History

Recent history
since 2015

2022

New developments in West Africa with the opening of Duty Free and Foodservice stores in Mauritania and Gambia.

2022

First step in Latin America with the opening of the first Aelia stores in Lima, Peru

Aelia Duty Free Peru

2021

Opening of the world’s largest Aelia Duty Free store in Rome

2020

Opening of our first locations in Japan

2019

Acquisition of International Duty Free, the leading duty free operator in Belgium, with a presence in Luxembourg and Kenya

IDF

2019

Opening of the 37th country of Lagardère Travel Retail, in Libreville (Gabon)

Gabon

2019

Launch of the Foodservice activity in the Netherlands, with the takeover of 28 Smullers in the Dutch Rail network

Smullers

2019

Opening of the 36th country of Lagardère Travel Retail, in Bratislava (Slovakia)

Bratislava

2018

Acquisition of Hojeij Branded Foods and its subsidiary Vino Volo, a leading Foodservice travel operator in North America

History HBF

2018

Opening of 8 stores in Hong Kong in partnership with China Duty Free Group

History China

2018

Launch of the New Age Beauty concept at Paris Charles de Gaulle

History Paris

2018

Opening of FAB award Winner Food Hall Daily DXB at Dubai Airport.

2017

Opening of the first store on the African continent, at Dakar airport (Senegal)

History Africa

2017

Launch of activities in KSA (Riyadh, Djeddah, Dammam)

History KSA

2015

Acquisition of Paradies, a leading airport travel retailer in North America

History LTR

2015

Award of Lagardère Capital, a JV between Lagardère Travel Retail and Abu Dhabi Capital Group of 13 Duty Free stores and 7 Restaurants at the upcoming Midfield Terminal in Abu Dhabi.

2015

Creation of the Foodservice business line

History So Coffee

2015

Lagardère Services becomes Lagardère Travel Retail

Acceleration
2001-2014

2014

Acquisition of Airest Restaurant Middle East with operations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai Airports

2014

New Aelia Duty Free concept

History dutyfree

2014

Creation of a partnership with SAVE to operate retail and foodservice in Venice, Treviso and Verona airports

2013

Gain of the SNCF (French railway network) tender to operate Travel Essentials business under a JV scheme

2012

Acquisition of AdR Retail, the operator of the Duty Free/Duty Paid concessions in Fiumicino and Ciampino airports in Rome

2008

Opening of the first Costa Coffee and PAUL in the Czech Republic

2007

Development of Duty Free operations in the UK, Poland and the Czech Republic

2007

Opening of the first Relay stores in Taiwan and mainland China

2003

Joint venture with ADP. Creation of Société de Distribution Aéroportuaire (SDA)

2001

Acquisition of DFA/Saresco and creation of Aelia by merger with Aeroboutique

Geographical expansion
1990-2000

2000

Relais H is renamed Relay. International launch of Relay, the leading international brand in Travel Essentials

1999

Development of operations in Travel Essentials in Germany, Poland and Czech Republic

1995

Acquisition of UCS (Canada) to become HDS Retail North America

1990

Acquisition of Eastern Lobby Shop (USA)

The origins
1852-1990

1980

Creation of the Relais H brand

1965

First Duty Free boutique

1852

Opening of the first railway station bookstore in Paris, Gare de Lyon