Lambert-St. Louis Airport Picks Hudson JV for News/Gift/Specialty Concessions

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Aug. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of the program to enhance the shopping experience at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL), HG-St. Louis JV is delighted to announce that it has been approved by the St. Louis Airport Commission for the award of a 10-year contract to operate the retail concessions program in the airport.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20060705/NYW034LOGO )

HG-St. Louis JV is a joint venture comprised of Hudson Group (HG) Retail, LLC; Final Phase Marketing, Inc., based in St. Louis; OHM Concession Group, LLC of St. Ann, Missouri; and Newburns Management Group, LLC, an experienced ACDBE operator.

Upon final approval of the contract by the City of St Louis, HG-St. Louis JV will deliver 14 new stores, including three distinct newsstand brands – Hudson, Ebony News and CNN Newsstand – St. Louis.

Hudson: The future of newsstands is here, with our latest generation "Hudson" shop.  Hudson takes the best of our Hudson News shops and enhances them with a new, fresh look.  We've reorganized and refined our layout and product mix to better match the latest trends in traveler demands. Just as Hudson News has set the standard for magazines and books (through our proprietary Hudson Booksellers) and travelers' necessities for the past 25 years, our new Hudson store sets the new standard for the coming decade, with its streamlined look and accent on technology, healthy snacks and highly efficient "shopability."

Ebony News: On the outside, this newsstand is branded with the leading publication catering to African-Americans, Ebony magazine. Founded in 1945 by the late John Johnson, head of Johnson Publishing, Ebony burst onto the publishing scene. From its earliest days, through its latest issues, this revered and respected magazine has set new standards in covering news of interest to the black community, inspiring instant loyalty and recognition. In cities across the United States, Ebony was the first publication on the scene to chronicle events important to civil rights.

Inside, the store is 100% Hudson, with the same high standards of quality, operation and service that Hudson has delivered in newsstands across North America and around the world.

CNN Newsstand – St. Louis: The most trusted name in international news teams with nationally branded Hudson to provide travelers with travelers' necessities and convenience items, plus live news feeds in the stimulating setting reminiscent of a real television newsroom. CNN is recognized around the world and CNN Newsstands are an exclusive concept that only HG-St. Louis JV can bring to STL.

One of the Hudson newsstands features a special section devoted entirely to the delectable indulgence of confectionery bliss from Natalie's Candy Jar, a successful candy concept with extensive experience catering to airport customers.

Another Hudson newsstand features Natalie's plus a section called St. Louis Sports. Here employees and travelers of STL can obtain licensed merchandise from local college and professional sports teams, as well as mementos of famous St. Louis sports figures from Yogi Berra and Jerome Bettis to Sam Bradford and Carlos Beltran, presented in an appealing ballpark setting.  

A third Hudson store features a wide range of U.S. Post Office products and services.   

The HG-St. Louis JV team will also deliver a range of specialty retail brands with local, national and international personality, along with the latest trends in retailing, to the concessions program of STL:

Discover St. Louis:  This eclectic and ever changing boutique will feature souvenirs and mementos from all the leading cultural institutions in the city, including all the attractions at the Jefferson National Parks (including The Gateway Arch), Peabody Opera, St. Louis Art Museum, as well as entertainment attractions like the St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Blues and Washington University of St. Louis.

Eddie Bauer:  Classic outerwear, legendary down and casual denim, khakis, other apparel and accessories and footwear – Eddie Bauer offers a full range of styles to complete the casual wardrobe for both men and women. Lewis & Clark would have loved this store, with its high-tech gear and outfits to face down any kind of weather conditions.

Spectacles: The most well-known classical, fashion and sport sunglasses available anywhere are featured in two sleek and modern shops. It's all here: the world's most complete portfolio of premium sunglass brands including the latest designs from Oakley, Versace, Prada, Bulgari, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan, Ray Ban, Burberry, Ralph Lauren, and many more in an ever-changing array of colors and styles.

Bliss: This lotions and potions store doesn't take itself too seriously. But it is serious about connecting travelers to personal grooming products to make their trip more comfortable. Bliss is an island of calm in the busy airport, the ideal place to find spa products and get information from experts who can help anyone feel and look their best, while reliving the stress that travel can bring.

Kids Works: For families traveling through the airport together, or for adults looking for the ideal gift for the youngsters in their lives, Kids Works is the answer. This is a fun, well-organized space, where youngsters are encouraged to try before they buy. Kids Works offers only quality, brand name items, sorted by age groups: interesting and exciting educational toys, crafts, travels games, plush, dolls, the latest fads, children's books and licensed apparel. 

Said Joe DiDomizio, President & CEO of Hudson Group: "Our expert team of designers, merchandisers, marketers, concessions operators and developers canvassed the airport and the City to produce this proposal for innovative concessions at STL. We are proud to say that we have developed for the airport a concessions program that will exceed the core convenience needs of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport's employees and travelers. Our 14 stores will offer a wide selection of fun, compelling and up-to-date retail brands and concepts -- local, regional, national and international names that will appeal both to residents and visitors to St. Louis, as called for in the solicitation."

All the shops will be operated according to the highest standards of each brand. That means that associates are trained by brand personnel of Eddie Bauer, Bliss, and Natalie's and as well as proprietary brands -- to ensure that they are well-versed in all aspects of the products, merchandising and marketing. Training goes on throughout the year, with frequent rewards to those associates who demonstrate the highest levels of sales and customer satisfaction.

About Hudson Group: Hudson Group, the largest duty-paid travel retailer in North America, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of international duty-free travel retailer Dufry AG (DUFN) of Basel, Switzerland. The company operates some 650 Hudson News, Hudson Booksellers, cafes,  specialty retail and duty free shops in 70 airports and transportation terminals in the United States and Canada, and additional newsstands in 12 more countries around the world. The combined Dufry/Hudson entity oversees over 1,160 stores in 46 countries and 160 airports and terminals.

For more information, please visit www.hudsongroup.com  and www.dufry.com.

SOURCE Hudson Group