Convenience retailer WHSmith has been awarded a three-year deal worth €25m (US$28m) to open four stores in terminals 1 and 2 at Helsinki Airport in Finland. The store openings will begin in late 2016 with completion set for early 2017.
Concessionaire SSP Finland, a long-time partner of airport operator Finavia, will be responsible for operating the new stores. Finavia has been in close collaboration with both WHSmith and SSP Finland to integrate the look of the new shops with Helsinki Airport and provide a selection to match the needs of customers.
Elena Stenholm, vice president of commercial services at Helsinki Airport, said, “It is a pleasure to have yet another international operator arrive in Finland. Large global companies are now more interested in Helsinki Airport as a place of business than ever before. This demand and interest shows that we have developed the airport and its commercial services in the right direction for efficiency and profitability.
“WHSmith has a long history of international trade and experience in operating at travel hubs. This expertise, combined with our local know-how, will ensure that the needs of both domestic and international customers will be met. We will monitor the sales of all our shops and constantly adjust the selection based on demand.”
