Heinemann makes St Petersburg retail debut

Andrew Pentol

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The retailer will operate two shops offering a range of duty-free product categories

Travel retailer Gebr Heinemann has opened its first two Heinemann Duty Free stores at St Petersburg Pulkovo airport. The two units are 339sq m (3,648sq ft) and 114sq m (1,227sq ft) in size and offer a range of duty-free product categories including perfumes and cosmetics, liquor and tobacco and confectionery.

The retailer will join Aer Rianta International-led joint venture Lenrianta, which has been operating at the airport for more than a decade as previously reported by DFNIonline.com The end of the German company’s two-year contract will coincide with the planned opening of the new terminal next year. The operator has extensive amount of Russian retail experience with Russia and the CIS among its three largest sales regions. It already runs duty-free shops at Moscow Domodedobo, Moscow Sheremetyevo and Kiev airports in corporation with local partners. Its distribution operations supply a number of Russian airport and border shops, ferry-based outlets, airlines and diplomatic services.

In 2009 Northern Capital Gateway― a project vehicle comprising Frankfurt-based airport operator Fraport and its partners - took over the management of the airport and awarded the German company a concession contract. The airport serves as the main transport hub in one of Russia’s most popular holiday regions and as the Russian air traffic market continues to grow it is looking to further expand capacity at the location in the future.

Gebr Heinemann co-owner Gunnar Heinemann said: “St Petersburg represents another important step as we continue to establish the Heinemann Duty Free retail brand in all key markets around the world.

“In 2013 there will be a tender process for the new terminal in St Petersburg and we hope to make a successful bid once again, particularly as we have identified outstanding potential for growth in both air passenger numbers and the travel-retail sector here in Russia.”