Budapest Airport has marked 20 years of a closely-held partnership with Heinemann Duty Free. First opening for business at the Hungarian gateway in 1998, the airport’s largest commercial partner has continuously been at the core of Budapest’s shopping experience.
Kam Jandu, CCO Budapest Airport, presents Ildikó Jankovich, Director, Hungarian Heinemann Duty Free, with 20 bottles of exclusive 20-year-old Villanyi Cuvee wine to mark their 20th year of operations at the Hungarian gateway.
“Gebr. Heinemann has always been a loyal and important business partner for the airport,” explains Kam Jandu, CCO Budapest Airport. “Providing a unique retail offering for all our customers, together we have expanded and established a successful duty free operation which has become the pillar of our shopping experience.”
Heinemann now operates 2,320sqm of retail space in Budapest Airport’s SkyCourt, including a central walkthrough shop, two boarding gate shops, three specialist fashion stores, a Victoria’s Secret unit, and a multi-brand accessories store.
As part of an active working relationship, Budapest and Heinemann create many marketing initiatives together, the last five years alone presenting 30 local brands Trinity promotions, three international collaborations, and an inaugural co-branded loyalty programme (Heinemann & Me).
Key to the partnership has been the focus on Hungarian products and with dedication to this cause together, Budapest Airport and Heinemann, have become one of the largest export points for local produce. Bestsellers such as Pick Salami, Zwack Unicum, Tokaj wine and chocoMe, among others, have become worldwide names.
“For years now we have placed special emphasis on supporting the products of Hungarian manufacturers,” says Ildikó Jankovich, Director, Hungarian Heinemann Duty Free. “It is no coincidence that our Budapest shop is number one in Heinemann’s entire European network in the distribution of original, branded food items. Over the past years, the proportion of Hungarian premium category products reached 25% of our turnover, which is an exceptionally good result and also meets the demands of foreign passengers. During the past five years we featured no less than 30 different Hungarian products in our Trinity promotions, involving the duty free item, the producer and the airport.”
