Avinor, the owner and operator of Norway’s Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL) is adding new shopping options to its retail offer from April 2017 including a significantly improved selection of sportswear, several fashion concepts from popular brands, a delicatessen and a pharmacy.

In all, 10 operators will be responsible for 21 shops by April 2017 when a $1.6bn terminal expansion project is due to be completed. The number of stores rises from the current 12 units, helping to improve the choice for the airport’s 24 million travellers and designed to increase retail sales, already the most important revenue stream for Avinor (see charts below and click to enlarge).

Gebr. Heinemann is the operator of the core duty free and travel retail stores at OSL, and Norway represents a significant slice of the retailer’s own revenue at €575m/$630m.

In 2014, Avinor saw its commercial income rise faster than any other stream. Of NOK10,671m/$1.23bn, more than half (50.3%) came from the commercial side, with duty free sales the key driver, contributing revenue of NOK2,526.1/$292m.

Of Avinor’s total 2014 Ebitda of NOK3,620m, OSL contributes the lion’s share at NOK2,885m indicating its central importance to the company’s performance.

LONG TENDERING PROCESS

Øyvind Hasaas, Managing Director of Oslo Lufthavn, says he is pleased with the outcome of a “long and thorough” tendering process: “We have emphasised broad and varied shopping to suit all target groups. Having a comprehensive approach has been important to us and we are proud of what we will offer when we open the doors in 2017. We are confident that our many thousands of travellers are going to be pleased.

Among the arrivals will be the fashion concept Æra from ARG (Airport Retail Group) which will have a total of five shops. Two of the shops are for women, two for men, while Æra Active is a sports unit selling well-known sports brands.

Travel Retail Norway [in which Heinemann is a partner] will open a second fashion shop in the new pier at OSL while Tanum will be the new bookstore from 1 January 2017 replacing current incumbent, Ark.

Thune Jewelry & Watches will offer these two categories while Ting will open an interiors and gift shop and Way Nor will run the souvenir shops. Apotek1 will open a pharmacy in the arrivals hall where Rolling Luggage will also sell the latest in travel goods.

Also coming is a delicatessen shop called Fish&Berries from SSP (Select Service Partner), where passengers can purchase Norwegian foods such as cheese, dairy products, jams, gravlax and cured meats.

Completing the line-up will be the electronics offer but the operator has yet to be announced. “The supplier of electronic products will not be decided until the first quarter of 2016, at the earliest,” says Avinor, which operates a total of 46 airports in Norway, OSL being the only hub.