With so much uncertainty surrounding the UK economy people have begun to make changes to the way they travel, with more holidaying domestically which should benefit motorway service stations, railway stations and domestic UK airports. However, rising train fares and poor weather has meant there has not been an uptake in rail passengers or motorway traffic and while the number of people travelling domestically has increased, fewer are travelling abroad for business. Additionally, as those using travel hubs tend to do so to reach an onward destination, the focus has to be on making the shopping experience as fast and convenient as possible. This has led to the introduction of food delivery services to airport terminals and self-order kiosks in motorway stations. There has also been an effort to revamp more travel hubs to introduce more retail options and turn them into both shopping and travel destinations, which should attract more passing trade.

This Report is designed to give an overview of the travel retail market within the UK. It includes research on MSA (Motorway Service Area), railway station and airport terminal retailing, as well as limited analysis for comparison of the foodservice offering within each hub. It combines market data, including drivers in the market and detailed information on the key players, along with Mintel’s consumer research to build a picture of the travel retail market.

Our consumer research supplied within this Report covers the following areas:

• Which travel hubs have been visited in the last 12 months and how frequently do people visit?

• The reasons for buying products from a retailer within a travel hub.

• The reasons for not buying products from a retailer within a travel hub.

• Aspects those who shopped at travel retail hubs are most satisfied with.

• Behaviour towards shopping in travel hubs.