Paradies and DFS pick up retail awards

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Trade publication Airport Retail News has revealed the results of its annual Best Airport Concessions poll, designed to honour the best airport retail operators in the US. A panel of operators, consultants and airport executives assessed concessions and rated airport shops on customer service, design, layout and product assortment, not simply on sales levels.

Among the awards was Best Airport Retailer, won by The Paradies Shops in the large retailer category and by CBR in the small retailer section. Atlanta-based The Paradies Shops won praise for its continual assessment of the market and for its treatment of its employees, while judges said CBR "consistently delivers a good product that attracts and pleases customers".

DFS won the award for Best Retail Brand Operator for its Sephora chain, named as "a breakthrough concept" by the judges. Among the airports honoured was New York JFK terminal one, which was named Airport with Best Overall Programme and Best Redeveloped Concessions Programme (small airport category). Minneapolis-St Paul and Portland International airports were named in the large and medium airport categories.
Minneapolis and Portland also won the Best Concessions Management Team award. Judges highlighted the "first-class concessions programme" at Minneapolis, while praising the "industry savvy" shown by Portland's retail team. In the small airports section, Jacksonville International was honoured, with special mention made of its staff, who were rated "a pleasure to work with".