Hamburg/Sydney, 18 February 2015. International passengers at Sydney Airport will enjoy a brand new duty free retail experience, with Heinemann Duty Free commencing operations today.Heinemann is set to transform the duty free experience over the next year and will create a new, unique shopping experience with an extensive selection of brands at attractive prices and two dining concepts, headed by celebrity chef Luke Mangan."We conducted a worldwide tender process last year to find the duty free partner who would provide the best range and value for our customers and Heinemann, commencing at Sydney Airport today, is great news for the 13 million passengers who travel internationally through Sydney each year," Sydney Airport managing director and chief executive officer Kerrie Mather said.

"Heinemann is the world’s third largest travel retailer and it has the extensive global expertise and buying power to create a new and dynamic retail offer that will be one of the most exciting duty free experiences of any airport globally."Some of our fastest growing markets are China, India, Malaysia and Korea and Heinemann will revitalise our duty free offer with brands and concepts that cater to our unique market."We are looking forward to working with Heinemann over the next year to transform the airport’s duty free stores and create a retail experience that draws inspiration from our fantastic city," Ms Mather said.

Gebr. Heinemann owner Gunnar Heinemann, in Sydney for the launch, said it was an important day for the company, a 135-year-old independent, family owned company based in Hamburg, Germany."Sydney Airport is one of the world’s top duty free concessions, and has long been on our list of must-have locations. Our arrival in Sydney means that Gebr. Heinemann is now active on five continents," he said.

Heinemann Asia Pacific chief executive officer Max Heinemann said travellers at Sydney Airport would make significant savings on duty free items."Sydney is a well-developed, attractive duty free market. Australian travellers are particularly frequent shoppers at arrivals shops, and are especially keen to take advantage of significant savings when compared with domestic prices," Max Heinemann said. "Given the ever-increasing number of Asian passengers, and in particular Chinese travellers, we predict strong growth in the Sydney duty free market. "We’re going to give passengers a fantastic retail experience with outstanding service and exclusive international brands at attractive prices."

Heinemann’s Sydney operations will employ a workforce of more than 550 staff, with the company set to invest more than AUD $60 million (over EUR €0 million) in its new location.

Exciting new concept to take shape over the next 12 months

Work will commence immediately on a refit of the duty free stores, to be staged over the next 11 months to minimise disruption to travellers. Five stores – three in departures and two in arrivals – will be completed in January 2016. A final store in arrivals will be open by mid-2016, taking the total to six.

The new Heinemann duty free shops are being designed by Gebr. Heinemann’s in-house design team in collaboration with the renowned Australian architectural firms Geyer and Lava. As with all Heinemann duty free shops, the design will incorporate a sense of place and in this instance, will be inspired by Sydney’s beautiful harbour, beaches and laid-back sophistication.

Heinemann Duty Free will offer travellers an extensive selection of perfumes and cosmetics, wines and spirits, confectionery, tobacco products and accessories. In addition to its core product range, Heinemann will also be offering a great collection of premium fashion and accessories brands, a large selection of toys and games, local and international delicacies and a local section featuring Australian products.

A broad range of electronic goods from local technology partner Move by Dick Smith will round out the range of products on offer. In addition, Heinemann will be implementing two catering concepts together with its Australian partners Trippas White Group and chef Luke Mangan.

Success through local presence

Heinemann already has a presence at Sydney Airport, opening the National Geographic and A Little Something stores in 2013. "The decision by Gebr. Heinemann to found a Singapore-based subsidiary – in the shape of Heinemann Asia Pacific – with the aim of thoroughly sounding out the Asian and Australian market and then using the knowledge gained to grow into the region has proved to be an excellent one," Raoul Spanger, Gebr. Heinemann managing director for retail, said.

"Heinemann Asia Pacific has used that solid foundation to prepare the ground for our success here in Sydney."

ABOUT HEINEMANN AUSTRALIA

Heinemann Australia Pty Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gebr. Heinemann, a 135-year-old family owned independent business based in Hamburg, Germany. Gebr. Heinemann is a global leader in travel retail and duty free, providing the international travel market with professional solutions as a retailer and a distributor.

Today, Gebr. Heinemann is active in more than 100 countries around the globe and operates 230 shops in 75 international airports and employing 6,000 staff to serve more than 34 million travellers each year.

In addition to duty free stores, concept and brand boutiques, Heinemann provides distribution services to the travel sector including in-flight, cruise liner and border outlets. The key to Heinemann’s continued success has been its ability to maintain enduring partnerships and foster mutual long-term growth with its business partners.

ABOUT SYDNEY AIRPORT

Sydney Airport is Australia’s gateway airport, serving more than 38 million passengers a year and connecting Sydney to a network of close to 90 international, domestic and regional destinations.

Located just eight kilometres from the city centre, Sydney Airport contributes $27.6 billion in economic activity a year, equivalent to six per cent of the NSW economy, while $64.7 billion of freight is moved through the airport each year.

Sydney Airport is a major employer in NSW, generating more than 283,700 direct and indirect jobs, equivalent to eight per cent of NSW employment. Some 28,000 of these jobs are at the airport itself.

Press contact:

Sydney Airport media

Tracy Ong

+61 2 9667 6470 or +61 437 033 479

Heinemann Australia

Sebastian Wiegandt

+65 9182 4721

Gebr. Heinemann

Svenja Strombeck

+49 40 3010 286