Hudson Group

What Hudson Group does

Hudson Group (HG) Retail, LLC is a North American travel retail operating company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Avolta AG (formerly Dufry AG, SIX: AVOL). The company operates over 1,000 stores across nearly 90 airports, commuter hubs, landmarks, and tourist destinations across the United States and Canada, employing 31,000+ team members as part of Avolta's North American operations. Hudson's business spans four pillars: travel convenience (Hudson, Hudson News), specialty retail (Evolve by Hudson, Ink by Hudson, Hudson Booksellers, iPorte, and shop-in-shop brands including Sunglass Hut, Brookstone, TUMI, and M·A·C Cosmetics), duty free (Dufry, World Duty Free, Nuance), and food and beverage (Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, Dunkin', Scooter's Coffee). The company serves air travelers, commuters, tourists, and international travelers through an enterprise field sales motion that wins long-term concession contracts (typically 7-18 years) directly with airport authorities, supported by ACDBE joint ventures.

Hudson's technology stack centers on the Hudson Nonstop checkout-free store concept powered by Amazon's Just Walk Out technology and Amazon One palm recognition, complemented by self-checkout kiosks, mobile POS systems, and digital inventory management. The Club Avolta loyalty program (formerly Red By Dufry) operates across 50+ countries with tiered membership (Silver/Gold/Platinum) offering 5-10% discounts. Revenue is generated through one-time retail sales, brand partnership shop-in-shop licensing fees, and managed-services joint venture arrangements with ACDBE and local business partners. Pricing includes specialty loyalty discounts and a 20% employee discount program. Recent contract wins span JFK Terminal 6 (18-year), Orlando (10-year), Atlanta (10-year for 20 concepts), San Jose (12-year), and Miami International, reflecting sustained post-pandemic concession growth.

Name

Hudson Group

Legal name

Hudson Group (HG) Retail, LLC

Website

https://hudsongroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Hudson Group is North America's largest travel retail operator, running over 1,000 stores across nearly 90 airports, commuter hubs, and tourist destinations under the Hudson, Hudson News, and Ink by Hudson brands, serving air travelers, commuters, and tourists through long-term airport concession contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel Retail

NAICS

Food and Beverage Retailers (445), General Merchandise Retailers (455)

SIC

Retail-Convenience Stores (5412)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban/Transit Convenience Stores (Station/Airport/Metro) (CRAHABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Travel Retail Mass Merchandisers (Airport/Transit General Merchandise) (CRAGABAJ), Travel Retail Concessions & Retail Operators (Alcohol/Tobacco) (CRANAIAG)

Keywords

• Airport retail operations
• Travel convenience stores
• Duty-free shopping
• Specialty retail concessions
• Airport food beverage

Headquarters

HQ city

East Rutherford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Travel Convenience Retail: Sale of travel essentials, snacks, beverages, magazines, personal care items, and convenience products at airport convenience stores operating under Hudson brand and variants.
2. Specialty Retail: Sale of specialty products including electronics (Brookstone, Apple, Bose), luggage (TUMI, Briggs & Riley, Herschel), sunglasses (Sunglass Hut, Ray-Ban, Oakley), books (Ink by Hudson, Hudson Booksellers), cosmetics (M·A·C, CoverGirl), and apparel through shop-in-shop brand concepts.
3. Duty Free / Duty Paid: Tax-free and tax-paid retail sales of luxury goods, spirits, perfume, cosmetics, and international branded products to travelers crossing borders.
4. Food & Beverage: Operation of food and beverage outlets including Chick-fil-A, Dunkin', Starbucks, Scooter's Coffee, and wine bars. Revenue from food service operations at travel venues.
5. Brand Partnerships and Shop-in-Shop Licensing: Revenue from hosting brand shop-in-shops (Sunglass Hut, TUMI, M·A·C, etc.) within Hudson stores, where brand partners pay for premium placement and dedicated retail space.
6. Joint Venture Partnerships: Operating stores through joint ventures with ACDBE partners (e.g., HG-BW Charleston JV with Branded Works and Lillie's of Charleston), sharing revenue and costs with local business partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hudson Group operates more than 1,000 travel retail stores in nearly 90 airports, commuter hubs, landmarks, and tourist destinations across North America, delivering travel essentials, convenience items, specialty retail, duty-free goods, and food & beverage to travelers. The company secures long-term concession contracts with airport authorities and operates proprietary store concepts including Hudson convenience stores, Hudson Nonstop (frictionless checkout), Evolve by Hudson (multi-brand shop-in-shops), Ink by Hudson (bookstores), and iPorte (tech retail), alongside branded partner shops and food & beverage outlets.

Product overview

Hudson Group operates a diverse portfolio of travel retail stores across North America, spanning four main pillars: travel convenience, specialty retail, duty free, and food & beverage. The core Hudson brand serves as North America's largest travel essentials and convenience chain. Proprietary concepts include Hudson Nonstop (checkout-free stores powered by Amazon's Just Walk Out technology), Evolve by Hudson (shop-in-shop multi-brand experience), Ink by Hudson ( bookstores), Hudson Booksellers, and iPorte (tech retail). Hudson operates shop-in-shop partnerships with Sunglass Hut, Brookstone, TUMI, M.A.C Cosmetics, and LEGO within its stores. Food & beverage partnerships include Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, Dunkin', and Scooter's Coffee. The company also operates sister brands including Dufry, World Duty Free, and Nuance for duty-free shopping. Loyalty programs include Red By Dufry (tiered Silver/Gold/Platinum with 5-10% discounts) and Club Avolta. Hudson is a subsidiary of Avolta AG (formerly Dufry AG).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hudson Nonstop: Checkout-free travel convenience concept powered by Amazon's Just Walk Out technology and Amazon One palm recognition.
• Evolve by Hudson
• Club Avolta
• RED by Dufry

Products and services

• Hudson Convenience Stores North America's largest travel essentials and convenience brand, operating over 1,000 stores in airports, commuter hubs, landmarks, and tourist destinations offering magazines, snacks, beverages, travel necessities, local souvenirs, electronics, and personal care products to travelers.
• Hudson Nonstop Checkout-free travel convenience store powered by Amazon's Just Walk Out technology where travelers enter by swiping a credit card or hovering their palm over Amazon One, take products, and exit without stopping to pay.
• Evolve by Hudson Multi-brand shop-in-shop retail concept blending specialty brand experiences with travel essentials, featuring multiple checkout options including self-checkout kiosks and mobile POS in an open circular traffic flow design.
• Ink by Hudson Bookstore concept combining a curated collection of popular and specialty books with travel essentials, gifts highlighting the local area, and (in select airports) wine bars with local wines on tap.
• Hudson Booksellers Book retail concept offering popular and specialty books, travel guides, and literary merchandise for travelers in airport locations.
• Hudson News News and magazine-focused travel convenience concept typically located in high-traffic airport areas within the Hudson network.
• iPorte Tech-focused retail concept offering travelers' favorite technology brands such as Apple, Beats, and Bose with the opportunity to test products before purchasing.
• Dear NYC Locally inspired shop featuring curated collections representing New York City through products from local makers and entrepreneurs.
• Champion City Sports Pittsburgh-themed specialty concept celebrating sports culture with apparel, memorabilia, and accessories from local teams, plus collaborations with Build-a-Bear and Vera Bradley and an interactive sports simulator.
• Duquesne & Co. Platform for local artisans and brands at Pittsburgh International Airport featuring products from local makers such as love Pittsburgh, Spectrum Fudge, Pittsburgh Popcorn, and Heinz.
• Utah National Parks Distinctive specialty retail concept at Salt Lake City International Airport transporting travelers into Utah's national parks 'the Mighty 5' with exclusive products, souvenir apparel, local snacks, books, and novelty items in collaboration with the National Park Foundation.
• Art of Aesthetics by Dr. Mark Taylor First airport location of a skincare and beauty concept created in collaboration with Dr. Mark B. Taylor, offering VISIA skin analysis and curated selection of skincare brands including ALASTIN, skinbetter science, SkinCeuticals, and Nutrafol.
• Automated Retail Vending Destinations Multi-brand automated retail concept using ADA-compliant vending machines with interactive touchscreens, anti-microbial shields, AR eyewear try-on, and 24/7 contactless retailing at airports.
• World Duty Free Duty-free retail brand operated by Hudson offering tax-free shopping for international travelers on wine, spirits, tobacco, perfume, cosmetics, and travel essentials.
• Nuance Travel retail brand operated by Hudson offering duty-free and travel retail products to international travelers.
• Club Avolta Loyalty Program Company loyalty program and mobile app enabling travelers to engage with Hudson before, during, and after travel while receiving exclusive benefits every time they shop at Hudson stores.
• Red By Dufry Loyalty Program Customer loyalty program available in Hudson's travel convenience and duty free stores across North America and in over 50 countries globally, offering tiered membership (Silver 5%, Gold 7%, Platinum 10%), birthday rewards, and Reserve & Collect service.
• Traveler's Best Hudson's proprietary brand line offering travel essentials and convenience products under a private label brand at airport stores.
• Amazon One Palm Recognition Service Contactless palm recognition service deployed at Hudson Nonstop stores allowing travelers to enter and pay using their palm instead of a credit card through integration with Amazon One devices.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hudson has raised more than $5 million for Communities In Schools through point-of-sale donations over 15-year partnership
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Daryl Milliner Media (ACDBE Partner)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 12 September 2024Local ACDBE partner for joint venture HG PIT Retailers JV at Pittsburgh International Airport. Partnership part of Hudson's commitment to Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, supporting local and minority-owned businesses.
• National Park FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2024Partnership for Utah National Parks specialty retail concept at Salt Lake City International Airport. Features exclusive products, souvenir apparel, local snacks, books, and novelty items highlighting Utah's national parks. Raises funds to support National Park Foundation's mission to protect and enhance America's national parks.
• Dr. Mark B. Taylor / Art of AestheticsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2024First airport location of Art of Aesthetics created in collaboration with Dr. Mark Taylor, Salt Lake City dermatologist. Offers VISIA skin analysis and curated skincare/haircare including ALASTIN, skinbetter science, SkinCeuticals, and Nutrafol. Located at Salt Lake City International Airport Concourse B.
• Michigan Wine CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2024Nonprofit partnership for Ink by Hudson bookstore and wine bar at Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Partnership showcases Michigan's wine industry to domestic and international travelers. Wine served on taps activated by RFID bracelets. Concept combines contemporary bookstore with local wine offerings, local authors, and locally made snacks and gifts.
• Chick-fil-AcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 January 2024First Chick-fil-A location opened at Charleston International Airport in January 2024 as part of Hudson's expanded partnership with the airport. Part of redeveloped concessions portfolio including Evolve by Hudson, Hudson Nonstop, and Sunglass Hut. Chick-fil-A is known for signature hospitality and quality ingredients.
• HMSHost FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 October 2023Joint philanthropy initiative to raise nearly $300,000 for Hawai'i Community Foundation's Maui Strong Fund supporting recovery from devastating wildfires. Partnership demonstrates Hudson's social impact commitment beyond retail operations.
• Branded Works, Inc. (ACDBE Partner)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 October 2022Longstanding ACDBE partner in HG-BW Charleston JV for Charleston International Airport redevelopment. Joint venture operates Chick-fil-A, Evolve, Hudson Nonstop, and Sunglass Hut stores under the partnership.
• Lillie's of Charleston (Local Partner)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 October 2022Local Charleston partner in HG-BW Charleston JV for airport redevelopment. Represents Hudson's commitment to partnering with local businesses and ACDBE-certified companies.
• The House of LR&CcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2022Exclusive travel retail partnership with the fashion house of Russell Wilson and Ciara. First store opened at Denver International Airport in July 2023. Brands include Good Man Brand (menswear) and LITA by Ciara (womenswear). Partnership emphasizes sustainable fashion using preferred materials, recycled paper fiberboard hangers, and Flowcodes interactive technology. Future expansion planned to additional U.S. and Canadian airports.
• StarbuckscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2022Hudson expanded food & beverage portfolio with Starbucks. Plans for hybrid concepts bringing Starbucks together with Hudson retail. Examples include upcoming hybrid stores at Washington Dulles International Airport and Omaha's Eppley Airfield where Scooter's Coffee will be combined with Hudson travel convenience.
• Amazon (Just Walk Out Technology)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2021Hudson Nonstop stores powered by Amazon's Just Walk Out technology enable checkout-free shopping. Travelers enter by swiping credit card or hovering palm over Amazon One device, take products, and exit without stopping to pay. First travel retailer to deploy Amazon One palm recognition. Multiple Hudson Nonstop locations operational at Dallas Love Field, Chicago Midway, Nashville, and other airports.
• Luxottica Group / Sunglass HutcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2020Strategic partnership to open 250 Sunglass Hut shop-in-shops within Hudson convenience concepts across North America. Powered by Luxottica's STARS business model for inventory management. Features Ray-Ban and Oakley collections. Hudson team members receive proprietary digital training on sunglass collections. Partnership expands Hudson's specialty fashion offerings.
• Communities In SchoolsflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 200815-year philanthropy partnership supporting education. Hudson has raised more than $5 million through point-of-sale donations at airport and transportation hub retail locations. Nearly $1.9 million raised in recent year alone. Partnership is part of Hudson's ESG initiatives under Destination 2027 strategy. Hudson honored with 2022 All In For Students Philanthropic Partner Award.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• ATU (Airport Travel Unlimited): Turkish-headquartered travel retail and F&B operator expanding across Asia, Middle East, and Africa airports with duty-free and specialty retail. Less North American presence but operates comparable airport concession concepts in emerging travel markets.
• Flemingo International: Independent duty-free and travel retail operator present across Africa, Asia, and emerging markets with airport retail and duty-paid offerings. Operates in the same airport retail concession category as Hudson though geographically distinct.

Broad incumbents

• WDF Group / World Duty Free: Sister brand under Avolta AG operating tax-free retail for international travelers at major airports. Operates as part of the same parent as Hudson and competes with Hudson's duty-free operations on a global basis.
• Avolta AG (formerly Dufry AG): SIX Swiss Exchange-listed global travel retail parent of Hudson, also operating Dufry, World Duty Free, and Nuance brands across 70+ countries. Broad incumbent across the same industry with Hudson as its North American operating subsidiary.

Direct peers

• SSP Group: UK-listed travel food and retail operator running branded and proprietary F&B plus convenience concepts at airports and train stations worldwide. Peer to Hudson in travel F&B and adjacent retail concessions.
• HMSHost: Major North American airport food & beverage and retail concessionaire operating proprietary and branded F&B outlets. Competes directly with Hudson's F&B and hybrid retail-F&B concepts for airport contracts in the US and Canada.
• Lagardère Travel Retail: Global travel retail concessionaire operating duty-free, convenience, specialty, and F&B concepts across airports, train stations, and other transit hubs, with strong North American presence. Direct competitor to Hudson for airport concession contracts worldwide.
• DFS Group: LVMH-owned global duty-free luxury retailer operating in airports and downtown locations, focused on cosmetics, wines & spirits, fashion, and watches. Overlaps with Hudson's duty-free offerings to international travelers.
• Areas: Spanish-headquartered travel retail and F&B operator serving airports, motorway service areas, and train stations globally. Comparable travel-retail concession business model with growing North American presence.
• Paradies Lagardère: US-based airport retail and dining operator offering news, gifts, specialty retail, and F&B at airports across North America. A direct concession-competition peer for Hudson, particularly in mid-sized US airports.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hudson-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/hudsontbf
• Xx.com/hudsongroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/hudsonbooksellers

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hudson Group