ARI confirms Barbados intentions

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The retailer confirms it is to bid for 11 outlets at Grantley Adams International airport in Barbados, in partnership with Caribbean Airways

Aer Rianta International (ARI) has confirmed it is to submit a bid to run duty-free space at Grantley Adams International airport in Barbados. ARI director general Eamon Foley told RavenFox.com the company would bid for 11 lots in the tender, in partnership with local airline and retailer Caribbean Airways, which operates arrivals duty-free at Grantley Adams. Other companies expected to table bids are incumbent duty-free operator Duty Free Caribbean—a joint venture between Dufry Group and Cave Shepherd—and possibly Aldeasa, which is known to have studied the opportunity. Several local companies are also expected to express an interest.

Interested companies must file separate bids for each lot in the tender, which closes on May 3. The airport is offering 16 retail units in total; 14 outlets comprising 13,266sq ft (1,233sq m) in departures plus a further 1,262sq ft (117sq m) across two units in arrivals.

Foley told RavenFox.com: "In terms of passenger profile the Barbados market is very attractive, with a lot of tourists who are good spenders in duty-free. There are a number of other attractions also; it is a new terminal and a new environment, with a quite unique design. We understand that Barbados is a good place to do business and we've no fears over future traffic trends given the strength of the tourist market."

RavenFox.com understands that the airport wants the new stores to open between three and four months after the close of the tender, forcing successful bidders to move fast.

For more on this story, see the next issue of DFNI, out on May 1.