The Adani Group is making a big move in the retail and food services sector, particularly within its airport business. According to a report by The Economic Times, the company plans to open 270 retail stores and 50 food and beverage (F&B) outlets across its airport network.
But that’s not all—Adani is also eyeing expansion beyond airports, with retail outlets expected to pop up along highways and in shopping malls.
This could shake up the competitive landscape, challenging established players like Domino’s, Yum Brands, the Tata Group, and Reliance, all of whom have a strong presence in the retail and food services sectors.
The group’s broader ambition? To significantly boost the share of non-aeronautical revenue at its airports. Right now, these non-aero businesses contribute to less than half of the revenue at Adani Airport Holdings.
The goal is to push that up to around three-quarters by essentially controlling most aspects of airport retail and F&B.
Reports suggest that Adani’s retail and F&B expansion will cover a wide range of categories—electronics, beauty, chocolates, alcohol and beverages, coffee, lifestyle products, and more. The strategy seems to revolve around creating a dominant in-house ecosystem for travellers, where most needs are met under the Adani umbrella.
Adani Airport Holdings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, currently operates eight airports, seven of which are fully operational. These include Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (Ahmedabad), Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (Lucknow), Mangaluru International Airport, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Mumbai), Jaipur International Airport, Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (Guwahati) and Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
According to ET’s report, these airports saw a combined passenger movement of 69.7 million over the nine months leading up to December.
With ongoing developments, including new terminals and upgrades, passenger footfall is expected to rise further in the coming years. More travellers mean more opportunities for retail and F&B services, making this expansion a strategic push for Adani.
