Following a call for tenders launched in September 2023, France's second-largest airport has selected the operators and brands that will manage the 28 retail outlets at the heart of its three commercial and business aviation terminals. The new outlets will open gradually between 2025 and 2026. They illustrate the strategy of offering its millions of passengers a unique experience, a blend of tranquility, well-being, local expertise and luxury à la française.
By renewing its entire retail offering, the airport aims to boost its vision of a retail experience that celebrates the uniqueness of the Côte d'Azur, the richness, diversity and lifestyle of the French Riviera, which stretches from Saint Tropez to Monaco and Italy, and which the conveys the message of a timeless dream to the world.
”Nice Côte d'Azur is the link between the Riviera and the rest of the world. It's a showcase for brands that express the richness of a local heritage with international influence, but also for the standard-bearers of French know-how. We have designed a retail selection that blends authenticity and luxury, the unexpected and the desired, and is both exclusive and family-focussed. It takes account of the increasing diversity of our passengers, all of whom want to take with them some of the magic of the Côte d'Azur while enjoying a unique airport experience”, explains Candice Cadreils, Director of the Commercial BU at Aéroports de la Côte d'Azur.
Spread over almost 4,500 square metres, the 28 retail spaces put out to tender represent over 80% of all sales made in the airport's Terminal 1, 2 and general aviation outlets. This shows the importance of this call for tender and the selected successful bidders. In the end, four operators were selected.
Lagardère Travel Retail has been entrusted with managing the duty-free zone, including the two main outlets, whose sales areas have been increased, with a bold offering that will enable passengers to pass through brands and concepts specific to the airport, revealing the many identities of the Côte d'Azur, including areas dedicated to local products or French specialities. This operator will also run 8 other sales units:
Avolta is responsible for 7 retail units:
Alongside these two major operators, Nice Côte d'Azur has also selected two brands to operate directly. The Kooples is keeping its clothing, footwear and accessories space in Terminal 2. Millenium is making its debut at the airport, with three Obsentum shops, one in each of the commercial and business aviation terminals, offering exclusive niche fragrances from mainly French brands in a luxury atmosphere.
Benoît Cartier-Bresson, Managing Director, Duty Free France Regions & Luxembourg, Lagardère Travel Retail France: “We are extremely proud to be extending our 25-year partnership with Nice Côte d'Azur airport, which aims to offer a shopping experience that is unrivalled in Europe. Thanks to the remarkable work of our passionate teams and all our partners, we will be offering a new and innovative range of retail units, built exclusively for Nice Côte d'Azur airport.
With 14 boutiques, spread over more than 3,500 square metres, we have designed spaces where iconic, internationally renowned brands, and famed French fashion houses, as well as authentic, local brands, will work together.
Each space will embody the spirit of the ‘Côte d'Azur’, whether through locally inspired architecture or a rich selection of products from the region, while integrating a demanding responsible attitude, fundamental to our approach to Travel Retail.
These commitments will translate into a singular, surprising experience, facilitated by new services, which will aim to create the perfect alchemy for travellers at Nice airport.”
Walter Seib, Avolta's CEO for Northern, Central and Eastern Europe: “We are honoured to be awarded this retail contract by Aéroports de la Côte d'Azur and to continue our presence in Nice over the coming years. We are fully committed to making Nice Côte d'Azur Airport a benchmark for travel retail and to working with the airport to reflect the dynamism of the region it serves. I would like to thank all the Avolta team members involved and our brand partners for their trust and dedication in developing an innovative proposition that will provide a memorable experience for passengers.”
Elisa Chansac, Trade Marketing Manager for The Kooples: “Nice airport, with its international clientele, exclusive shopping experience and dynamism is the ideal setting to represent The Kooples brand. This location enables us to reach a wider target audience, in line with our growth strategy and our desire to consolidate our position as a key fashion brand in France and abroad. The Kooples’ new collection is showcased at Nice airport. For this new collection, which is the first under the direction of Pierre Kaczmarek, the underground cultures of Paris and London merge. Leather, denim, shirts and rock accessories; all the brand's iconic pieces are celebrated here, with a touch of fashion and youth typical of the new artistic direction.”
Radu Tanasescu, Chief Executive Officer, Property Division of BestValue, for Obsentum: “Our presence at Nice airport demonstrates Obsentum's commitment to excellence in luxury niche fragrance retailing. The renaissance of niche perfumery, driven by its innovative, creative, elitist, quirky and sensual nature, fits perfectly with our vision of moving from being a retailer to a cultural influencer. It has also driven us to design our shops and create an ambience that will take travellers on a curated journey through rare and exquisite fragrances and compositions.”
Nice Côte d'Azur Airport and SSP France are particularly pleased and proud to inaugurate the ‘Bagnard’ restaurant on the land side of Terminal 2 in collaboration with Yoni Saada, the maestro of Mediterranean cuisine.
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This certification guarantees airport users that the ground handling services meet the highest safety standards. It is part of a continuous process to improve service quality at Aéroports de la Côte d'Azur.