ALBANIA: Lagardère Travel Retail and Kastrati Group Open New Duty Free Store at Durrës Port to Serve Growing Passenger Flows

From left to right: Catherine Suard, Ambassador of France to Albania, Kreshnik Bajraktari, General Director of the Port of Durrës, Stanislav Beranek CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail Albania

(IN BRIEF) Lagardère Travel Retail has opened a new 100m² duty free store at Albania’s Port of Durrës through its joint venture with Kastrati Group, further expanding its presence in the country after launching operations at Tirana International Airport. The store, situated in the port’s transit zone, offers a wide range of international brands alongside Albanian specialties, catering to ferry passengers traveling between Albania and Italy. The launch ceremony was attended by French Ambassador Catherine Suard, Port Director Kreshnik Bajraktari, and CEO Stanislav Beranek. The project highlights Lagardère Travel Retail’s continued investment in Albania’s growing tourism and transport infrastructure.

(PRESS RELEASE) PARIS, 14-Oct-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Lagardère Travel Retail has strengthened its footprint in Albania with the opening of a new 100m² duty free store at the Port of Durrës, operated by Lagardère Travel Retail Albania — a joint venture between Lagardère Travel Retail and Kastrati Group. The launch marks another milestone in the company’s growth strategy in the Balkans, following the successful inauguration of its duty free operations at Tirana International Airport earlier this year.

Located in the transit area just beyond the border checkpoint, the new store offers a curated selection of premium products across key categories including tobacco, alcohol, perfumes, and cosmetics. The assortment blends internationally renowned brands with local Albanian specialties such as raki, wine, sweets, and handcrafted souvenirs — creating an experience that captures both global sophistication and the country’s distinctive charm.

Serving close to one million passengers annually, the Port of Durrës is Albania’s busiest maritime hub and a vital link for ferry traffic between Albania and Italy. The new duty free store is designed to enhance the travel experience for both tourists and locals by combining convenience, competitive pricing, and a welcoming retail atmosphere that aligns with Lagardère Travel Retail’s mission to enrich every journey through world-class service.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Catherine Suard, Ambassador of France to Albania; Kreshnik Bajraktari, General Director of the Port of Durrës; and Stanislav Beranek, CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail Albania. The company also acknowledged Simon Harm, Administrator of A.F.T.O shpk (Albanian Ferry Terminal Operator), for his contribution to the project’s successful delivery.

Stanislav Beranek commented: “This opening is an exciting new step for Lagardère Travel Retail in Albania. After our success at Tirana International Airport, we are delighted to continue our partnership with Kastrati Group and bring our global retail expertise to the country’s main maritime gateway. Our goal is to create a modern and authentic shopping environment that enhances the travel experience for all passengers passing through Durrës.”

About Lagardère Travel Retail
Lagardère Travel Retail, a subsidiary of Louis Hachette Group (through Lagardère Group), an international group listed on Euronext Growth Paris, is a leading global Travel Retailer, with the longest standing expertise of serving the needs of travelers and partners across Travel Essentials, Duty Free & Fashion and Dining. Lagardère Travel Retail operates over 5,000 stores in airports, railway stations and other concessions in over 50 countries, and has generated €7.6 bn in sales (100%) in 2024.
​We harness our pioneering culture to make travel more enjoyable with bespoke offers and experiences. We invest our world-class global expertise and local knowledge to design value-creating partnerships and experiences for our stakeholders: landlords, brands, travelers, employees and communities.  ​ We actively champion the more sustainable future of Travel Retail through our comprehensive CSR strategy, covering all aspects of where we, as a business, have an impact and can make a difference.
www.lagardere-tr.com  ●  @LagardereTR

Lagardère Travel Retail – Contact
Gaëtan Labardin – Corporate Communication & External Affairs Manager
presse@lagardere.fr

SOURCE: Lagardère