Hudson and Paradies Lagardère capture key concessions at San José International Airport

USA. San José City Council has approved the selection of Avolta company Hudson and Paradies Lagardère to manage a new retail & dining concession programme at San José International Airport. It follows a tender process that covers 12 retail concepts across terminals A and B, with the first new outlets openings later this year.

A collective minimum capital investment of US$16.9 million will support a build-out featuring fresh designs and integrate new technologies to “enhance the passenger experience, increase speed of service and drive sales”, said the airport company.

The new programme features a diverse mix of travel essentials, cafés and speciality retail. All grab-and-go food will be sourced from within Santa Clara County.

The retail concession programme is expected to generate a minimum of US$4,843,025 in revenue annually to support airport operations. This is a +20% increase in the minimum annual guarantee (MAG) revenue compared to fiscal year 2024-2025. The collective total minimum revenue guaranteed over the 12-year term of the programme is US$48,430,250. The airport is a self‐supporting enterprise owned and operated by the City of San José.

The new programme will include established brands and local businesses, including an almost +50% increase in participation by Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprises.

“With thousands of visitors expected to pass through San José for the Super Bowl, NCAA Men’s Basketball and World Cup games in 2026, now is the perfect time to enhance our airport’s shops, cafés and overall customer experience,” said San José Mayor Matt Mahan.

“By putting the spotlight on small businesses and local foods, we ensure that travellers from around the world experience the unique identity of San José from the moment they arrive.” 

“Beyond enhancing revenues that are critical to support airport infrastructure and operations, this new retail program will bring some of the best of San José and our region into our terminals,” said Director of Aviation Mookie Patel. “Having two industry-leading concession operators will improve customer service through healthy competition, lower prices, improved product quality and added choice.”

“We are thrilled to partner with San José Mineta International Airport and support their commitment to a culture of innovation by delivering a world-class retail showcase worthy of Silicon Valley,” said Gregg Paradies, President and CEO of Paradies Lagardère.

“Our dynamic mix of iconic local and national brands, combined with our industry-leading customer service, will engage and delight travellers with innovative store designs, enhanced retail offerings, and cutting-edge, customer-focused experiences that draw inspiration from the region’s unique identity.”

Hudson’s programme will showcase local goods, including wines from renowned vineyards such as Eden Rift Vineyards (Hollister) and J. Lohr (San José); artisanal gifts from local makers including Alice Frost Designs and Lola x Kenneth Collaboration (San José) and culinary items from local namess such as Mike & Niki’s Honey Company (Campbell), Sweetdragon Baking Company (San José), Garlic World (Gilroy) and Lala’s Jam Bar (Sonoma County), among many others.

A Google shop-in-shop will include an experiential display where travellers can try and play before buying, along with merchandise available only at the airport. San José will be among the first airports in the USA to feature merchandise directly from Google. Additionally, Hudson will carry leading electronics brands, including Apple, Bose, Sony and other technology.

Hudson’s programme will also include San José-based Nirvana Soul Café and all grab-and-go food products will be sourced locally from Eataly Silicon Valley. The overall concepts showcase the rich heritage of the San José region, drawing inspiration from local names such as Santana Row and Willow Glen Market.

Paradies Lagardère’s programme will also carry many locally-sourced goods, showcasing the work of artisans and makers such as Gooseberry Designs (Los Gatos) and The Capsmith (San José). Local gourmet offerings will include items from Nokki Farm (San José), Alice Stick Cookies (Los Altos), Ginger Lab (Santa Clara), Daybreak Coffee (San José) and Greenlee’s Bakery (San José), among many others.

The offer will include a selection of licensed sports apparel for men, women and children, featuring teams such as the San Jose Sharks, San Jose Earthquakes, San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants and college teams from Stanford, UC Berkeley and San José State University. Paradies Lagardère’s stores are inspired by local landmarks such as San Pedro Square, Plaza de San José (a nod to the historic Mayfair neighbourhood) and the Garden Marketplace (inspired by San José’s historic Rose Garden).