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TURKEY. Unifree Duty Free, in which Gebr Heinemann has a 60.8% stake, has won the 25-year contract to operate all airside retail space at Istanbul New Airport. The facility will house the world’s largest shopping environment at an airport, in 53,000sq m of space.
The airport is operated by iGA Group, and the duty free contract has just been signed in Istanbul.
“Together with our Turkish partners [the Bilgener and Üstünkaya families -Ed], we are proud to take responsibility for the airside retail space and centre management at Istanbul New Airport,” said Gebr Heinemann CO-Owner Claus Heinemann.
“At 53,000sq m, this is a totally new dimension of retail space, and it will enable us to implement unique, pioneering concepts. In addition to several thousand square metres for luxury boutiques, which are partly sublet, our overriding aim is to cater to all the needs of a passenger at this important international airport in close cooperation with the operator iGA.”
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“At 53,000sq m, this is a totally new dimension of retail space, and it will enable us to implement unique, pioneering concepts.“ |
Claus Heinemann Co-Owner Gebr Heinemann |
Unifree will create more than 3,000 jobs at Istanbul New Airport and it projects an investment amounting to more than €120 million. The airport will open with a capacity of 90 million passengers annually. Two expansions are set to follow, raising the annual passenger capacity to 150 million.
Forecasts predict 50 million international passengers in the first year of operation.
The duty free zone will comprise six sections. The core duty free stores in Departures will cover 15,000sq m, with Arrivals (a key channel in Turkey) covering 12,500sq m. Some 6,500sq m will be dedicated to luxury boutique stores, 3,000sq m to a bazaar concept while activity and tasting stands will take up 6,000sq m. Other zones will make up the balance of the 53,000sq m.
Unifree Duty Free said it would equip the shops in Istanbul New Airport with “the latest technologies in travel retailing”.
It noted: “The amazing and impressive future technologies will meet the passengers at the opening of the duty free shops in Istanbul New Airport. 3-D hologram systems, smart shopping carts that have a charging function, mobile cash registers, electronic customer profiling and analysis systems are only some of the technologies that will be available at the stores.
“For example, with a “˜Magic Mirror’ application customers will be able to see virtually how watches, sunglasses, accessories, clothes and make-up products will look on them without physically trying them on. Additionally, the electronic customer profiling and analysis technology will enable us to trace the customer’s shopping history and identify their possible future needs, so offering them personalised products and services. Private vehicles and one-to-one assistance by trained sales reps will be available for disabled customers also.”
Unifree said it would “gather more than 400 domestic and foreign luxury brands under one roof with an architectural design that preserves the fabric of Istanbul”.
At the signing ceremony, Nihat Özdemir, Board member of İGA and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Limak Holding, said: “We have an ambitious target; and that is to turn Istanbul and our country the centre of the global aviation industry. İGA will not only be paying €26 billion including VAT to the state, which is the highest amount for a bid in the history of our Republic, but also make additional investments and break new records, while contributing to Turkish economy significantly thanks to the commercial volume we will generate.”
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He added: “The duty free contract signed with our reputable partner Unifree Duty Free is the concrete manifestation that we, as İGA, will not only limit ourselves with the construction phase, but that we have already started working meticulously to offer the best service to all users once the airport is opened. Once again, we are witnessing how inspiring are the dreams we have for our country and Istanbul and how ambitious our vision and targets are. We are rightfully proud to have signed the largest duty free agreement in the world, knowing that the duty free will be one of the most exciting and spectacular parts of the new airport.”
İGA General Manager Mertol Genç said: “This agreement is the most important indicator that İGA’s vision, for which we have dedicated ourselves since the beginning, is also understood by the global aviation industry. Thanks to this 25-year agreement, Unifree – Gebr. Heinemann group will leverage its local and global expertise and offer an extraordinary and pleasant travel experience to tens of millions of passengers travelling from and to Istanbul New Airport.”
Unifree Duty Free Shareholder and Deputy Chairman of the Board Kerem Üstünkaya said: “We will create a shopping environment that is far from the traditional and cliched form of duty free shopping, offering unforgettable and extraordinary experiences to the customers. During this process, when the world will be watching us with much curiosity and excitement, we will organise special events in our shops by using our current relations and by following closely future trends. This way, we will be able to provide our customers the opportunity to have access to all the luxury brands at the same location.
“Passengers will be able to try luxury products in private rooms, will have fun in the game centre, and will have an opportunity to refresh themselves with the help of experts in the spa, hairdresser and beauty salon. They will also be able to watch new-release movies at the movie theatre, equipped with the state-of-the-art technology, and while shopping, they will be able to leave their children in the “˜Unikids’ area where the children will be safe and sound.”
Cüneyt Çilingiroğlu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Unifree Duty Free, said: “This exciting development, which will be followed carefully both in Turkey and in the world, will add a brand new meaning to the shopping concept. Unifree Duty Free is ready to serve, to expand the borders of the shopping and retail worlds with its friendly and experienced employees at this location where “˜civilizations meet’. We are already proud to be hosting all nations in the best way possible at Istanbul New Airport.”
He added: “Thanks to our global and local experiences, we are aware of the fact that success is based on offering the best service beyond the sector averages. So, success comes with satisfied and motivated employees. To ensure continuous success we set up a team called “˜Unifree Academy’. This academy, in order to meet passenger expectations, will make sure that all the employees are trained at the best possible way, that they relentlessly develop themselves and that they always stay inspired. Our trained and experienced sales staff is ready to serve the customers 24/7 endlessly and with a tailor-made approach. Unifree DutyFree, thus, will become one of the biggest player of the Turkish and global retail sector.”
Gebr. Heinemann has been involved as retailer in the existing Istanbul Atatürk Airport since 1999. “We are looking forward to continuing our longstanding, successful international partnership with the companies TAV and ATÜ, which was only recently awarded the duty free tenders in Tunisia, on a long-term basis,” said Raoul Spanger, Executive Director Retail at Gebr. Heinemann.
