Ready, set, go: Sunshine Coast Airport opens new Relay store
Travellers passing through Sunshine Coast Airport can now enjoy a fresh new retail experience, with the opening of Relay marking the first new store delivered as part of the airport's $170 million terminal redevelopment. The store offers a mix of travel essentials and showcases locally made Sunshine Coast products.
The store is the first step in the largest investment in food, beverage and retail offerings in the airport's history and showcases a mix of travel essentials, food and beverage and locally made Sunshine Coast products.
Sunshine Coast Airport CEO Chris Mills said the opening represents the beginning of a significant transformation of retail, dining and service offerings within the terminal.
“Relay is the first new venue to open as part of a major transformation of the airport experience and provides a glimpse of what’s still to come.
“It’s exciting to see the new Relay travel essentials store now open, offering passengers a wide range of products for their journey while also showcasing locally sourced Sunshine Coast products," Mr Mills said.
“This store, and those still to come, will give travellers an authentic taste of the Sunshine Coast from the moment they arrive, while creating valuable opportunities for local businesses and producers.
“This is just the beginning of a broader retail vision that will see future stages of the terminal redevelopment deliver a dedicated Discover Sunshine Coast experience, celebrating the products and businesses that make our region such a sought-after destination.
“We want the Sunshine Coast story to begin the moment passengers walk through our terminal.”
Lagardère AWPL CEO Costa Kouros said opening the new store is a key step in the Airport’s transformation.
"Welcoming travellers into the very first Relay store at Sunshine Coast Airport is a fantastic milestone for our team," Mr Kouros said.
"This marks the first of eight new retail and dining concepts we will deliver in partnership with the airport.
"We’ve designed this modern space around what travellers need on the move, combining everyday travel essentials, fresh food and coffee, health and beauty and a carefully curated collection of local, national and global offerings.”
Local brands just the beginning
The redevelopment is designed to cater for the region's growing visitor economy while creating new opportunities for local businesses to connect with domestic and international travellers.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the new store highlighted the important role the airport played in supporting local businesses and showcasing the region.
"Providing travellers with access to locally made products from the moment they arrive, or before they depart, helps showcase the unique character of the Sunshine Coast while supporting local enterprise," Mayor Natoli said.
The new store features products from well-known local brands including Maleny Chocolates and Nutworks, providing valuable exposure to thousands of visitors travelling through the airport each year.
Maleny Chocolates Managing Director Troy Wainwright said the opportunity helped connect local products with a wider audience.
"Many travellers may be discovering our chocolates for the first time," Mr Wainwright said.
"Whether they're taking home a gift or enjoying a treat on their journey, they're taking a little piece of the Sunshine Coast with them."
Nutworks International Sales Manager Sarah Leonard said the partnership was helping the family-owned business reach visitors from around Australia and the world.
"Many travellers are tasting Nutworks for the very first time through this airport experience, and that's incredibly exciting for our team," Ms Leonard said.
Future additions will include new dining venues, a coffee house, a burger and beer outlet and the airport's first self-serve dessert bar, with all new venues expected to be operating by late 2027.