Leading global travel retailers in 2019, based on turnover

Dufry was the leading global travel retailer, with a turnover amounting to approximately 8.1 billion euros in 2019. Lotte Duty Free, the Shilla Duty Free, and China Duty Free Group are other big names in the global travel retail industry. Dufry is a Swiss-based travel retailer that employed 31,336 people as of 2019. The company operates stores at airports, railway station and ports, as well as operating concessions a board airlines and cruise ships. Dufry owns World Duty Free, one of the world’s most popular travel retail brands.

Global travel retail industry

The travel retail industry is segmented based on product, channel, and region. Fragrances & cosmetics retail sales accounted for over a third of all duty free and travel retail sales as of 2018. Wine & spirits, and fashion & accessories are other popular travel retail product categories. Regionally, the Asia Pacific region had the largest market share of the global travel retail industry in 2018. Distribution channels are divided into airports, ferries, airlines, railway stations, borders, and such. As of 2018, airports accounted for over half of all travel and duty-free retail sales, making it the dominant distribution channel of duty free and travel retail. The travel retail market is mainly driven by tourists. The price advantage attributed to shopping duty free was the leading reason that consumers made duty free and travel retail purchases as of 2018.