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Avolta, a Swiss-based travel retail corporation specializing
in duty-free and duty-paid shops and convenience stores in global airports, has
announced an investment exceeding $5 million in Nigeria’s aviation industry
since 2015.
During the official inauguration of Avolta’s duty-free
stores at the new terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA)
in Lagos, Abdeslam Agzoul, CEO for Avolta, Middle East and Africa, revealed
that the investments encompass duty-free stores, innovations, infrastructure,
and products.
Mr. Agzoul stated that the company, which has been operating
in Nigeria since 2015, currently has stores at the Lagos and Abuja airports.
Additionally, he revealed that the company has made
significant investments in training its personnel and has introduced
internationally renowned brands in the perfume, cosmetics, alcohol, food,
fashion, and other categories to the Nigerian market.
He conveyed his enthusiasm regarding the recently launched
stores, emphasizing that the new generation store incorporates cutting-edge
technology, such as self-checkout tools, which enhance the sales and purchasing
experience for customers.
During his address, Agzoul expressed gratitude to the
company’s local partner, Olivier Meyer, representing Marport Services Nigeria
Ltd.
Regarding the company’s Destination 2027 strategy, it is
centered around a customer-centric approach, with a specific focus on the
travel retail customer.
“Our Nigerian staff count exceeds 50, and they are
predominantly young. We aim to solidify our presence in Nigeria and Africa as a
whole. Nigeria ranks among the top three economies in Africa, presenting an
opportunity for us to expand our airport business in collaboration with the
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to maximize benefits for Nigeria,”
Agzoul elaborated.
In Nigeria, there is a notable increase in air passenger
traffic. Avolta aims to actively participate in this growth and adapt to the
evolving customer preferences.
He further explained that this is the reason the company is
introducing new brands and products that satisfy the expectations of air
travelers.
Agzoul stated that Avolta has a presence in more than 73
countries with 5,100 outlets globally.
At the event, Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku, the managing director
of FAAN, expressed her delight in witnessing the significant growth and
investments at the airport. She highlighted the opening of the duty-free store,
which adheres to international standards, and encouraged the company to
maintain this high level of quality.
She praised Avolta for utilizing technology and innovation
to enhance the passenger experience.
She further affirmed FAAN’s dedication to fostering an
investment-friendly and business-conducive environment at the airports.