Eason takes over Hughes & Hughes’ seven airport stores saving 120 jobs

EASON has taken over the bookshop licences at Dublin and Cork airports, vacated last week by Hughes & Hughes going into receivership.

While the licences only relate to the airport shops and not Hughes & Hughes’ high street retail portfolio, the deal between Eason and the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) – which runs both airports – will save 120 of the 225 jobs.

Hughes & Hughes – which was established more than 25 years ago – went into receivership with Deloitte’s David Carson being appointed last week. The company cited stiffening internet competition, exchange rate volatility, rent demands, declining passenger numbers through Ireland’s main airports and falling consumer demand as reasons for its failure. It lost its two store licences at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5 two years ago.

Eason is to takeover the company’s five units at Dublin Airport and two at Cork Airport. Eason will pay the DAA a licence fee, based on a percentage of the turnover of the shops.

“The retail environment in Ireland remains extremely challenging and we have a great deal of sympathy for the management and staff at Hughes & Hughes, which has been a longstanding and respected competitor. Nevertheless, we’re pleased that Eason is in a position to ensure that another strong Irish book brand will operate in Dublin and Cork Airports,” said Eason managing director Conor Whelan.

“These are prestigious retail locations and we decided to take up this opportunity, despite the challenging marketplace at present. The prime locations will ensure that Irish and foreign travellers alike are greeted with a strong, well-established, inherently Irish brand when arriving or departing from Ireland through these airports.”

It is understood that Hughes & Hughes’ airport shops were profitable and its pressures came from its high street stores. It is also believed that there were a number of parties interested in the airport licences, which run for a minimum five-year period.