India-based Ospree Duty Free has launched its first European venture, Le Marché Duty Free, in Calais, France, serving predominantly UK-continental travelers. The new-look store, located at the LeShuttle train terminal in Coquelles, includes a dedicated 75sq m shop for truck drivers.
The store’s official opening took place on June 4, although the 800sq m space has been trading since April 2024, following a handover from previous operator Avolta. This marks the end of a two-year journey with LeShuttle management.
Ospree Duty Free commented on the launch, stating that working with LeShuttle and creating a customer-centric concept was key to their first European duty-free shop. The company applied its five core values: passion, people, agility, trust, and integrity.
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Deborah Merrens, Eurotunnel/LeShuttle’s Chief Commercial Officer, said the reintroduction of duty-free services for passengers traveling to the UK created an opportunity to redefine engagement. The collaboration with Ospree marks a new chapter, and they look forward to the future of this partnership.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place, attended by Deborah Merrens, Nigel Keal, President of the European Travel Retail Consortium, Gaurav Singh, Ospree/Adani CEO, and other key figures.
The LeShuttle team challenged Le Marché to take the store to the next level in terms of engagement. To achieve this, the store opted for a ‘sense of place’ concept, taking inspiration from Calais and the surrounding regions. A ‘Taste of France’ rotunda sells local artisan products and offers a tailored activation program.
Le Marché Duty Free is operated by Mumbai Travel Retail Limited (MTRL), a joint venture between Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) and Flemingo Travel Retail. Ospree Duty Free is MTRL’s flagship brand and India’s largest duty-free retail operator.
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The company has achieved double-digit annual growth since winning the contract in 2024, driven by a smooth operational transition and expansion of the retail offer. Le Marché is currently the only duty-free shop available to all freight drivers in both the UK and France using LeShuttle.
The store’s success can be attributed to competitive pricing strategies and category expansions adapted to the core UK customer, which makes up 85% of the customer base. Category curation of beauty, liquor, and tobacco, as well as introductions across technology and Indian ranges, has also helped drive sales.
A warehouse was opened in November 2024 to enhance Le Marché’s ability to meet demand, reducing stock-outs and improving product availability. A people plan delivered training and development to the in-store teams to lift customer service.
Le Marché Duty Free is set to launch an online pre-order platform for LeShuttle passengers later this month. The reserve-and-collect service follows the successful introduction of the system in February 2026 for freight shop customers.
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Ospree claims it is setting new benchmarks for travel retail with the Calais store. The growth story will be important as the travel retailer has a broader vision to expand across Europe and the UK.
The company’s long-term aim is to be a leader in global and European travel retail. Expansion plans are expected to continue in the coming years.
For more information on travel retail, visit the Wikipedia page on travel retail.