Dublin Airport Spar to close as DAA moves in new direction

Skedaddle · 17-01-2018 06:26AM

fryup wrote: »

while we're at it...

how come there's a WH Smith at Dublin airport but there's none in the rest of the country?

There's one in Cork Airport too. Actually two, but I assume it's the same business - there's one in departures and one airside.

hynesie08 · 17-01-2018 08:17AM

I've actually never been in the t2 spar, was there any truth to the rumors you could buy cans there 24/7?

Fr_Dougal · 17-01-2018 08:55AM

Probably about controlling what’s sold in the unit. Spar can pretty much sell any food/grocery they want, which would compete with WHS and any other food business that opens up. Stick in a Costa etc., all they’ll sell is coffee and prepackaged sandwiches. Limit and control.

AndyBoBandy · 17-01-2018 08:59AM

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Probably about controlling what’s sold in the unit. Spar can pretty much sell any food/grocery they want, which would compete with WHS and any other food business that opens up. Stick in a Costa etc., all they’ll sell is coffee and prepackaged sandwiches. Limit and control.

True, any evening I’m there, the WHS is always quieter than a funeral home, and there’s always regular traffic through the Spar.

I’d say WHS had a big say/influence in this move.

The Davestator · 17-01-2018 10:33AM

hynesie08 wrote: »

I've actually never been in the t2 spar, was there any truth to the rumors you could buy cans there 24/7?

I've heard of people being brought by taxi drivers for late cans and on Good Friday. No personal experience though

ScouseMouse · 17-01-2018 10:38AM

afatbollix wrote: »

The airport works a profit share system. Of course, they want the more profitable coffee sold in the airport.

But you know 1p flights and all that.

Ain't no 1 cent flights out if T2

Hector Savage · 17-01-2018 10:44AM

Boom is back !!!

Christ I PRAY for the next crash.
Boom helps no one, just everyone gets ****ed.
Yay I got a 20% raise - but the cost of living goes up 40% ... oh yeah and while we're at it let Ireland get DESTROYED by mass tourism.
Doesn't matter does it, bags of cash to be made.

BattleCorp · 17-01-2018 10:50AM

Aegir wrote: »

Spar is Dutch isn't it?

Spar Europe is headquartered in The Netherlands but has very little to do with the running of Spar Ireland. Yes, they are linked but they don't own or run Spar Ireland.

Up until recently Spar Ireland was 100% owned by three Irish guys (BWG Foods). There has been investment from Spar South Africa and now it's co-owned between BWG Foods and Spar South Africa.

Most Spar shops here are franchises, in other words Spar don't own the shops. Shop owners can enter a contract with Spar meaning that Spar supplies them and the shop is branded Spar. It's the same principle with Centra, Daybreak, Mace, SuperValu, Eurospar etc.

This is a guess but I'd lay money on it that I'm right but I reckon they are getting rid of the Spar in the airport because they reckon they can get more rent from somebody else.

markpb · 17-01-2018 01:42PM

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

The change of the outlet is in line with Dublin Airport’s vision that every passenger is “well fed and ready for their journey”.

But it’s in the fcuking arrivals hall!!

Unless you live in the airport, you've a journey to make once you exit the arrivals hall :P

Victor · 17-01-2018 03:05PM

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Probably about controlling what’s sold in the unit. Spar can pretty much sell any food/grocery they want

Not quite. Many shopping centres and the like restrict what the units can sell.

Skedaddle · 17-01-2018 03:12PM

In Cork Airport the DAA actually saw Starbucks replaced by the very local brand, Cork Coffee Roasters. There's a big drive on there to link the airport with Cork's foodieness and that's been reflected in the duty free (the Loop) and the food court revamp.

I wonder if the DAA might do similar in Dublin and go proper foodie?

Berserker · 17-01-2018 03:22PM

There's a Butlers for coffee in terminal One and terminal Two already.

Cienciano wrote: »

If you think it's overpriced, don't fúcking buy it. It's as simple as that. If they charge €8 and you still buy it, Dublin Airport were dead right to raise the price.

Agree totally. Ditto for the in-flight purchase of drinks, which is ridiculously expensive. Who needs to drink wine on a Ryanair flight to Liverpool at 7am in the morning, anyway.

hynesie08 wrote: »

I've actually never been in the t2 spar, was there any truth to the rumors you could buy cans there 24/7?

Might be a loophole airside that'd allow you to do that but can't see that being allowed in the arrivals Spar.

AlanG · 17-01-2018 03:24PM

Pretty annoying that they are getting rid of the only grocery offering. No consideration for returning passengers who need to get milk etc. when they arrive back.

razorblunt · 17-01-2018 03:49PM

Skedaddle wrote: »

In Cork Airport the DAA actually saw Starbucks replaced by the very local brand, Cork Coffee Roasters. There's a big drive on there to link the airport with Cork's foodieness and that's been reflected in the duty free (the Loop) and the food court revamp.

I wonder if the DAA might do similar in Dublin and go proper foodie?

Yeah?
Well they'd wanna stock up on Tanora then in the duty free!!

I have noticed Kinsale Gin take center stage, so that explains it.

humberklog · 17-01-2018 03:59PM

AlanG wrote: »

Pretty annoying that they are getting rid of the only grocery offering. No consideration for returning passengers who need to get milk etc. when they arrive back.

Exactly.
Who gets a coffee at that end of an airport anyway- that's the go and get gone area. "I'll just grab a cuppa before heading for the taxi, bus, car park, car rental" ??

I live in the "Groaning Radius" for taxis- nearly too far for quick return onto top of queue, too close to make money so they're pretty unwilling to stop at the filling station for bread and milk.
That shop was a gift for late arrivals.

To the poster asking if there was a 24 hour off licence there the answer is no. They'd have the alcohol covered over after 10p.m.

Caliden · 17-01-2018 04:34PM

It's the Irish way of doing things: "What's the most I can charge for this?"

Skedaddle · 18-01-2018 02:03AM

Caliden wrote: »

It's the Irish way of doing things: "What's the most I can charge for this?"

Irish way? Isn't that the capitalist way everywhere. Price elasticity of demand! In this case, you're trapped in an airport so it's highly inelastic.

Skedaddle · 18-01-2018 02:16AM

razorblunt wrote: »

Yeah?
Well they'd wanna stock up on Tanora then in the duty free!!

I have noticed Kinsale Gin take center stage, so that explains it.

It's a lot more sophisticated than Tanora. The food court was relaunched as "Food Republic" with a major makeover and a focus on local ingredients and suppliers Etc etc there was also major revamp or the bar into a bistro called Craft Lane.

https://www.ittn.ie/news/new-food-republic-outlet-will-offer-special-taste-cork/

They've a concession in the Loop for the Taste Cork food producers network which works with loads of local small / artisan food brands and then you've got Cork Coffee Roasters prominently landside replacing Starbucks.

If DAA could do similar at Dublin and get a bit of the city's quirky foodie vibe into the airport it would at least make it a bit more memorable. Otherwise it could be anywhere.

Cork's basically giving you a little flavour or its food tourism offering at the airport. Maybe it would work in Dublin too?

It's the same operator at both airports DAA.

Dublin Airport Spar to close as DAA moves in new direction

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