The Dufry Group has opened 2,540sq m of new retail space and its first New Generation Store in Latin America at Cancun International Airport’s new Terminal 4 in Mexico – following on from the 10-year contract renewal agreed with its Aeropuertos del Sureste (ASUR) landlord last year, comprising a total of 16 outlets accounting for nearly 6,300sq m of retail space.

 

The New Generation store – one of several being rolled out around Dufry’s global estate – comprises around 1,900sq m, including ‘extensive and innovative use of digital applications’ for better passenger communication to help drive sales. The store also joins two others that are already up and running in Melbourne, Australia, and Madrid Barajas Airport in Spain.

 

IN ADDITION TO DUFRY’S T2 AND T3 OFFERS

In total, Dufry has opened seven new stores in the new terminal, covering ’a full range of luxury products in both duty-free and duty-paid segments’ which it says compliments Dufry’s existing retail offers in both Terminal 2 and 3.

Describing this latest new generation outlet, Dufry said: “The highlight of the new shops is the New Generation Store of close to 1,900sq m which will allow Dufry to better interact with and to increase the number of passengers attracted to the store and to offer them a more personalized shopping experience through digital communication.

 

“Tablets and new digital screen equipment will allow the communication with customers to be more flexible and to adapt to different nationalities according to arrival and departure flights. This allows to better tailor messaging to the specific preferences of the changing passenger profiles and to increase the communication impact – with the ultimate goal to increase sales.

 

“The new shop concept presents a high degree of customisation as a way to connect customers with this digital atmosphere through integrated audio and advertising – for example, six brands will have the opportunity to broadcast their advertising throughout the store using the digital screens for 30 seconds each.

 

‘BEST SELECTION OF LUXURY PRODUCTS..’

“In Terminal 2, Dufry operates a retail area of almost 1,700sq m with six stores: three duty free with a total of 1,155sq m and three duty paid with 519sq m. In Terminal 3, with an area close to 2,080sq m, Dufry operates two duty free shops covering 2,031sq m, and a duty paid shop of 52sq m.

 

“The best selection of luxury products from various categories are offered to passengers, including wines and spirits, perfumes and cosmetics, as well as confectionery, tobacco, fashion and accessories. Luxury brands like Chanel, Victoria’s Secret, Michael Kors, Lacoste and Tommy Hilfiger complete the shopping experience in these terminals.”

 

Moving over to the international area in Terminal 4 – and in addition to the New Generation Store – the retailer is also operating a duty free ‘Last Minute’ outlet of 119sq m, plus a general duty free shop of 162sq m in the arrivals area.

 

  

The domestic terminal area also features a duty paid offer with ‘successful retail formats’, which the retailer says offers a high-quality shopping experience for domestic travellers.

 

Meanwhile, Dufry has opened four different shops on the departure side comprising a 157sq m perfumery boutique; a 26sq m ’Last Minute’ shop; a 42sq m MAC store; and a 126sq m Victoria’s Secret outlet.

 

‘A STRONG SENSE OF PLACE’

In addition, the Terminal 4 walk-through duty free shop has been designed to reflect ‘a strong sense of place’, incorporating ‘typical design elements’ from Mexican culture, such as wrestling ‘lucha libre’, locally designed tiles and, of course, tequila.

 

Dufry says there are also two main themed areas with the central premium-positioned ’Essence of Mexico’ offering a mix of local products, including tequila, mezcal, wines and other Mexican alcoholic drinks.

 

At the same time, the ‘Taste of Mexico’ outlet showcases local confectionery, including chocolates and natural vanilla. It also sells gourmet coffee, hot sauces such as habanero, jalapeño and chipotle, plus salt worms, biscuits and the Mexican speciality ‘dulce de leche’.

 

Commenting on this latest significant Dufry initiative, René Riedi, CEO of Dufry’s Division 4 said: “We are very pleased with Dufry’s partnership with ASUR and the inauguration of this new terminal at Cancun International Airport.

 

“As we are expanding our operation, customers will enjoy the world-class shopping experience of Dufry in the innovative environment of the New Generation Store.

 

CANCUN IS MEXICO’S SECOND-BIGGEST AIRPORT

“This is the first store of this concept launched in Latin America with Mexico being chosen due its importance as one of the most touristic destinations in the world and also due to the support received from our partner.

“Our team is ready and willing to provide innovative retail solutions and looking forward to develop more incredible stores at this airport.”

 

As reported before, Cancun International Airport is the country’s second busiest – after the capital city’s Benito Juarez International Airport – and as such handled more than 21m passengers (+9.3%) in 2016.

 

International passenger traffic at Cancun rose by +5.2% to 1,595,429 in October, while year-to-date January to October international traffic grew by +10.7% to 19,591,535. In addition, domestic passenger traffic grew +11.3% to 627,542 in October and by +15.2% to 6,467,448 in the YTD January-October period.