The L’Oréal group is creating a Travel Retail Division that will include the L’Oréal Luxe brands, as well as brands from the other divisions: Active Cosmetics, Professional Products, Consumer Products and The Body Shop.

Travel retail, which represents all products sold in the travel distribution channel (airports, airlines, ferries, cruises, downtown duty-free shops, etc.), is a very dynamic market. According to panel generation, the 2012 global travel retail market was valued at US $55.8 billion, all sectors included, up 9.4% vs 2011. The market should double over the next 10 years to over US $100 billion.

The democratisation of travel, especially in emerging countries, has lead to an increased number of travellers and thus consumers who today are searching in this channel for a full selection of products that correspond to their beauty aspirations, whatever their nationalities, beauty rituals or purchasing power,” says the French cosmetics giant.

A historic market leader in this segment, the L’Oréal’s market share was 21.6% in 2012 [1]. Thanks to L’Oréal Paris, the group’s Consumer Products Division has also taken an important position.

"Travel Retail is a key channel for winning over one billion new consumers. This market, present around the world, could be considered as a ‘sixth continent.’ L’Oréal already has extensive expertise and strong relationships with client-retailers, and has high ambition for the future of the channel,” said Jean-Paul Agon, Chairman and CEO, L’Oréal Group.

Barbara Lavernos, Managing Director of L’Oréal Group Travel Retail, will head the Group Travel Retail Division Worldwide, and will report to Nicolas Hieronimus, President of Selective Divisions. According to him, “from now on, all of the Group’s major brands will have the opportunity to develop on this ‘sixth continent’".

The Division will be based in the Paris suburb of Levallois.