Bidders gather for Paris CdG tender

John Rimmer

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Airport authority Aéroports de Paris says "several" bidders have shown an interest in the T1 concessions

The deadline for letters of interest in the Paris Charles de Gaulle airport terminal one tender for liquor, tobacco and beauty passed yesterday. Airport authority Aéroports de Paris (AdP) commercial manager Pascale Cartier told RavenFox.com that "several" companies had expressed an interest, and that the bid for the terminal's fashion concession had also attracted numerous bidders. Unlike in Paris CdG T2E, where retail is operated by Aelia in a joint venture with the airport authority, AdP will not take a stake in the T1 concessions.  

Paris CdG T1 is undergoing a total renovation of all facilities include commercial areas. AdP has launched three main tenders for space in the terminal. The fashion bid, which includes landside and airside outlets, is already under way with the result due to be announced in January. The liquor, tobacco and beauty tender includes a 285sq m (3,066sq ft) airside liquor and tobacco store and a 256sq m (2,754sq ft) airside beauty outlet, plus seven last-minute stores in T1's satellites offering all three categories. "We have included last-minute stores in the terminal as we want to offer the widest assortment possible," said Cartier. A decision on the winner of the liquor, tobacco and beauty tender is expected in February.

A further tender for books and magazines has also been launched. Stores offering toys, gifts and souvenirs will open in T1 next year.

"Because the terminal is being completely renovated, we are obliged to open the new stores in phases," explained Cartier. "For beauty and fashion we will open temporary stores in autumn 2005, when the contracts will commence. Because these temporary stores will be open for a year before the permanent stores are completed, the retail contracts will last for six years, a year longer than is usual for AdP." The commercial areas in T1 will be completed in autumn 2006, and the terminal will be fully operational in 2008.

The airport authority has yet to complete its requirements for the sunglasses sector, and a tender is scheduled to follow.

Aelia is the front runner in the liquor, tobacco and beauty bid, given its strong presence and experience at Paris CdG. It could face competition from other companies with experience in the French travel-retail market, among them Dufry and The Nuance Group, along with other aggressive European retailers including Alpha Retail. For fashion, local retailer HFP Phénix has the necessary experience, although Dufry has built a promising fashion business in some provincial French airports.

See DFNI December 15 for more on this story.