Duty Free Border Downtown | Dufry AG

Travel Retail Operators

Dufry AG

Dufry AG are a Swiss based Firm located in Basel, born out of a company of a similar name called Weitnaeur/Dufrital, who used to run the duty free shops in Italian airports and other locations, they also supplied luxury goods to the tax-free stores in Cantons like Livigno and Samnaun.

Since then, Dufry has grown into the largest airport retailer in the world with their major strength in Latin and Central America, the Caribbean and parts of North Africa and the Middle East. Only recently Dufry bought the Greek Operator Hellenic, taking control of airport, border and port stores in that country.

Some years ago, Dufry purchased Brasif, the major airport retailer in Brazil and more recently the shops in Argentina, they also owned or had joint-operations in Nicaragua and Mexico, giving them strength throughout the continent.

Today virtually every airport 'Free Shop' (Loja Franca) in Brazil is run by the Company where the sale of duty free goods on arrival is much more understood and accepted than in Europe or North America. In South American Mercosur countries, travellers receive and extra allowance for buying in the airport arrival stores, this allowance can be up to 12 bottles of whisky, so you can see why these shops thrive.

Dufry have also expanded into other luxury travel retailing, such as the purchase of Colombian Emeralds a jewellery chain well known to cruise ship passengers in the Caribbean and also Hudson News, who dominate news, press and convenience sales in American airports.

Dufry Brasil were the leaders in offering an online duty free pre-order website, at present only in Portuguese, but in the future no doubt in other languages too.

How does duty free work, can you buy, which products do they sell, what shops are available, do they open for my flight, best prices?.

There is a long list of duty-free related questions asked by travellers before they start their journey.

Travel Retail is a diverse business and most Operators have outlets in global locations, so the best travel shopping advice we can offer is to search your destination in the box above and find the stores which are available for your destination. Be it by land, sea or air, duty free stores can be found if you are travelling internationally.

The duty free on arrival global search 'App' for phone and tablet is now available in Android version beta v1, we are working hard to make it the best travel shopping site and mobile App available, the Apple/iOS version will follow soon. You will be able to search the globe from your phone for duty-free shops at your destination, on planes, boats, airports or border stores. To download the app click the image below to check before you fly!