East Rutherford, NJ; December 16, 2003 – The Hudson Group is pleased to announce completing the acquisition of the North American airport retailing business of WHSmith PLC. The 155 WH Smith stores in 23 airports are scheduled to be transitioned over the month of December.
All news and gift stores will be converted into the award-winning Hudson News brand known by travelers worldwide for its extensive selection of reading material. Additionally, all bookstores will be changed to the successful Hudson Booksellers.
“We are extremely honored and proud to become partners with those airports associated with this acquisition. The transition will be managed efficiently unnoticeable to the airports, employees and our customers alike,” says Joseph DiDomizio, Executive Vice President, Hudson Group. “ Hudson Group’s familiar brand names will incorporate seamlessly into their new airport homes and customers will be pleased to see their favorite travel retail brands in over 60 airports and transportation terminals.”
The airports to be transitioned in this acquisition are Birmingham International Airport, Boston Logan International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth Airport, Denver International Airport, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, Gulfport-Biloxi Regional Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Indianapolis International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Mobile Regional Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, McCarran International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, O’Hare International Airport, Omaha Airport Eppley Airfield, Orlando International Airport, Pittsburgh International Airport, Raleigh-Durham International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Shreveport Regional Airport, and Vancouver International Airport.
With over 430 stores, Hudson Group becomes the largest privately owned transportation retail chain in North America.