new duty-free store is set to further elevate the travel experience, providing passengers with access to exclusive pricing and reinforcing Lagardère Travel Retail’s mission to enhance journeys across all transport environments.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Catherine Suard, Ambassador of France to Albania, and Kreshnik Bajraktari, General Director of the Port of Durrës, who joined Stanislav Beranek, CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail Albania, for the ribbon cutting.

The company also extended its thanks to Simon Harm, Administrator of A.F.T.O shpk (Albanian Ferry Terminal Operator), for his instrumental support in bringing the project to fruition.

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