Dufry Group, the world’s leading travel retail operator, has opened the first GAP store in Spain at Málaga - Costa del Sol Airport. Julián Díaz, Dufry’s Chief Executive Officer, and Stefan Laban, Senior Vice President of Gap International, will attend the opening. The Spanish Minister for Public Works, Ana Pastor, specifically will visit the store after her tour around the airport commercial area, accompanied by José Manuel Vargas, Chairman of AENA, the Spanish airport operator.

This new retail space is the worldwide largest Gap brand store located in an airport, at almost three hundred square meters and offers classic, iconic clothing that helps customers express their individuality through its Gap, GapKids and babyGap collections.

Founded in San Francisco and since opening its doors in 1969, Gap brand has been known for offering consumers cool, modern American designs fit for every occasion in modern life. Customers worldwide have looked to the brand for on-trend; casual clothing and accessories that help them express their personal sense of style. This premier store makes the Gap brand available to Spanish consumers for the first time through a retail location.

Gap Inc. products are available for purchase in more than 90 countries worldwide through about 3,200 company-operated stores, over 400 franchise stores, and e-commerce sites.  Dufry has plans to open another four Gap stores in 2015, at Spain’s Ibiza, Gran Canaria, Tenerife Norte and Tenerife Sur airports. 

Dufry is the world’s leading airport retailer. It operates more than 1700 stores located in airports, train stations, cruise ships, seaports and other tourist spots in over 60 countries. Dufry is listed at the Swiss and Brazilian stock exchanges and has over 21,000 employees worldwide.

During 2014, Málaga Airport received nearly 14 million travelers, coming mostly from Spain and other European countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France and the Netherlands. It is currently the fourth busiest airport in Spain in terms of passenger volume. During the last few years,  AENA, has implemented a significant renovation plan at commercial and restaurants areas of most airports in the country, Malaga – Costa del Sol included, making them more attractive and convenient to travelers from all over the world.

Julián Díaz, Dufry’s Chief Executive Officer, highlights that: “Dufry is very proud that GAP has entrusted us with opening its first store in Spain, the worldwide largest in an airport. It is a pleasure for us to work with one of the world’s major fashion brands.”   

For his part, Stefan Laban, Senior Vice President of Gap International, adds: “We are thrilled to bring Gap’s casual American style to more customers in Europe.  Given the high affinity and brand awareness towards Gap with the Spanish consumers, we felt partnering with Dufry to create branded shopping experiences in the Malaga airport, as well as airports across Spain, is a terrific next step in our global expansion plans.”