Lupo opens its first airport franchise at Viracopos

Lupo has opened its first franchise in a Brazilian airport at Viracopos International Airport in Campinas, São Paulo state. The 42 m² shop is located in the departures area and sells underwear, socks and Lupo Sport sportswear. The opening, reported by Mercado & Consumo on 6 November 2026, adds a new retail setting to the chain’s presence in Brazil.

First full shop in an airport

The Viracopos outlet follows Lupo’s standard store concept and opens daily from 6am to 10pm. This 16-hour trading day is an important consideration when assessing the day-to-day demands of running an airport franchise.

The shop brings together three product categories already associated with the brand: underwear, socks and sportswear. Lupo is therefore entering this location with familiar product ranges, rather than a retail offering presented as exclusive to passengers.

Its position in the departures area is another key aspect of the opening. For anyone assessing franchise formats, knowing that a shop is inside an airport is not enough: its precise location must form part of the assessment of the site and its customer base.

The confirmed details are the 42 m² floor area, the standard store concept, the product categories and the opening hours. These features help explain the operating format without mistaking a new type of location for a wholesale change to the brand’s business model.

Viracopos follows a kiosk at Guarulhos

The arrival in Campinas is not Lupo’s first move into airport retail. In early 2026, the brand opened a kiosk at Guarulhos Airport. Viracopos, however, is home to its first full shop in this setting and is described as the chain’s first airport franchise in Brazil.

The distinction between the two formats matters when interpreting the news. A kiosk and a full shop represent different types of retail presence. The sequence of openings shows the brand using more than one format in airports, but should not, on its own, be read as an announcement of a nationwide airport expansion programme.

For the franchising sector, this is a concrete example of entry into a new retail environment. The key feature is the combination of an established store concept with a different setting, with its own location-specific requirements and trading hours.

Network has more than 800 outlets in Brazil

According to figures reported by Mercado & Consumo, Lupo has more than 800 franchised and company-owned shops in Brazil, as well as a presence in more than 34,000 points of sale. These figures indicate the scale of the retail and distribution network that the Viracopos outlet joins.

It is important to distinguish between these measures. The total of more than 800 outlets includes both franchises and company-owned shops, so it does not represent franchised outlets alone. The more than 34,000 points of sale are a separate measure of the brand’s distribution reach and should not be treated as a franchise count.

The significance of the Viracopos opening therefore lies in its format and location, rather than an announced milestone in the network’s size. The operation extends the airport presence established by the Guarulhos kiosk, now with a full shop.

What to assess when considering airport sites

For prospective franchisees, the opening provides a useful example of a store format, but it is no substitute for assessing an individual business opportunity. A 42 m² shop trading from 6am to 10pm requires available space, staffing arrangements and daily operations to be considered together.

Before comparing a similar opportunity with a high street or shopping centre shop, ask for the site-specific terms, projected costs and each party’s responsibilities. It is also sensible to check how stock deliveries, training and customer service will be organised at the proposed location.

In practice: use Viracopos as a reference for location and format. When deciding whether to invest in a franchise, examine the figures and requirements of the specific outlet, rather than assuming that an airport location guarantees success.