The organisations have collaborated since early 2013 when LSG Sky Chefs first acquired shares in the company. Since then the companies have developed and implemented onboard retail programmes for several customers, including Germanwings, SunExpress and SN Brussels.
The takeover will see Retail inMotion founder and CEO Joe Elias retain his role, while Stefan Patermann, who has been leading LSG Sky Chefs’ onboard retail business in Europe for several years, has been appointed COO of Retail inMotion.
Retail inMotion focusses on the increasingly important onboard retail business, which drives airlines’ ancillary revenues and reduces inflight costs. Its expertise encompasses the procurement and distribution of Buy-on-Board products, complete management of Buy-on-Board programmes and end-to-end IT support of those programmes through proprietary software.
Media inMotion’s portfolio includes hardware and software solutions for Inflight Retailment Systems, which offers much more variety and choice than traditional Inflight Entertainment Systems. These systems also integrate onboard shopping capabilities.
“This deal is an important strategic step in our effort to offer airlines complete onboard retail and inflight entertainment solutions beyond our extensive catering, logistics and equipment capabilities,” said Erdmann Rauer, CEO of LSG Lufthansa Service Holding AG, the parent company of LSG Sky Chefs. “As market and customer requirements are changing at a rapid pace, this move enables us to better respond to and proactively address consumer and customer needs, which call for increased individualisation and flexibility.”
Joe Elias, Retail inMotion CEO, added: “In addition to the skills and expertise in onboard retail management and technology, Retail inMotion and its customers will benefit from the operational strengths and experience that LSG Sky Chefs has earned over the decades.”
