Lagardère Travel Retail wins tender to operate duty free at London Luton Airport
Lagardère Travel Retail is delighted to announce that it has been selected to operate duty free stores at London Luton Airport following a competitive tender. Under this ten-year contract, the company will undertake a comprehensive extension of its main duty free store at the airport, where Lagardère Travel Retail has been operating since 2005. By the end of the concession, the company will have managed London Luton’s duty free stores uninterrupted for over thirty years.
The new concession begins on November 1, 2026, and will bring a significant increase in duty free retail space—from the current 2,530 m² to 3,340 m². The main departures store will grow by more than 40%, from 1,870 m² to 2,680 m², giving Lagardère Travel Retail the opportunity to significantly enhance the shopping experience at one of the UK’s busiest airports.
In line with London Luton’s vision to create a shopping experience that is “unexpected, immersive, and seriously fun”, Lagardère Travel Retail will deliver a completely reimagined store that is easy to navigate, enjoyable to shop, and full of surprises.
To prepare for the new concession, Lagardère Travel Retail has designed a brand-new commercial proposition for London Luton’s enlarged duty free store. Under the concept “Luton is the new cool”, the offer combines a comprehensive range of international brands with curated displays and a distinctive sense of place showcasing local heroes. Passengers will discover an exclusive Bottega Bar, developed specifically for London Luton and integrated within the duty free store.
The extended offer will also feature iconic British and local brands such as Fortnum & Mason, Creed, Charlotte Tilbury, and Cadbury, alongside a dedicated space for sustainable products—setting a fresh standard for duty free retailing.
Commenting on the award, Peter Newbould, Chief Executive Officer UK & Ireland at Lagardère Travel Retail, said:
"This is a proud moment for all of us at Lagardère Travel Retail UK & Ireland. Our teams have worked tirelessly on this tender and I am delighted that London Luton Airport have recognised our determination to take the quality of duty free retail to a new level here. We’ve built a strong platform in Luton over recent years but we can always do more to ensure we meet the changing needs of our customers.
I’d like to thank and congratulate our teams not only in the UK but in Paris and around the world for their help in securing this success, and I know they are fully mobilised to ensure we deliver on our promises. I would also like to sincerely thank all at London Luton Airport for their trust. We look forward to working closely with them to achieve our common goals together.
Securing the new concession at London Luton gives us an excellent platform to continue our development in the UK across our three business lines – duty free & fashion, travel essentials and dining. Through a relentless focus on quality and delivering value for our partners and our customers, we will achieve our ambitions for growth."
Mark Jennings, Head of Retail and Surface Access at London Luton Airport, commented:
"Lagardère Travel Retail has proved its credentials in duty free over many years at London Luton Airport and we are delighted to continue our collaboration with them. Several companies provided excellent, detailed responses to the tender, and we thank them all for their professionalism. Lagardère Travel Retail’s proposal stood out for its quality and for matching our assessment of the potential of the duty free business at London Luton. Our plans to raise the bar for retailing at the airport are ambitious, and we look forward to working with Lagardère Travel Retail in this new chapter for commercial activities at Luton."
