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Candy Cloud: ARI’s first dedicated kids’ confectionery concept |
IRELAND. London-based airport retail design practice The Design Solution has hailed the opening of Aer Rianta International’s 90sq m Candy Cloud children’s confectionery concept at Dublin Airport T1. As reported, the retail environment in T1 has been transformed after an €8 million investment. The Design Solution led the retail design on key aspects of the project.
The Design Solution Creative Director Kevin Patience said: “We’re especially proud of the travel themed Candy Cloud, designed and executed based on a detailed client brief. This is a stunning confectionery store featuring clouds and planes so that, wherever you look – even right up to the fun of the ceiling “˜clouds’ – there’s a sense of play and a childhood fantasy theme. We wanted to create a sense of the whole store being made out of sweets. Often the best ideas come when you’re out of the studio and for me, the main inspirations for this concept came from watching the film Wreck it Ralph and reading Carl Werner’s A World of Food with my children.”
Candy Cloud is the first time that ARI has created a stand-alone confectionery concept targeted at adults and children alike and focused on capturing the gifting and self-treating opportunity. The retail offer features over 180 different lines, including a wide range of quirkily flavoured popcorns, brands such as M&M’s, Skittles, Haribo and Nestlé, as well as a range of Candy Cloud branded toys and stationery.
Cloud-shaped gondolas feature “˜candycane’ legs and lolly pop signage, the ceiling installation evoke clouds of meringues and the floor design features a stylised version of swirling candyfloss. The central area of the store is brought to life with a replica hot air balloon basket. Bespoke scents and a parabolic sound system add to the retail experience.
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The concept is focused on the gifting and self-treating opportunity |
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ARI engaged with children from a local school, hosting a design competition with the winning entries helping to guide and inform the look and feel of the store and of the own brand merchandise range. The store features a kids-only zone with an enchanted forest filled with giant lollipops and marshmallows.
Candy Cloud complements The Loop’s existing confectionery business, which is skewed towards premium Irish brands such as Butler’s, Lir and Lily O’Brien’s. ARI Retail Director Paul Neeson said the Candy Cloud concept would significantly increase the retailer’s children’s confectionery sales.
The Design Solution has 25 years’ experience in developing retail solutions for airports, rail, motorways and other retail destinations. Recent airport duty free projects include walk-through stores at St. Petersburg Pulkovo Airport, Athens Airport and the duty and tax free shops in Terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson Airport.
