Hudson Group–St. Louis JV has been awarded a 10–year contract to operate the retail concessions program at Lambert–St. Louis Airport.

 

HG–St. Louis JV is a joint venture comprised of Hudson Group (HG) Retail, LLC; Final Phase Marketing, Inc., based in St. Louis; OHM Concession Group, LLC of St. Ann, Missouri; and Newburns Management Group, LLC, an experienced ACDBE operator.

 

The Hudson Group, the largest duty–paid travel retailer in North America and is a wholly–owned subsidiary of international duty–free travel retailer Dufry AG (DUFN) of Basel, Switzerland.

 

The company operates 650 Hudson News stores, Hudson Booksellers, cafes, specialty retail and duty free shops in 70 airports and transportation terminals in North American, and additional newsstands in 12 more countries around the world.

 

1,160 STORES

The combined Dufry/Hudson entity oversees over 1,160 stores in 46 countries and 160 airports and terminals.

 

President & CEO of Hudson Group, Joe DiDomizio, said: “Our expert team of designers, merchandisers, marketers, concessions operators and developers canvassed the airport and the City to produce this proposal for innovative concessions at STL.

 

“We are proud to say that we have developed for the airport a concessions program that will exceed the core convenience needs of Lambert–St. Louis International Airport’s employees and travellers.

 

“Our 14 stores will offer a wide selection of fun, compelling and up–to–date retail brands and concepts – local, regional, national and international names that will appeal both to residents and visitors to St. Louis, as called for in the solicitation.”

 

NEWSSTAND BRANDS

Upon final approval of the contract by the US City of St Louis, HG–St. Louis JV will deliver three distinct newsstand brands – Hudson, Ebony News and CNN – in eight airport locations at the airport.

 

“The future of newsstands is here, with our latest generation ‘Hudson’ shop,” says the Hudson Group.

 

According to the retailer, Hudson will take the best of its familiar News shop concept and enhance it with a new, fresh look.

 

“We’ve reorganised and refined our layout and product mix to better match the latest trends in traveller demands,” adds HG.

 

 

[Above: Natalie’s Candy Jar shop at San Francisco International Airport]

 

TRAVELLERS’ NECESSITIES

“Just as Hudson News has set the standard for magazines and books…and travellers’ necessities for the past 25 years, our new Hudson store sets the new standard for the coming decade, with its streamlined look and accent on technology, healthy snacks and highly efficient ‘shopability’.”

 

Founded in 1945 by the late John Johnson, head of Johnson Publishing, Ebony News covers news of interest to the black community, “inspiring instant loyalty and recognition,” says HG. “In cities across the United States, Ebony was the first publication on the scene to chronicle events important to civil rights.”

 

The HG describes CNN as “the most trusted name in international news. CNN is recognised around the world and CNN Newsstands are an exclusive concept that only HG–St. Louis JV can bring to STL,” says HG.

 

One of the Hudson newsstands features a special section devoted entirely to confectionery brand ‘Natalie’s Candy Jar’.

 

ST. LOUIS SPORTS

Another Hudson newsstand features an additional section called St. Louis Sports, which sells licensed merchandise from local college and professional sports teams, as well as mementos of famous St. Louis sports figures.

 

A third Hudson store features a wide range of U.S. Post Office products and services.

 

The HG–St. Louis JV team Specialty will also deliver a range of retail brands with local, national and international personality, along with the latest trends in retailing, to the concessions program of STL:

 

The Discover St. Louis boutique will feature souvenirs and mementos from cultural institutions in the city such as the Jefferson National Parks (including The Gateway Arch), Peabody Opera, St. Louis Art Museum, as well as entertainment attractions like the St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Blues and Washington University of St. Louis.

 

Other stores include an Eddie Bauer store (clothes retailer); ‘Spectacles’ sunglasses store – featuring Oakley, Versace, Prada, Bulgari, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan, Ray Ban, Burberry and Ralph Lauren; Bliss P&C store and Kids Works, which offers educational toys, crafts, travels games, plush, dolls, the latest fads, children’s books and licensed apparel.