Heinemann Duty Free is now present at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg. The first two shops of the German travel retailer in Russia have been open for business since late last year.

The two units comprise 339m² and 114m² of shop space respectively, and offer air travellers the opportunity to purchase internationally recognized brands at bargain prices. Whether it is perfumes and cosmetics from Lancôme, spirits from Hennessy or Russian Standard, cigars, other tobacco products or confectionery, Heinemann Duty Free brings a collection of fine products to the airport, which is located around 14km south of the centre of St. Petersburg and named after the district of Pulkovo.

“St. Petersburg represents another important step as we continue to establish the Heinemann Duty Free retail brand in all key markets around the world”, explains Claus Heinemann, owner of shop operator Gebr. Heinemann. The company has a wealth of Russian retail experience, with Russia and the CIS amongst Gebr. Heinemann’s three largest sales regions. Its distribution operations supply a large number of Russian airport and border shops, ferry-based outlets, airlines and diplomatic services. As a retailer in its own right, Gebr. Heinemann also operates duty free shops at the Moscow-Domodedovo, Moscow-Sheremetyevo and Kiev (Ukraine) airports in cooperation with local partners

It was in 2009 that Northern Capital Gateway – a project vehicle comprising Frankfurt-based airport operator Fraport AG and its partners – took over the management of St. Petersburg’s airport and awarded a concession contract to Gebr. Heinemann. With the airport serving as the main transport hub in one of Russia’s most popular holiday regions and the Russian air traffic market exhibiting continuous growth, Fraport aims to expand capacity there in the future. Claus Heinemann: “In 2013 there will be a tender process for the new terminal in St. Petersburg, and we hope to make a successful bid once again – particularly as we have identified outstanding potential for growth in both air passenger numbers and the travel retail sector here in Russia.”

For more information, please see www.heinemann-dutyfree.com.