Airport World, Issue 6, 2021

Page 34

RETAIL/F&B INNOVATION

Quick and easy Airport World reports on the opening of the world’s first digital duty free vending machine, the introduction of automated pizza kitchens at airports and the growth of food pick-up and delivery services.

T

he duty free industry recently celebrated a new first at Geneva Airport – the launch of the world’s first digital duty free vending machine. Lagardère Travel Retail Switzerland has partnered with Inflyter to introduce the new, innovative automated retail solution, which offers a fully digital airport duty free shopping experience for arriving passengers. And the travel retail giant is confident that the new custom-designed, digital outlet will generate incremental revenue and transform a high traffic airport zone into a self-service commercial space. Its introduction effectively means that passengers flying into Geneva Airport can order, pay and collect duty free items in under 60 seconds, offering them a fast and convenient way to shop when the Aelia Duty Free store might be closed. It also potentially provides an alternative shopping method for travellers who prefer a fully digital and contactless purchase experience. The automated retail solution allows travellers to buy directly from an interactive touch-screen menu of the bestselling duty free products, initially starting with tobacco. This digital unit can also cater for the sales of other duty free goods like fragrances, skincare, cosmetics and other duty paid goods (while the selling of alcohol is prohibited in Switzerland). Travel and age verification checks are made using an integrated scanner for boarding passports and identity cards, and once payment is made, the relevant compartment doors automatically open and the customer can retrieve their items, and the associated customs documentation and receipts are issued.

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AIRPORT WORLD/ISSUE 6, 2021

The vending unit has been positioned in the arrivals lounge outside the Aelia Duty Free store in Geneva Airport to complement the opening hours of the shop and maximise the opportunity of final impulse purchases at this final shopping touchpoint in the passenger journey. In addition to the large touchscreen on the front of the automated retail unit, there are two large sides screens providing the ability to showcase the bestselling products and digital media opportunities for brands to further extend their visibility, reach and deliver fully integrated, marketing campaigns across all available channels in the airport and in-store. “This new digital installation sees us launch our first fully automated, self-service sales channel which will optimise our operational costs while generating incremental revenue from what would be a non-viable commercial space at the airport,” enthused Lagardère Travel Retail Switzerland’s CEO, Pascal Le Droff. “With international passenger numbers starting to pick up, we want to be at the forefront of digital transformation and actively explore how we can offer innovation that better services our existing duty free shoppers and reach new ones.”

Vending machine pizzas Piping hot pizzas are now available from vending machines at airports courtesy of a three-element non-microwave speed oven inside the innovative new kiosks. Fully certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL and EPA-approved) in the US for meeting all regulatory requirements, Basil Street’s automated pizza kitchen


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