Having operated the travel retail business at Sharjah International Airport for the past 30 years through the joint venture, Dufry Sharjah, Avolta is expanding its operations and creating innovative formats, bringing the first of its kind hybrid concept in the world, besides the recently opened one at Milan Malpensa Airport in Italy, that offers a fully integrated consumer experience across shopping and enjoying relaxing and tasty breaks. 

Based on the innovative concept “Refuel, Recharge, Restock”, Sharjah’s Hudson Café combines the Retail, Bookstore and Food & Beverage businesses, providing travel essentials alongside a selection of books and magazines, mobile phones and mobile accessories, and a wide range of beverages and food. 

Thanks to the collaboration with global brand partner, Mondelez World Travel Retail, the new Hudson Café will showcase a careful selection of Toblerone confectionery products, demonstrating the partnership’s shared goal to drive innovation and to deliver a new premium experience to passengers by bringing together F&B and Travel Retail expertise.

Set within the Hudson Café, travelers are invited to engage with the Toblerone experience, tasting deliciously Toblerone desserts exclusive to Sharjah International Airport, alongside an expansive confectionery offering that features some of the brand’s latest products, bringing its New Equity design to life. The shop-in-shop further delivers a unique experience through interactive touchpoints like Mondelez WTR’s digitally advanced Toblerone sleeve printer, enabling consumers to personalise the iconic 360g bar’s sleeve with text and images. Together, these elements enhance the dynamic concept to create a truly experiential travel retail encounter that entertains and surprises. 

“Sharjah Airport values its partnership with Avolta and other partners, emphasizing that these relationships are fundamental in reaching the airport's objective of supporting the increasing flow of passengers and customers”, commented Sharjah International Airport Authority. “The goal is to elevate the airport's role as a premier international gateway, offering passengers access to unmatched services, world-class shopping experiences, and top-quality facilities.”

“The opening of the new store marks another important step in our journey to deliver a world-class customer experience to passengers visiting Sharjah International Airport and in our expansion strategy for the Middle East market,” commented Alexandre Tabacoff, General Manager Sharjah, Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait, Avolta. “As we journey towards our Destination 2027 strategy, our commitment and our vision is to meet the evolving needs of our customers, developing increasingly innovative concepts with a multi-sector offering, looking forward to revolutionize the traveler’s airport experience. Through Dufry Sharjah and together with our global brand partner at Mondelez World Travel Retail, we are offering a first of its kind hybrid concept that elevates customers’ brand knowledge and experience here in Sharjah. I would like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere thanks to Sharjah International Airport with whom we have an excellent relationship, and to our team for their dedication and hard work to significantly improve the passenger experience at all stages of their journey.”

"At Mondelez World Travel Retail, we believe in delighting travelers through the transformative power of partnership and the ability to deliver experiences that cannot be enjoyed anywhere else. Our collaboration with Avolta and Dufry Sharjah at Hudson Café in Sharjah International Airport marks a significant milestone in our commitment to creating memorable moments for passengers,” commented Beatriz De Otto, Head of Customer Marketing, Mondelez World Travel Retail. “Through our collaborative efforts and this innovative hybrid concept, we are seamlessly blending confectionery products with exceptional experiences. We hope to exceed passenger expectations and elevate their journeys with a truly indulgent encounter that can only be enjoyed at Hudson Cafe."