C3 at Dubai International is aiming to boost traffic to 15 million passengers annually. Photo: Shutterstock C3 at Dubai International is aiming to boost traffic to 15 million passengers annually. Photo: Shutterstock

Maritime Mercantile International (MMI) and Emirates Leisure Retail (ELR), Dubai-based subsidiaries of the Emirates Group, have been awarded six prime Food and Beverage (F&B) and retail positions at the new Dubai International Concourse (C3) dedicated to handling Emirates Airlines’ A380 fleet.

MMI and ELR, which already operate over 30 outlets across nine domestic and international airports in Australia and the UAE (including all three terminals at Dubai International), see these new sites as a natural extension of both their F&B and travel retail portfolios.

The C3 terminal aims to boost capacity at the world’s fourth busiest airport for international traffic by 15 million passengers per year.

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“We continue to see attractive opportunities both in F&B and traditional travel retailing,” says Andrew Day, MMI & ELR Group CEO. “We have a proven track record of running a wide variety of concepts in this environment and are delighted that we have been able to build on our strong relationship with Dubai Airports and significantly increase our presence at Dubai International through a portfolio of powerful global, as well as our own, brands,” said Andrew Day, MMI & ELR Group CEO.

ELR will roll out five premium F&B brands in the new concourse. The new F&B brands include Giraffe, the family friendly restaurant group that is scheduled to open its first outlet outside the UK at Dubai International, and Costa Metropolitan - an extension and more urban format of the well-established coffee brand. In addition, guests using the new terminal can also relax with a glass of the finest bubbly, accompanied by delicious rock oysters in the Champagne Lounge by Moët & Chandon; bar snacks and an ice-cold refreshment at the Heineken Lounge; and/or a succulent steak with some of Tennessee’s finest at Jack’s Bar & Grill, showcasing the world famous Jack Daniel’s brand.

MMI will bring Le Clos to the new C3 facility at twice the floor space of the original outlet, which is situated in the main departures concourse of Terminal 3, Concourse 2, at Dubai International.

Eugene Barry, senior vice president commercial at Dubai Airports comments: “We were deeply impressed by the overwhelming interest that the tender created and by the quality of submissions received from all prequalified bidders. Emirates Leisure Retail demonstrated a true understanding of what we set out to achieve at Concourse 3 and will introduce some great concepts with the aim of delighting our passengers. We are delighted to build on a great working relationship across the F&B category with ELR, and also in selective retail with Le Clos.”