Le Marché Duty Free invests for growth as it marks first year of Eurotunnel partnership
Le Marché Duty Free, the first overseas venture of Ospree Duty Free, says it has delivered strong sales growth in its first year.
FRANCE/UK. Le Marché Duty Free, Ospree Duty Free’s first overseas venture, has marked a year of retail operations at Eurotunnel’s French terminal in Coquelles.
The company, a subsidiary of Mumbai Travel Retail Private Limited (MTRPL) – the joint venture between Adani Airport Holdings Limited and Flemingo Travel Retail – said it had delivered double-digit sales growth in the year.
Management from Le Shuttle (Eurotunnel’s train service between Calais and Folkestone) and Le Marché Duty Free recently held their first joint strategic partnership Planning Day in Calais. A key project will be the delivery of a new store concept later this year that the partners said will “take the retail proposition to a new level”.
The partners hailed a quick transition to the new business a year ago, adding that two additional retail points were added in the following three months — one dedicated to the Eurotunnel teams and another catering to freight drivers travelling to the UK. Following the recent closure of the UK duty free freight shop Le Marché is currently the only duty-free store available to all freight passengers using Le Shuttle.
A new warehouse opened in November 2024, boosting Le Marché’s capacity to meet demand through enhanced stock control, reduced stockouts and consistent product availability. In addition, a people transition plan is underway to deliver training and development to the in-store teams.
The retailer put the annual sales performance down to Ospree Duty Free’s “collaborative strategic retail approach, marketing and customer engagement, and robust category management”. The buying power of Ospree Duty Free, coupled with local buying and knowledge, has played a key role in the growth story, said Le Marché Duty Free.
To lift the shopping experience, many brands have been given enhanced space. Recent activations around the art of cheese making and promotion of local wines have featured under the ‘Le Marché Presents’ banner. Many more activations and brand launches are planned for 2025.
Le Marché Duty Free is also set to launch an online pre-order platform for Le Shuttle passengers and work with Le Shuttle to add value to its loyalty programmes for both the main and freight shops.
“My team and I are proud to be part of this ambitious journey,” said Le Marché Duty Free Country Head Jean-Philippe Picquet. “The rapid and seamless transition of operations, coupled with our commitment to customer-centric offerings, has positioned us for sustained growth.”
Ospree Duty Free CEO Gaurav Singh said: “This partnership marks a significant milestone for Ospree Duty Free as we expand our global footprint. Our strategic collaboration with Eurotunnel Le Shuttle is one of the first steps of our global ambition. By combining our expertise with Le Shuttle’s extensive experience, we are delivering unparalleled value to travellers and setting new standards in retail travel.
“Le Marché team along with the support and guidance from Le Shuttle management have managed to turn around the business and given us confidence in our first global venture.”
Ospree Duty Free said the performance of Le Marché Duty Free “marks a significant step in its broader vision to expand across Europe and the UK”.
“The reintroduction of duty-free services for passengers travelling to the UK has created an exciting opportunity to redefine engagement and enhance the retail experience,” said Eurotunnel, Le Shuttle Chief Commercial Officer Deborah Merrens.
“Le Marché and Le Shuttle teams have worked closely together to deliver exceptional results, ensuring a seamless shopping experience for customers. Our collaboration with Ospree (Mumbai Travel Retail Private Limited) is a great step forward, and we are excited about the future of this partnership.”
