Hamburg/Vilnius, January 9 2018. A new year, a new contract, and soon a new shopping experience as well: Vilnius International Airport and Travel Retail Vilnius are continuing their successful partnership at the airport in the Lithuanian capital. Since 2008, Travel Retail Vilnius has operated ten shops there under the brand “Heinemann Duty Free and Travel Value Vilnius”. The Lithuanian company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gebr. Heinemann, one of the leading companies in travel retail worldwide. As part of the contract extension, the shops will receive a fresh design and surface concept in the coming months, and a completely new shopping experience is being planned for the more than 3.8 million passengers who use the airport every year. They can look forward to an extended product range featuring international and local brands and a larger sales area.
“We are really happy about the contract extension and the good partnership with Vilnius International Airport, which will continue long-term,” says a pleased Bernard Schlafstein, Sales Director Russia/CIS at Gebr. Heinemann.“ In the last ten years, we have invested a lot in the Lithuanian market, including the job market, and we are convinced that we will continue to be able to offer passengers in Vilnius an exciting shopping experience which will also focus on local brands.”
„We are very delighted to have Gebr. Heinemann – as one of the world's top airport retail operators – again taking responsibility for our Vilinius Duty Free shops. The Hanseatic company has been our strategic, sustainable and preferred partner of Lithuanian airports already for the last ten years”, says Gediminas Almantas, CEO Lithuanian Airports. “Before the end of 2017 Heinemann submitted the best bid for the Vilnius airport duty free operation, including a sensational design concept. The proposal includes the extension of the commercial area up to 1,500 square metres and substantial improvement of both retail facilities and quality at Vilnius airport for the next six years.”
Travel Retail Vilnius currently has ten shops distributed over a total of 1,060 square metres at the capital’s airport. In future, it shall have six shops spread across 1,500 square metres. A large walkthrough shop and a shop in the non-Schengen area will be built. They should be finished by May 2018. Four additional shops in the Schengen area will be enlarged and receive a new look. Other areas currently in use shall no longer be used. “Heinemann Duty Free and Travel Value Vilnius” will offer the complete range of products from perfume and cosmetics to tobacco goods, sweets, liquors and accessories. As before, customers will also find a large selection of popular local brands in the shops.
The contract with Vilnius International Airport was extended following the opening of three new “Heinemann Duty Free and Travel Value” shops at Kaunas Airport in the summer of 2017. This year, Travel Retail Vilnius is thus extending its presence in Lithuania to a total of about 1,900 square metres.
Press contact:
Lara Vitzthum
Head of Corporate Communications
Telephone: +49 40 3010-23849
