Airport Experience® News - Retail & Services Issue 2025

Left: Paradies Lagardère has seen great success evolving its travel essentials stores into hybrid concepts that offer everything from snacks and convenience items to specialty tech and retail products and more (Adina’s Market at San Antonio International Airport shown).

what customers expect from 7-Eleven: fresh, craveable and convenient food on the go. From 7-Select private branded snacks, fresh sandwiches or ready-to-eat salads, every item is designed with travelers’ unique needs in mind,” says a spokesperson for the brand. “This opening at LAX demonstrates how we can successfully translate our trusted convenience model into fast-paced, high-traffic settings with unique customer needs.” Roberts adds that food has also become a standout category in the souvenir space in the form of “giftable food items, such as locally made sweets, regional snacks and artisanal treats.” After food and beverages, travel electronics like chargers and headphones remain top-selling items. “In addition, travel comfort products like neck pillows remain consistently strong performers and we’ve also seen continued interest in wellness items such as immunity boosters and sanitizers, along with branded reusable water bottles and insulated drinkware, which align with growing sustainability preferences,” Roberts says. Brittney Matlock, co-founder and CEO of Plenty Mercantile , which has a store in partnership with Paradies Lagardère at Will Rogers World Airport (OKC), says that in addition to tech products, self care items remain on trend. “Fragrances, including small perfumes and candles, are performing well – they’re easy to shop, capture the senses, simple to pack and the price points are reasonable,” she says. “We’re also seeing thoughtful guided journals and self-improvement-oriented gifts move well. Simple, interesting, mid-level price-point jewelry is also making people slow down in stores and increasing ticket sales.” Hope Remoundos, COO of North America for Avolta , parent company of travel retailer Hudson , notes that she’s seen traveler demands leaning toward stores having a much broader variety of options. “Our data points toward several major themes in the evolution of news and gift concepts: more local and destination themed products; increased health, wellness and lifestyle items; and sustainable products,” she says.

ELEVATED

reading materials and snacks, but a curated mix of products that serve the modern traveler’s needs, from tech and wellness items to elevated grab-and-go food and destination-driven merchandise,” she says. “Today’s assortments are more purpose driven, blending utility, indulgence and meaningful mementos to elevate the overall travel experience.” Trending Products Roberts notes that as airlines have been scaling back in-flight food options in recent years, food has become an important category for travel essentials stores. “There’s been a major increase in demand

for convenient, high-quality grab and go food and beverage options,” she says. “We’ve responded by expanding our assortments to include fresh snacks, premium packaged foods and better-for-you options.” According to Bisset, snacks, beverages, and grab and go food lead sales at Paradies Lagardère’s travel essentials stores, generally accounting for more than 60 percent of the total sales mix combined. Aiming to capitalize on this trend, 7-Eleven opened an in-terminal airport location at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) earlier this year. “The product mix at our new LAX location is thoughtfully tailored to the needs of airport travelers while staying true to the core of

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AX NEWS SEPTEMBER 2025