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Press Release

August 01, 2019

illycaffè Brings Authentic Italian Coffee Bar Experience to Vancouver International Airport

ATLANTA – Paradies Lagardère, a travel retail and restaurateur leader in North America, and Vancouver International Airport (YVR), is thrilled to announce a new full-service illycaffè in the international terminal between gates 65 and 66. With more than 25 million passengers traveling through the airport in 2018, YVR is committed to creating an airport that British Columbia can be proud of, which includes a robust dining program designed to meet the needs of its diverse traveling demographics. Paradies Lagardère, through its partnership with YVR, is committed to not only crafting first-class guest experiences, but also connecting with guests at multiple levels and meeting the needs of its airport partners. Adjoining illycaffe is a Relay travel essential store. The Relay concept at YVR is flexible, durable, and sustainable, with a new modern and sleek design that will capture the attention of the airport’s travelers, along with providing beverages, snacks and other travel essentials. The brand has been a travel staple for 160 years, with 1,400 stores across 23 countries.

A grand opening event celebrating the new concept and introducing it to travellers was held today at the airport.

Vancouver travellers that are fans of the brand, and those unfamiliar with illy coffee, will be delighted by the delicious and diverse offerings of the new illycaffè. A third-generation family-owned coffee company from Trieste, Italy, illycaffè is a global leader in sustainable high-quality coffee. illycaffè shops offer coffee lovers an inspirational and immersive illy experience, featuring the brand’s iconic imagery and other visual elements, ideal environments to linger over coffee of unparalleled quality, and coffee purchased directly from farmers, and prepared by expertly-trained baristas. illycaffè baristas are rigorously trained by the company’s renowned Università del Caffè faculty. The training spans expert coffee preparation, from traditional espresso, latte and cappuccino, to illy Cold Brew and original specialty drinks.

“The illycaffè brand has fans around the world, and travellers that visit the Vancouver International Airport that aren’t familiar with illy will love the ambiance of an authentic Italian coffee bar, the delicious coffee, tea and food offerings, and first-class service and knowledge of the baristas,” said Gregg Paradies, president and CEO, Paradies Lagardère. “Paradies Lagardère is thrilled to work with airport partners such as YVR to bring the best brands to travellers.”

“We are thrilled to partner once again with Paradies Lagardère and welcome premium coffee shop illycaffè to YVR,” said Scott Norris, Vice President, Commercial Development, Vancouver Airport Authority. “Part of delivering outstanding customer experiences is offering new and innovative concepts that appeal to our diverse group of travellers. We can’t wait for our passengers to enjoy illycaffè and the rest of our enhanced food and beverage and retail program, which will be introduced over the next two years.”

“Our newest illycaffè, in partnership with Paradies Lagardere, offers travellers to and from Vancouver our very best from high-quality coffee to an experience that inspires guests,” said Barry Sheldon, President of illycaffè North America. “Vancouver is an exciting cultural destination and leader in sustainability-- a vibrant city that encompasses illy’s values and passion for beauty and goodness.”

About Vancouver Airport Authority

Vancouver Airport Authority is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that manages Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Canada's second busiest airport, YVR served 25.9 million passengers in 2018. Fifty-six airlines serve YVR, connecting people and businesses to more than 125 non-stop destinations worldwide. In 2019, YVR was voted Best Airport in North America for the tenth consecutive year in the Skytrax World Airport Awards. Vancouver Airport Authority is a dedicated community partner and in 2018 donated more than $1,000,000 to local organizations. We are committed to creating an airport that British Columbia can be proud of: a premier global gateway, local economic generator and community contributor.

About illycaffè

illycaffè is an Italian family-owned company founded in Trieste in 1933, which has always pursued the mission of offering the best coffee in the world. illycaffè produces a unique blend of 100% Arabica coffee, combining 9 of the best qualities in the world according to illy. Every day 7 million cups of illy coffee are enjoyed around the globe in over 140 countries, in the finest coffee shops, restaurants and hotels, in single-brand cafes and shops, and of course at home. The company’s many innovations have contributed to important technological developments in the world of coffee. In 1991 the company founded the "Ernesto Illy Award for quality espresso coffee" in Brazil, promoting the sharing of expertise and recognising the efforts of coffee growers by offering a higher price for what illy believes to be the best quality coffee. This has grown into a partnership based on the principles of sustainable development. The company also founded its Università del Caffè, an educational institution which strives to promote coffee culture at all levels, offering complete and practical training for growers, baristas and coffee lovers, and seeking to deepen the knowledge about every aspect of the product. Everything that is 'made in illy' is also enriched with beauty and art. These are fundamental values for the brand, from the logo designed by the artist James Rosenquist, to the cups of the illy Art Collection which have been decorated by over 100 international artists. In 2018 the company employed 1294 people and had a consolidated turnover of € 483 million. There are around 259 illy stores and single-brand stores around the world in 43 countries.