ARI, together with partners ANA/VINCI Airports, proudly unveils the new Portugal Duty Free stores, signalling a new standard of excellence in global travel retail.

News of the Portugal Duty Free partnership was first announced in February 2022 when, following a competitive bid process, ANA/VINCI Airports selected ARI as their partner of choice to operate retail outlets across Portugal’s 8 airports, equating to almost 10,000 sq.m. of retail space. Portugal Duty Free opened its doors to passengers on 1 June 2022, with refurbishment works beginning shortly thereafter.

The objective of this multi-million-euro refurbishment was to encapsulate the enchanting essence of Portugalidade – from Portugal’s iconic landscape to its unique artistry and heritage, to the flavours and aromas of its world-renowned gastronomy – creating a memorable and unrivalled retail experience for passengers.

Each location has a uniquely crafted identity, allowing passengers at Lisbon Duty Free, Porto Duty Free, Faro Duty Free, Madeira Duty Free and Azores Duty Free to experience the vibrancy and joy of each location without ever stepping outside of the airport walls.

Portugal Duty Free delivers a masterclass in modern sense of place. Standout features from the stores include the Lisbon Number 28 Tram in Lisbon Duty Free and a vintage Volkswagen California Camper Van in Faro Duty Free – providing the perfect “Instagrammable” moments for passengers as well as housing a selection of local gifts and souvenirs.

Portugal Duty Free is now home to over 1,000 locally produced products, many exclusive to Portugal Duty Free. The Sabores de Portugal in-store concept celebrates the finest Portuguese cuisine, including the iconic and best-selling Pasteis de Nata, delivered daily to the airport. The Port Cellar concept, meanwhile, boasts the country’s best port wine offering, with over 230 local port wines in an immersive and authentic cellar-style experience.

As well as championing the best of Portugalidade, Portugal Duty Free have further enhanced their international brand offering with notable new additions such as Charlotte Tilbury, Le Labo, Sol de Janeiro and Creed (a Portugal-exclusive). Exceptional new offerings at Lisbon Duty Free also include the Pre-Loved boutique, home to pre-owned luxury fashion accessories; an expanded Victoria’s Secret store; and the new Lego store, where passengers of all ages can explore the magical Lego universe.

Sustainability was a fundamental component of the store refurbishments, and the store design, fit out and ranging reflects the ESG commitments of both ARI and ANA/VINCI. This includes a dedicated “Eco Area” in Lisbon Duty Free, housing over 100 sustainably sourced products and offering environmentally friendly products for the conscious shopper, from water bottles to stationery to souvenirs and gifts.

The new Portugal Duty Free stores have successfully delivered an end-to-end seamless and superior travel retail experience. Digital solutions have been expertly executed to enhance the overall customer experience, from entrance through to purchase. The sense of place offering is powerfully enhanced with digital store entrances, where arching LCD panel walls showcase footage of the local landscapes and landmarks. In fact, over 2,000 LED panels and

over 450 LCDs are in use across the Portugal Duty Free stores, creating a unique sensory experience. Newly installed self-service checkouts and over 40 mobile POS units facilitate a more convenient shopping experience for customers.

Ray Hernan, ARI CEO  additionally commented “I must also commend our teams, both global and local – bringing Portugal Duty Free to life has truly been a global, collaborative effort. Looking back to 1 June 2022, stores were flipped in just 9 hours, and just 63 working days after the awarding of our contract. Over 600 new colleagues joined our business overnight, each of whom share our passion for excellence and dedication to delivering ‘joy on your way’ to passengers.

Collaborative partnerships are the foundation of our business, and we have big ambitions to continue to grow our operations in Portugal together with our partners, ANA/VINCI Airports.”