New Autogrill to enhance offer to landlords

Aldeasa CEO Jose María Palencia and Autogrill head of integration Silvano Delnegro revealed their vision for the integration of Aldeasa, Alpha Airports Group and World Duty Free, telling Autogrill investors that the combined group would create a more attractive proposition to potential landlords.

 

Palencia told investors at a presentation in London that Aldeasa was already beginning to leverage the group’s financial strength. He said: “The financial strength of Autogrill is unique in travel-retail and allows us to offer a lower risk profile to landlords. This will allow us to get better deals and longer terms, and in fact we are already doing this—we have extended our Mexican business by 10 years and in Peru by six years.”

 

Delnegro highlighted the strong concept portfolio of the group, saying that these would be harnessed as part of the integration process. |He told investors: “The three companies have a great fit and we are now developing common practices—in pricing, promotions and brand relations—to leverage that across the board. The big concept portfolio means we will have the right concept for the right occasion: including WDF’s World of Whiskies, its new beauty concept Cocoon, Aldeasa’s several specialist concepts and Alpha’s Glorious Britain.”

 

Delnegro also cited different expertise across categories—noting WDF’s strength in beauty and liquor, Aldeasa’s in tobacco and confectionery and Alpha’s in fashion accessories and souvenirs—and said that, with an 80% supplier overlap and 85% of similar skus, there was a lot of potential for synergies to be made through the global purchasing project.