Airport Experience® News - Retail & Services Issue 2025

Kansas City International Airport (MCI) in our Made in Kansas City Marketplace and City Market concepts,” he says. “Other locally focused stores like Neighborgoods in Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Meel in Nashville International Airport (BNA) are also great examples of collaboration with local partners.” Hudson’s Remoundos points out that demand for locally made products reflects consumers’ growing interest in supporting small businesses and sustainable sourcing. “We’ve seen strong performance across a variety of categories from locally sourced snacks and artisanal soaps to regionally themed apparel and handcrafted gifts. In fact, we’re actively expanding these offerings in multiple locations due to continued demand and positive sales performance,” she notes. “Some examples include hand-poured candles made in Charleston, which consistently sell out in our southern coastal locations; locally designed apparel and accessories in Arizona and New Mexico that reflect regional art and desert color palettes; and small-batch snacks and confections from local vendors in the Pacific Northwest and New England that perform especially well in travel hubs.” She points to the recently opened East River Market and 149th & Grand in JFK’s Terminal 4 and Little Main St. @ OAK at Oakland International Airport (OAK) as concepts in the company’s portfolio that deliver a strong sense of place with their selections. Below, Right: Onsite Retailers’ Charm City Market at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport showcases Maryland-based food and snack brands. At Onsite News in Philadelphia International Airport, the company has had success with offering specialty tech products on a dedicated wall for a shop-in-shop approach.

Locally made products are one of the most in-demand categories across Onsite Retailers’ portfolio, Roberts says. “For example, Charm City Market at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) showcases Maryland-based brands such as Otterbein’s Cookies, Fisher’s Popcorn, Berger Cookies and McCormick spices. Similarly, at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), we carry local favorites like OMG! Pretzels and Tastykake products. These items not only resonate with visitors but also give us an opportunity to support small businesses and regional makers.” Anne Kennedy, senior buyer for Love From USA, notes that locally made products are a priority for the store, especially in the snack category. “There’s great pride in local and it’s at the heart of our mission, but it definitely needs a lot of attention to make local products successful by mentoring our vendors along the way to ensure they can be successful,” she says.

Category Hybridization As the travel essentials store has evolved in recent years, more and more specialty retail items are finding their way into the product mix. “Where space allows, incorporating specialty retail into our news and gift stores has been very successful, particularly when the products are highly recognizable, giftable or meet a need along a traveler’s journey,” Remoundos notes. “Travelers are responding well to curated selections of premium brands that elevate the overall experience and give the store more of a boutique feel, even within a travel convenience setting. We’re seeing success with national brands such as Vineyard Vines, Pura Vida, Vera Bradley and Rip Curl, which perform exceptionally well thanks to brand recognition. There’s added value in that these brands oftentimes will have curated selections that are specific to that destination that travelers may not find elsewhere.”

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AX NEWS SEPTEMBER 2025