Hudson Group
The Hudson Group is an East Rutherford, New Jersey, based retailer which operates a chain of newsstands, bookstores, fast food restaurants, and other retail stores chiefly at airports in the United States, with a smaller presence in US train stations and Canadian airports. The company's holdings include Hudson News, the world's largest operator of airport newsstands.[1] Hudson Group, the largest duty-paid travel retailer in North America, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dufry AG, Switzerland.
History
In 1918 the Cohen family began a newspaper distribution company in Bayonne, New Jersey, which expanded to magazine distribution under the name Hudson News and grew to become the largest magazine wholesale distribution agency in the United States.
In 1987, Mario DiDomizio and a staff of fewer than 100 employees opened the first branded Hudson News store in LaGuardia Airport. Now with more than 700 locations throughout the United States,[2] Hudson News is now North America's largest airport newsstand retailer.[1]
This group was renamed Hudson Group Retail Specialists in 1998, reflecting the expansion from newsstands into cafés, bookstores and speciality retail. The retail portfolio has since expanded to include international luxury brands such as Armani, Bulgari, and Coach. Its franchised café brands include Dunkin Donuts and Euro Café.
Present
In March, 2008, Boston, Massachusetts-based private equity firm Advent International acquired a majority interest in Hudson Group. Later that year, Hudson became a wholly owned subsidiary of another Advent holding, Dufry AG of Basel, Switzerland, one of the largest operators of duty-free stores in the world.[3] Its new logo reflected this change: Hudson Group, a Dufry company.
In 2011, Hudson Group was given responsibility for Dufry's duty-free operations in North America, and in 2013 it debuted the new “Hudson” travel essentials concept. Dufry operates branded Hudson News stores in 14 other countries around the world.
Presently Hudson Group employs 7,000 people and operates over 700 retail units and duty-free shops in 70 airports and transportation terminals in the United States and Canada.
Locations
Reflecting its Northern New Jersey/New York City roots, the company also operates outlets in New York Penn Station, Newark Penn Station, Grand Central Terminal, Journal Square PATH station, World Trade Center PATH station, 33rd Street PATH station, Hoboken PATH station and Hoboken Terminal, and the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The Company also operates the United Nations Gift Centre inside United Nations Headquarters (not to be confused with the UN's own bookstore, which sells comparatively fewer novelty items). Hudson Group also operates retail outlets in Washington Union Station and the Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago.
References
- ^ a b Newman, Richard (2012-02-01). "Robert Cohen, Hudson News magnate, dies at 86". The Record (Bergen County). NorthJersey.com. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
- ^ Hawlet, Chris (2012-02-01). "Hudson News chain founder Robert Cohen dies at 86". Associated Press. The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
- ^ Hevesi, Dennis (2012-02-05). "Robert B. Cohen, Hudson News Chain Founder, Dies at 86". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
External links
