BULGARIA. Avolta has opened a walkthrough retail store at Sofia International Airport in partnership with SOF Connect.
SOF Connect took over the management of the airport, the largest in Bulgaria, in 2021 for a 35-year period.
The 1,733sq m store, located in Terminal 2, is the latest opening following Avolta’s (then Dufry) tender win in 2022. According to the leading global travel experience player, the walkthrough store sets “a new benchmark for travel retail in Eastern European airports”.
The perfumes & cosmetics category takes centre stage, occupying 365sq m of floor space in the Sofia Duty Free store.
Notably, it features a Victoria’s Secret corner, the US lingerie and lifestyle brand’s only point-of-sale in Sofia. Other fashion brands featured include Longchamp, Furla and Guess.
A dedicated 200sq m area showcases local brands and products, enhancing sense of place; a Taste of Sofia bar offers travellers the chance to sample different local wines & spirits.
Avolta General Manager of Bulgaria Emil Georgiev commented: “We are immensely proud to unveil this new store to travellers. The opening marks a significant milestone in Avolta’s commitment to contribute to transforming Sofia Airport into a five-star facility, where travellers are more than happy to spend time.
“We would like to thank SOF Connect for the trust they’ve shown in us, and everyone at Avolta that has been involved in bringing this store to life, from the initial store concept to the efforts of the local team to make all of this happen.”
SOF Connect Chief Executive Officer Jesús Caballero added: “We are delighted to have this brand new and first-of-a-kind Avolta’s duty-free walk-through store as part of our retail offering and it fits perfectly with our ongoing commitment to provide a five-star shopping experience for our passengers.” ✈
