Relay (store)

Relay (store)
Name	Relay
Type	Private
Industry	Retail
Founded	2000
Founder	Lagardère Travel Retail
Headquarters	Paris, France
Area served	Global (airports, railway stations, urban hubs)
Products	Newspapers, magazines, books, convenience items, travel accessories
Employees	10,000+ (est.)

Relay (store)

Relay is a retail chain specializing in newsstand and convenience-format outlets located primarily in transportation hubs. Originating as a concept tied to travel-oriented retailing, the brand has become synonymous with magazine, newspaper and light convenience merchandising at airports, railway stations and urban kiosks. Its operations tie closely to major transport operators, concession authorities and media publishers across Europe, Asia and the Americas.

History

Relay traces its roots to the expansion of travel retail in the late 20th century under the ownership of Lagardère Travel Retail, a division linked to the Lagardère Group and the legacy of Jean-Luc Lagardère. The chain emerged amid transformations in the retail portfolio of large publishing houses such as Hachette Livre and distribution networks associated with Groupe Hachette. Early growth occurred alongside deregulation and modernization initiatives in transport nodes like Gare du Nord, Charles de Gaulle Airport and international airports managed by operators such as Aéroports de Paris (ADP). In the 2000s Relay consolidated acquisitions from regional newsstand operators influenced by licensing and concession frameworks overseen by entities including SNCF, RATP, and private airport groups like VINCI Airports and Manchester Airports Group. The company adapted to shifts in print media consumption driven by platforms such as Amazon (company), Apple Inc. and digital publishers, while continuing to leverage relationships with legacy magazine publishers such as Time Inc., Condé Nast, and Hearst Communications.

Business model and operations

Relay operates on a concession-based model, negotiating retail rights with transport authorities and airport/rail operators including Heathrow Airport Holdings, Deutsche Bahn, and municipal authorities in major cities like Paris and Madrid. The company combines revenue streams from product sales, advertising concessions with media groups like Bauer Media Group and Conde Nast, and channel partnerships with logistics providers such as Geodis and DHL. Operationally, Relay employs point-of-sale systems interoperable with partners including NCR Corporation and Diebold Nixdorf, and integrates inventory management practices inspired by retailers like Metro AG and Walmart. Franchising and master-licence agreements permit local operators—often affiliated with groups such as Lagardère Travel Retail or independent franchisees tied to Dufry—to run stores under brand guidelines. Concession contracts typically stipulate service standards similar to retail arrangements with public transit authorities such as Transport for London (TfL) and rail consortia affiliated with Eurostar.

Products and services

Relay’s core assortment comprises periodicals, books, travel guides and maps from publishers like Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Reed Elsevier imprints, and specialised travel titles from Lonely Planet. Convenience items include snacks and beverages sourced from global brands such as Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Mars, Incorporated, along with travel accessories and electronics from suppliers like Anker and Sony. The chain often hosts local specialty products reflecting tenants of municipal markets including craft foods from regions highlighted by Comité Régional du Tourisme and souvenir lines tied to landmark sites such as Eiffel Tower and Colosseum. Services extend to ticketing partnerships with operators such as SNCF and Renfe, parcel pick-up/padlock lockers linked with logistics partners like UPS, and digital offerings including e-magazine subscriptions through alliances with firms like Zinio.

Locations and expansion

Relay maintains a footprint concentrated in Europe, with significant presence in France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany and Italy, and branches in North America, Asia and Africa. Flagship locations appear in transportation hubs including Gare du Nord, Gare de Lyon, Heathrow Airport, Frankfurt Airport and transit centers serving networks like TGV and Eurostar. Expansion has used strategies of tendered concessions in airport privatizations and rail station modernizations driven by entities such as AdP and VINCI Airports, and through acquisitions in regional markets involving companies like WHSmith and independent newsagents. The brand has also piloted urban kiosk concepts in central business districts and tourist corridors in cities such as Barcelona, Rome and New York City.

Marketing and partnerships

Relay markets through co-branded campaigns with publishers and travel platforms, collaborating with media groups including Condé Nast, Hearst, and Hearst Magazines for exclusive content placement. Promotional programs leverage loyalty schemes tied to transport operators like Air France–KLM and railcards associated with SNCF and Deutsche Bahn, and digital marketing via partnerships with online travel agencies such as Booking.com and airline partners such as British Airways. Strategic alliances with cultural institutions like museums and exhibition venues—e.g., Louvre, Musée d'Orsay and The British Museum—enable curated retail assortments and co-promoted merchandise. Advertising space within stores and on digital kiosks attracts brands ranging from L’Oréal to Apple Inc..

Corporate governance and controversies

As part of a major travel retail group historically tied to Lagardère SCA governance structures, Relay has been subject to scrutiny common to large concession retailers, including contract awarding processes overseen by public authorities and compliance with concession rules set by bodies such as Autorité de la concurrence and municipal procurement boards. Controversies have included disputes over retail concession renewals at transport hubs and tensions with independent newsagents represented by trade associations like Fédération Nationale des Détaillants de Presse; labour issues have prompted dialogue with unions such as CFDT and UNSA. The company’s adaptation to declining print revenues and digital transformation has generated strategic debates among stakeholders including institutional investors and publishing partners such as Hachette Livre and Reed Elsevier.

Category:Retail companies Category:Travel retail