Duty Free Americas takes $49.1m at Miami

Gavin Lipsith

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The retailer achieved a 30% sales increase last year, and looks set for strong growth this year after solid first-quarter results

Miami International airport has reported that duty-free concessionaire Duty Free Americas has achieved sales of $49.1m in fiscal year 2007, up from $37.6m in 2006, when it began operating at Miami. The company has continued the growth this year, with first quarter sales up by 15%, or $1.8m, on last year, Miami commercial operations division director Patricia Ryan told DFNIonline.

Duty Free Americas operates five permanent stores and four temporary outlets at Miami, and will operate a total of 12 shops once the airport’s development is completed. Two new stores, in the new South terminal and in concourse J, are due to be opened by May.

The existing temporary outlet in the South terminal has been redesigned to reflect the luxury status of the products it sells—a move driven by new DFA director of airport operations Enrique Urioste, who took on the role on November 1 2007. Urioste has also driven changes to the way goods are displayed in the stores, and to the retailer’s marketing strategy, said Ryan.

Concession revenues increased by 12%, or $66.3m, in 2007, while duty-free sales per international enplaned passenger grew from $5.23 in 2006 to $6.53 in 2007.