LS travel retail reports strong sales in Europe and Asia-Pacific, minor decline in North America

LS travel retail, a division of Legardere Services, reported the following 2012 highlights for its three geographic business areas:

• Europe, Middle East and Africa:
  • France: Duty free and luxury sales increased over 20%, thanks to the deployment of the 'Aelia Duty Free' concept across French regional airports and the opening of new terminals at Paris Roissy and Paris Charles de Gaulle. Also opened 'Air de Paris' souvenir shops at Paris airports.
  • Germany: Increase number of outlets from 85 to 91. Sales up 8.8%;
  • Poland: Sales up 14.8%, sustained by a 29% increase in duty free sales;
  • Czech Republic: Sales up 32.8% via the acquisitions of FEE (70 food service outlets and convenience stores) and UNIMEX (15 duty free sales outlets at Prague airport). Duty-free sales, including airport stores and CSA Czech Airlines' on-board sales, increased 81.6%;
  • Romania: Sales up 16%;
  • Italy: Acquired AdR Retail, the company which operates eight duty-free outlets at Rome airports. 2013 will be a transitional year with a comprehensive program of refurbishment of outlets.
• Asia Pacific: Sales up 9%, mainly due to the acquisition of 16 DFS Wellington stores in New Zealand and Australia and the full-year impact of the acquisition of Whitcoulls stores in New Zealand in 2011, as well as the refurbishment of sales outlets at La Tontouta Airport in New Caledonia. LS travel retail Asia recorded sales increases from development of Singapore and a sustained growth in China. Also launch first business operations in Malaysia at terminal 1 of Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
• North America: Increased stores from 238 to 248. Sales declined 2.2% due to a decline of over 10% in newspaper, magazine and book sales. LS travel retail made significant efforts to diversify into food, souvenirs and electronic accessories.
• Other: Also increased business in other countries where the group operates via its distribution companies, notably in Switzerland with the takeover of Airport Fashion (two fashion stores at Geneva International Airport) and in Spain with the opening of several "convenience" stores on transport networks. [more - original PR]