Emirates Leisure Retail Australia (ELRA) has nabbed four key Food and Beverage (F&B) concessions at Cairns Airport, in a highly contested tender process that concluded at the end of last year.

The four concessions – which include three in the international terminal and one in the domestic terminal – are ELRA’s first at Cairns Airport and are scheduled to open in stages following the commencement of works in March 2018.

ELRA will bring the Hudsons Coffee brand to the international terminal as well as a modern kitchen and bar concept. ELRA will also operate cafes in the international terminal arrivals hall and the check-in hall of the domestic terminal.

“We’re delighted to welcome an operator of ELRA’s quality and standing to join us here at Cairns Airport,” said Cairns Airport CEO Norris Carter.

“They impressed us with their award winning F&B concepts. We look forward to them joining our existing F&B partners in bringing a wide range of offers to support our burgeoning passenger market”.

ELRA managing director, Adam Summerville, said the recent introduction of scheduled services by China Southern Airlines and Hainan Airlines, as well as increased frequencies by Silk Air, Jin Air and Hong Kong Airlines provided “terrific opportunities”.

“As a region, Cairns has a strong agricultural base and the local supply chain offers an abundance of fresh produce including seafood, exotics such as crocodile and kangaroo, beef and meats of all types, dairy, vegetables and tropical fruits – not to mention local brewers, distillers, coffee, tea and chocolate producers,” he said.

“We will explore opportunities to incorporate the best of what Tropical North Queensland has to offer in our outlets. In our experience, passengers respond well to the freshness and uniqueness of local offers”.

Access exclusive analysis, locked news and reports with Inside Retail Weekly. Subscribe today and get our premium print publication delivered to your door every week.