Press Release
DFDS wins the tender for the opening of a duty free shop in the port of Calais in October 2021
The opening of this shop confirms DFDS' desire to support and boost the local economy by attracting new visitors.
Calais, 30 April 2021 - DFDS, named the World's Best Ferry Company for the past nine years, has won the tender to open a duty free shop next October in the new Calais port terminal. This project is part of a major investment by the port to provide an optimum service to all shipping companies and their passengers.
This project complements existing plans to open a duty free shop in July in the port of Dunkirk, which is currently under construction, and will also be a major improvement to the port terminal.
"The awarding of the duty free shop marks an important step towards the opening of the new port of Calais. The DFDS company is carrying out a high-quality project that is sure to appeal to customers and is distinguished by its desire to maximise the economic impact on the Calais area," said Jean-Marc Puissesseau, Chairman of the Port of Calais (SEPD).
With the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union (effective from 1 January 2021), DFDS is displaying its ambitions for the return of duty free on the cross-Channel. With these projects, DFDS hopes to create new jobs in the ports of Calais and Dunkirk and boost the attractiveness of these destinations by encouraging British passengers to make day trips there and thus benefit the city's businesses from this tourist flow.
An opportunity for passengers on routes from Dover as well as the Calais area to support and participate in the regeneration of local businesses overall.
"It is with great pride and joy that we learnt of the Port of Calais' decision. Through the return of duty free, we aim to be an even more important local economic player. Furthermore, we wish to reinforce the attractiveness of our lines and the ports in which we operate, thanks to the quality of our offers and the diversity of our services. Our objective, whether on board or on land, remains the same: the satisfaction of our current and future customers," said Jean-Claude Charlo, Managing Director France of DFDS.
Duty free is a lucrative business, a growth lever and a real asset to promote to tourists. Until 1999, when it was still present, duty-free shops were a key stop for millions of British consumers who travelled to Calais to take advantage of duty-free goods. With its return to the roads between France and the UK since the Brexit, duty free is now a key factor in attracting new travellers to the region and boosting the growth of the economy in and around Calais.
Based on the number of passengers which was 482,779 between Calais and Dover in 2019, it is an optimistic estimate and vision that DFDS is projecting for the months to come, thus asserting itself as a player in the revival of local tourism with an eye to the future in a post-Covid and post-Brexit world.
For its future shops in the pipeline, DFDS will continue to work with SMC Design, the company's long-standing partner for Channel ship upgrades and other refurbishment projects.
To find out more about duty free with DFDS, click here.
-Fin- For more information, please contact
Hopscotch Europe
Carla ÉCHÈNE +353 15556 97 26 cechene@hopscotch.eu
About DFDS:
With a network of 30 routes and a fleet of 50 vessels, DFDS is the largest integrated transport and logistics company in Northern Europe. DFDS offers first-class facilities and service, as well as the widest range of ferry routes in Northern Europe.
The Group's activities in France include a freight service between Marseille and Tunis, as well as port operations in Calais, Dunkirk, and Dieppe. In 2020, DFDS was named "Best Ferry Company in the World" for the 10th consecutive year (2011-2020) and "Best Ferry Company in Europe" for the 9th consecutive year (2012-2020).
DFDS operates up to 54 daily services between France and Dover from Dunkirk and Calais. The DFDS network also includes a passenger and freight service between Dieppe and Newhaven offering up to 6 crossings daily. A significant social player, DFDS employs 1,000 French staff and operates five vessels under the French flag. For more information about DFDS, or to find out the latest fares and offers on our UK routes, visit www.dfds.fr
Proudly named the World’s Leading Ferry Operator
We did it! After being crowned ‘Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator 2024’ at the World Travel Awards earlier this year, we are delighted to announce we have retained our title as the World’s Leading Ferry Operator.
We were also once again recognised as having the best website in our industry – scooping both the European and World awards in 2024.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who voted, and to our passengers, colleagues and partners who contribute to our continued success – we couldn’t do it without you all.