Aelia celebrates the inauguration of its newest retail outlets at Nice Côte d'Azur Airport on May 26 2010 following extensive improvements to the retail environment at what is France’s biggest airport outside Paris Working in partnership with Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, Aelia undertook six months ago to radically enhance the retail offer and environment at the airport. The transformation is designed to increase the standard of duty free at Nice to a level commensurate with the prestigious quality of the location and, ultimately, to enhance the overall customer airport experience. Aelia brings a strong understanding of the passenger profile in each terminal as well as the expertise to closely align the retail offer to the differing customer segments. Today, Aelia is unveiling the final three outlets in Terminal 2, totalling 460 sq m, to complete the transformation. Included is an entirely new 220 sq m duty-free store adjacent to the easyjet zone, as well as two newly renovated duty-free outlets - a 225 sq m store and a 15 sq m kiosk.

Aelia, already the operator of the liquor, tobacco, perfumes and cosmetic (LTPC) outlet in Terminal 1 (the contract for which was successfully renewed following a tender), was appointed in July 2008 as the sole operator of the LTPC category throughout the airport, having seen off other leading international Travel Retailers in the tender process. Aelia has renovated the existing LTPC store in Terminal 1 and this reopened in February 2010. Aelia also operates a fashion and a fine food concession in Terminal 1, under the prestigious Hermès and Hédiard brands, and these have also been renovated and further improved.

Aelia’s Chairman and CEO, Jean-Baptiste Morin, comments: “We are delighted to have been given this fantastic opportunity to transform the retail experience at Nice airport. Together - in partnership with the airport - we believe we’ve created a retail offer that gives the traveller the best possible experience, whilst also optimising performance for Aelia, the airport and our brand partners. We look forward to continuing and indeed strengthening this partnership.”

Aelia’s regional operations director Pascal Le Droff commented: “It has been a busy period for Aelia at Nice over the past six months. The result is a transformed shopping environment that customers are already responding to very positively. We are grateful to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport for its progressive attitude and vision for improving the retail offer and for placing its trust in us to deliver this. Nice is a great airport and has a varied and affluent customer profile, making it a great fit for luxury brands such as Hermès and Hédiard. Vitally, the airport’s management share our commitment to partnership, making it a great airport to do business with and creating a shared approach to delivering an exceptional customer experience.”

To create exciting retail destinations that meet the high expectations of these French and international passengers, Aelia has designed elegant and functional LTPC store layouts with colour-coded category zones. Each zone has clear signage to help passengers find brands and products quickly and easily. The whole shopping experience is further enhanced by the use of interactive spaces, delivering in-store theatre such as alcohol tasting and perfume and cosmetics activations.

Terminal 1 Outlets:

Aelia’s existing LTPC outlet in Terminal 1 has undergone a full renovation and been extended to 340 sq m. There’s now more space for perfume and cosmetics to provide a broader and improved offer. The branded back walls have been extended to showcase the leading brands and a new dedicated area has been created for the couture-inspired designer perfume brands, such as Fragonard, Vera Wang and Stella McCartney. The additional space has also allowed for the introduction of the Body Shop range, one of the most popular brands with the key UK and Nordic passenger traffic. A new feature of the renovated liquor section is a dedicated wine and Champagne cellar offering a depth of range that builds on what was previously available, and with a strong focus on local and regional wines.

The existing Hermès boutique has been relocated within Terminal 1 and extended from 30 to 70 m², allowing Aelia to offer a wider range of fashion items from the iconic luxury goods house, including the introduction of leathergoods, to cater more thoroughly to Nice’s discerning customer profile.

The Hédiard boutique, covering 188m², offers a wide range of fine food and confectionery from the famous French brand, including gourmet items such as preserves, teas, coffees, foie gras, seafood, cheese and branded wines, alongside a complementary assortment of chocolates and food items from the Provence and Côte d’Azur regions.

Terminal 2 Outlets:

In Terminal 2 there are now three LTPC stores. The brand new 220sq m LTPC store is in a location that makes it highly visible and accessible to easyjet travellers. The range on offer is closely aligned to the passenger profile for destinations served by easyjet - mainly UK and domestic traffic.

Aelia took over the contract for the two original LTPC stores in Terminal 2 when the previous operator’s contract expired in December 2009. The larger of the two stores (225 sq m) caters for Schengen and non-Schengen passenger traffic and its offer, adapted to meet the international passenger profile, features premium and high-end items across all categories.

The 15 sq m LTPC kiosk is located after passport control and offers non-Schengen passengers a last minute opportunity to buy a smaller range of ‘best sellers’.