Dufry and Hudson will offer both domestic and international travellers premium, New York City-inspired shopping and dining experiences when the first of T6’s gates open to passengers in early 2026. Credit: Vantage/JMP.

Avolta companies Dufry and Hudson will preside over the duty free, travel convenience and speciality retail concessions at John F. Kennedy International Airport’s $4.2 billion Terminal 6, operator JFK Millennium Partners (JMP) has announced.

The Avolta companies emerged victorious following a two-stage competitive solicitations process for the right to open numerous shops over more than 28,000sq ft of space in the state-of-the-art terminal, which is set to open in early 2026.

As part of its duty free contract, Dufry will deliver an expansive duty free store drawing inspiration from New York City’s Union Square across more than 18,200sq ft of retail space divided into four shopping areas: The Liquor Libraries, The Green Market, The Pavillion and Theater of Dreams.

Meanwhile, Hudson is set to open nearly 10,000sq ft of travel convenience and speciality retail offering an array of sought-after essentials and local products to appeal to international travellers with four concepts: Chelsea Outpost, City Square Supply, Skyline Central and Astor & Lenox.

Joint venture partnerships with Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) partners will enable Dufry and Hudson to trade as JFK T6 Duty-Free Concessionaires JV and HG JFK T6 Retail JV, respectively.

Sammy Patel, Vice President Commercial, Vantage Airport Group.

Intl and local assortments

Terminal 6 is a public-private partnership between the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) and JMP, a consortium which includes Vantage Airport Group, selected to build and operate the new terminal.

As revealed by TRBusiness earlier this year, Vantage Airport Group were evaluating a number of preferred submissions in the two-stage tender after bids closed in January.

“From the offset we challenged prospective bidders to think outside the box and be creative about how T6 will redefine the standard for duty free in North America,” commented Sammy Patel, Vice President, Commercial at Vantage Group.

“Through our collaborative process with the Port Authority, Avolta and our team, we’ve developed an ambitious retail offer which is captivating, dynamic, and immersive. Guests can look forward to a mixture of global brands as well as iconic local businesses that together will create a true sense of place that is unique to New York and Queens.”

Steve Thody, CEO, JFK Millennium Partners, commented: “We are proud to partner with Hudson and Dufry to launch a world-class retail experience that reflects the dazzling display of offerings that New York City and Queens are known for. Our selection features internationally renowned brands while driving real economic opportunities in our community for generations to come.”

The travel retail concessions programme is designed to ‘build upon the New York sense of place designed by JMP and seamlessly integrate global brands with products from local entrepreneurs who represent the diverse communities surrounding JFK Airport’, read a statement.

JMP claims the partnership with Avolta company Dufry ‘will redefine the airport duty free shopping experience’.

Travellers to T6 will have the chance to explore several first-to-airport initiatives, activations, brands and concepts.

A wide-ranging merchandise mix will reflect the five boroughs of New York, with an emphasis on food and products sourced from local businesses and entrepreneurs alongside an assortment comprising luxury brands, perfumes & cosmetics, spirits, food and confectionery, plus jewellery, watches and accessories.

The selection of Dufry and Hudson comes as PANYNJ selects 12 local and diverse businesses to participate in the concessions programme at Terminal 6, which forms a part of the $19 billion transformation of JFK aimed at turning it into a world-class gateway while boosting economic development in nearby communities.

Further concessions procurement 

PANYNJ and the JFK’s terminal developers, including JMP, have engaged in extensive community outreach to recruit local and diverse businesses for concessions opportunities at the airport, in partnership with local elected officials and community partners.

Hudson and Dufry have been selected to open duty free, travel convenience and specialty retail stores in the new terminal in partnership with seven ACDBE firms (Baked Cravings, Neir’s Tavern, Tsion Café, The Nourish Spot, Sullivan-Hernandez Group, Samantha Alexis Consulting and Kellee Communications), including three from Queens. The ACDBE partners will join Avolta’s retail programme as JV partners, investing in the retail businesses and sharing management responsibility for the various shops. Credit: Vantage/JFK Millennium Partners

“We welcome the dozen local business owners joining us at Terminal 6, where travellers will enjoy authentic products and dining experiences that represent the best of what our region has to offer,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole.

“Not only are we elevating the customer experience but we are leveraging our historic investment in our airports to create generational wealth for these diverse and local business owners.”

Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton added: “From the outset of the $19 billion transformation of JFK International Airport, our goal has been to create an airport that is among the best in the world, with a customer experience that is best in class.

“By incorporating diverse, high-quality local businesses alongside national brands at JFK’s terminals, we are creating a unique New York sense of place that will hugely enhance travellers’ airport experience, while generating real and significant economic opportunities for communities neighbouring the airport.”

Additional opportunities for small, local businesses to be involved in the Terminal 6 concessions programme are still available as JMP prepares to launch the next phase of its concessions procurement in the fall. The opportunities will be presented to the local community in October.

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