Lagardère Travel Retail Secures Landmark Deal in Cambodia

The contract represents Lagardère’s first direct duty-free operation in Asia and signals a major advancement in its regional development plans

France’s Lagardère Travel Retail has sealed a landmark deal in Cambodia, marking a significant milestone for the company in the Asia-Pacific region. Lagardère will use a profit-sharing model for the first time to run its three main business lines: food service, travel essentials, and duty-free and fashion.

In partnership with HSC Group, the operator of Burger King and Paris Baguette franchises in Cambodia, Lagardère Travel Retail has signed a 12-year contract with Cambodia Airport Investment Company (CAIC). This agreement covers the retail and dining operations at the forthcoming Techo International Airport, located approximately 15 miles south of Phnom Penh. Eventually, Techo International Airport—designed by British architects Foster + Partners—will take the place of Phnom Penh International Airport, which handled around four million passengers in 2023. It is scheduled to open in 2025. The airport is a 2,600-hectare greenfield site developed by CAIC, a joint venture between Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation (OCIC) Group and the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation.

The contract represents Lagardère’s first direct duty-free operation in Asia and signals a major advancement in its regional development plans. The profit-sharing model, which aligns the interests of the operator and airport, is a pioneering approach in the region. Lagardère believes that this strategy has the ability to completely transform the travel retail sector. Séverine Lanthier, Lagardère Travel Retail’s Asia COO and chief strategy and development officer, hailed the agreement as a new chapter for the retailer. She believes that this innovative partnership with CAIC will set a precedent for future ventures in the industry.