Lagardère Travel Retail has opened the first UK store of its travel essentials brand RELAY at Heathrow’s Terminal 2, known as The Queen’s Terminal. The 420m² store, located on the upper level of the terminal, is the first of four planned RELAY outlets at the airport, with the remaining three scheduled to open progressively through 2026.
The four stores will together cover 1,360m² of retail space, marking a significant expansion of Lagardère’s presence at what the company describes as the most connected airport in the world. The opening ceremony brought together senior executives from Heathrow, Lagardère Travel Retail, Waitrose and Paydens Group.
Food, Pharmacy and Travel Essentials in One Place
The new store combines travel essentials, food-to-go, pharmacy services and curated convenience products under one roof. Two key UK brand partnerships sit at the heart of the offer. Waitrose provides a food-to-go range tailored to Heathrow passengers, while Paydens Group contributes dedicated pharmacy items.
The store also stocks locally inspired gifts and travel souvenirs, including Paddington-themed ranges, connecting the retail offer to Britain’s cultural identity. The concept is designed to adapt to the evolving needs of international travellers passing through the terminal.
“At Heathrow, we’re continually evolving our retail offer to give passengers greater choice and convenience,” said Fraser Brown, Retail Director at Heathrow. “We’re delighted to welcome the UK’s first RELAY store to Terminal 2, combining travel essentials, quality food-to-go and pharmacy services in one place. Partnerships with Lagardère Travel Retail, alongside trusted British brands such as Waitrose and Paydens, help ensure we’re meeting the needs of today’s travellers as we continue to make every journey better, and build an airport fit for the future.”
A Strategic Milestone for Lagardère in the UK
“The launch of RELAY at Heathrow is a landmark for our company,” said Frédéric Chevalier, Chief Executive Officer of Lagardère Travel Retail. “For decades Heathrow has been at the forefront of innovation in travel retail, and we are honoured to have the opportunity to contribute to the airport’s future commercial development. The opening of RELAY in T2 reflects our ability to combine global expertise with strong local partnerships to create retail concepts that resonate with travellers.”
“We are extremely proud to officially open our first RELAY store at Heathrow Terminal 2,” said Peter Newbould, CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail UK & Ireland. “This is not only a milestone for Lagardère Travel Retail in the UK, but also a clear demonstration of what we believe makes our company strong: the ability to deliver on our promises through agility, expertise and strong partnerships.”
Global Brand, Local Focus
RELAY operates as Lagardère Travel Retail’s flagship travel essentials brand and is present in airports, railway stations and other concessions across more than 50 countries. Lagardère Travel Retail operates over 5,000 stores worldwide and recorded €8.0 billion in sales in 2025.
The Heathrow opening reflects the brand’s broader strategy of combining international consistency with local relevance, tailoring each store to its airport environment while maintaining a recognisable customer experience across its global network.
