Lagardère Travel Retail acquires Aichinger Gastro and expands to Munich Airport
With this acquisition, the Lagardère subsidiary completes its coverage of the main German airports, following developments in Frankfurt and Düsseldorf. The deal takes the form of taking over a catering operator already present on the site, whose founders remain involved during the transition.
Six catering outlets taken over in the restricted area in Munich
Lagardère Travel Retail has acquired Aichinger Gastro, a catering operator based at Munich Airport, which the press release describes as the second-largest airport in Germany. The transaction was announced on 9 November 2026, from Munich.
Founded in 2003, the company is managed by Elena and Markus Aichinger. It operates six outlets, all located in the restricted area of the airport. Its portfolio ranges from offers focused on coffee to more distinctive culinary propositions designed for a traveling customer base.
The contribution of the transaction is primarily geographic. The six outlets join a German network that already included more than 200 outlets across nine airports. Munich complements a presence that the group has strengthened in Frankfurt and Düsseldorf, where it reports significant developments.
The chosen mode of entry is the acquisition of an operator already in place, with its teams and its relationships with airport partners. Lagardère Travel Retail indicates that it will work closely with the Aichinger family and the local management team to ensure continuity for employees, airport partners and travelers.
Markus Aichinger specified that the founders will support the transition as advisors. He presented the transaction as a succession: “To identify our successor, it was essential to find a company with solid airport experience.”
A targeted reinforcement for a network of more than 5,000 outlets
Measured against the subsidiary's global network, the six outlets carry little weight in number. Lagardère Travel Retail operates more than 5,000 outlets in over 50 countries, in airports, train stations and other concessions, and generated revenue of €8.0 billion (100% basis) in 2025.
The company, a subsidiary of Louis Hachette Group through the Lagardère group, operates in three segments: Travel Essentials, Duty Free & Fashion, and Dining. The acquisition strengthens the latter division, dedicated to catering, in the German market.
It is part of the plans of Lagardère Travel Retail Germany, which intends to build on its position in German airports to pursue its growth, both in travel retail and in catering.
Lucio Rossetto, Director of Operations for Europe and North America, summarized the approach: “consolidating our positions in key markets while expanding our coverage through relevant growth opportunities.” Jochen Halfmann, Managing Director of Lagardère Travel Retail Germany, described the arrival in Munich as an “important step for our business in Germany.”
The announcement comes a few days after the win, made public on 4 November 2026, of five shops at Bristol Airport, with gradual openings starting in summer 2027. On one hand, a contract won for outlets to be opened; on the other, the takeover of outlets already in operation.
Travel retail, a driver of growth in the third quarter
The division had driven the group's activity in the third quarter. Lagardère published revenue of €2,633 million on 15 October 2026, up 2.4% on a like-for-like basis, a pace accelerating from the 1.8% of the previous quarter, according to Arnaud Lagardère.
