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Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Frankfurt Brings 64 Retail Units To New Terminal Including Boss, Montblanc And Gatezero
Frankfurt Airport's T3 shopping offer is built around a marketplace. Fraport, the listed operator of Frankfurt Airport, has disclosed more information about the 129,000 square feet of retail space it will open in April 2026 at its new Terminal 3, where construction is now almost finished. In January this year, Fraport announced the two winners of its food and beverage (F&B) tenders, and now the concessionaires for the 64 retail and service units at T3 have also been revealed. Anke Giesen, responsible for retail and real estate at the airport and part of Fraport's executive board, said that when developing the shopping offer, target groups including airport employees, as well as passengers, were top of mind. She added: 'We're working with our concessionaires to create amazing concepts—this is our retail vision and we're going to continue implementing it in an architecturally spectacular setting in Terminal 3.' Compared to the existing two terminals, the low-lying exterior profile of T3 has some similarities. However, regular users of Germany's busiest hub, home to Lufthansa, will see a welcome change in the interior design with a spacious-looking marketplace at its center, very different from the cramped older terminals. The marketplace has a total of 15 retail outlets surrounding it with a bar and two food courts that can seat nearly 1,000 people beneath a futuristically designed drop ceiling designed by architect Christoph Mäckler. The space is a relaxation zone, a calming space that might encourage people to de-stress enough to go shopping. T3 is expected to have a large share of international transit passengers and Frankfurt Airport Retail (FAR), a joint venture between Fraport and global travel retailer Gebr. Heinemann, will be focused on driving sales from this segment. The JV operates the existing large duty-free department store-style stores at the airport. With the opening of T3, they will increase from four to a total of 23 and cover more than 32,000 square feet. Heinemann has been operating at Frankfurt for over 50 years, and it is the retailer's fourth biggest airport sales location after Istanbul, Tel Aviv, and Oslo (in order). T3 will take the FAR joint venture to a new level. Central to that will be the main duty-free shop, which alone will cover 18,600 square feet. Gatezero will debut in the German airport market at Frankfurt T3 next year. 'The aim is to create an unforgettable shopping experience, reflected in all areas from the architecture to the assortment, to the demeanor of the staff,' said Heinemann's sales director for Western Europe, Tobias Bechinger. As well as the key categories of beauty, spirits/wine, confectionery, tobacco, toys, and sunglasses, highlights will include a dedicated area for luxury niche fragrances; a new cross-category, multi-sensory concept; and a Habanos specialist humidor for fine cigars. FAR will also operate the Boss and Montblanc stores in the new terminal, as well as other branded units. In addition, it is bringing Gatezero, a fashion-forward airport retail format first launched at Switzerland's Zurich Airport in 2021, to Frankfurt. The concept from uber-cool Highsnobiety—majority owned by online retailer Zalando since 2022—also opened in Copenhagen Airport in 2022. T3 will mark Gatezero's debut at a German airport and will offer younger travelers the latest trends in luxury and street culture, with assortments ranging from fashion and accessories to tech and gadgets. Giesen said: 'We have a long history of cultivating close, trusting cooperation with our concessionaires, supporting and promoting the evolution of their business models by jointly developing ideas, also in challenging times. This approach pays off, which is evident in the fact that so many well-known brands have renewed their commitment to our location.' Some of those businesses include Capi Electronics, which will inaugurate two more shops in T3; jewelry and watches retailer Christ; Falke, a German stockings and apparel brand; as well as international names like Sunglass Hut, Tumi, and Longchamp, that are well established at the airport. Victoria's Secret, which, last year, hired Hillary Super, former CEO of Rihanna's Savage x Fenty brand, to revive the struggling brand, has made a comeback at Frankfurt. Its store, operated by a German business of Turkish travel retailer Setur, will sell an exclusive selection of lingerie, plus fragrances, body care, and accessories. Germany's Selection is a modern souvenir store concept. To cater for passengers wanting souvenirs, the shops Germany On My Mind and Germany's Selection, both part of the Wöllhaf Group, will sell well-known German products, including wall clocks and beer tankards. Giesen commented: 'In the new T3, we're going to showcase modern interpretations of what's 'typically German' and 'typically European'. We're at home here: at the heart of Hesse, Germany, and Europe. And we're actively emphasizing this.' Frankfurt Airport does indeed lie in the heart of Europe, but the gateway has stalled somewhat since the pandemic. According to global airport association, ACI, Frankfurt has retained its eighth-place ranking among the world's busiest international airports between 2019 and 2024. However, last year's 56.2 million passenger throughput was 11% down versus 2019, making it the worst-performing airport among Europe's big air hubs.
Travel Daily News
2 days ago
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Frankfurt Airport unveils shopping experience for Terminal 3
Frankfurt Airport's new Terminal 3 opens in 2026 with 64 retail units, blending global brands, local culture, and innovative shopping experiences. The new Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport will have 12,000 square meters of retail space. Fraport, the airport's operator, is now announcing the concessionaires for the 64 retail and service units that will begin operating in the spring of 2026. True to the vision of 'the art of retail in the heart of Europe,' the retail mix will reflect the airport's importance as a major international air traffic hub. Passengers can look forward to an innovative, customer-oriented, esthetically satisfying shopping experience. Anke Giesen, the Fraport Executive Board member responsible for retail and real estate, says: 'Having successfully concluded the marketing phase, we're looking forward to a great retail mix that meets the needs of both passengers and employees. In addition, we're committed to working with our concessionaires to create amazing concepts that delight the target groups. This is our vision for the retail experience at Frankfurt Airport, and we're going to continue implementing it in an architecturally spectacular setting in Terminal 3.' The marketplace as the centerpiece The plans for the retail offering in Frankfurt Airport's third terminal focus on the international transit zone. Fifteen retail outlets surround the central marketplace. A bar and two food courts with seating for nearly a thousand people beneath the futuristically designed ceiling invite passengers to spend time relaxing and enjoying themselves. Frankfurt Airport Retail GmbH (FAR for short), a joint venture of Fraport and Gebr. Heinemann, operates all of the Duty Free and Travel Value shops at Frankfurt Airport. With the opening of Terminal 3, their number will increase from four to a total of 23. The FAR joint venture has also recruited, on an exclusive basis, the Boss fashion label and Montblanc with its high-quality leather goods and writing utensils, for the new terminal. FAR is also bringing Gatezero to Frankfurt, its debut at a German airport. In this young, international, lifestyle-inspired concept store, travelers immerse themselves in an inspiring world of the latest trends in the luxury and street culture categories. The regularly changing selection ranges from fashions and accessories all the way to technical gadgets. Long-term collaboration continuing in Terminal 3 'The offering in our new terminal combines innovativeness with continuity,' explains Giesen. 'We're proud to host returning brands and extend the scope of our collaborations, some of which have been ongoing for many years. This shows just how greatly the travel retail sector values Frankfurt Airport. We have a long history of cultivating close, trusting cooperation with our concessionaires, supporting and promoting the evolution of their business models by jointly developing new ideas and working closely as a team, also in challenging times. This approach pays off, which is evident in the fact that so many well-known brands have renewed their commitment to our location.' Capi Electronics is yet another longtime concessionaire that has decided to expand its business at Frankfurt Airport. This market leader in the airport retail sector is inaugurating two more shops in Terminal 3. Christ is also expanding its presence at Frankfurt Airport with a shop selling high-quality jewelry and artistically designed watches at the heart of Terminal 3. Sunglass Hut, Tumi and Longchamp – all of which are well-established at Frankfurt Airport – are also bolstering the retail mix in Terminal 3 with their product portfolios, which range from premium sunglasses across purses and travel luggage all the way to fashion accessories. Following a long break, Victoria's Secret is celebrating a comeback with an exclusive selection of lingerie, the brand's trademark fragrances, body care products and accessories. The shop's design communicates this label's new international concept with a modern interpretation of elegance. The store will be operated by Setur GmbH, a global player in the travel retail business. Giesen adds: 'The new terminal building, with its urban chic, is an outstanding setting for presenting these brands and concepts. During the selection process, we went out of our way to ensure that our concessionaires present themselves here with unique designs and unmistakable accents. Passengers will fondly remember the shopping experience in Terminal 3 for a long time to come.' Distinctive, unique and intentionally 'typically German' The Falke brand has also been present at Frankfurt Airport for 12 years, and is now about to extend its success story to Terminal 3. It sells a collection of stockings and selected apparel for the whole family to use in everyday life and while exercising. Like Montblanc, Falke – as an 'authentic European brand' – blends German traditions with a high international standard of quality and esthetics. 'Our retail landscape reflects the outstanding connectivity and internationality of Frankfurt Airport as a global air traffic hub,' states Giesen. 'At the same time, we attach great importance to ensuring a unique shopping experience that reflects the local culture. We're therefore also making room for concepts that are traditionally at home here. In the new Terminal 3, we're going to showcase our modern interpretations of 'typically German' and 'typically European'. We're at home here: at the heart of Hesse, Germany and Europe. And we're actively emphasizing this.' It's in this special context that the shops 'Germany On My Mind' and 'Germany's Selection', both of which belong to the Wöllhaf group, play a role. In a warm, bright and welcoming ambiance, Germany On My Mind offers well-known German products and workmanship in the categories of souvenirs, food, accessories, design and lifestyle, plus a range of high-value, emotionally appealing products for children. It's fun to explore the carefully arranged and lovingly presented merchandise, which keeps the memory of visiting the shop alive – for passengers or for their loved ones at home. Supplementing this souvenir concept in the central marketplace, Wöllhaf is also offering a similar range of products in a Germany's Selection shop in Pier J. Financial services and tax refunds The Change Group is debuting as a new provider at Frankfurt Airport, where it will operate a total of five outlets and 12 ATMs in Terminal 3. Under the Prosegur Change brand name, its services include exchanging more than 50 currencies, international money transfers, a travel money online service, and tax refunds. Global Blue also provides a tax refund service at two locations in the terminal. Public area geared to arriving and departing passengers Two of the six convenience stores, located in the publicly accessible part of Terminal 3, belong to the Relay chain owned by Lagardère. Relay provides travelers with snacks, beverages, books and periodicals, and travel articles. Lagardère also operates two food areas in the arrivals hall. There are also two restaurants in the departures hall that are run by Avolta. In January, Fraport announced its cooperation with Lagardère and Avolta in the 22 food outlets of FRA's new Terminal 3, which is located in the south of the airport. Six car rental companies – Avis/Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt and Wheego – will have counters in Terminal 3's arrivals hall. REWE To Go, a self-service supermarket concept operated by Lekkerland, will roll out the same self-service concept in Terminal 3 that it is already operating in the arrivals hall of Terminal 1.
