DENMARK/SWITZERLAND. The Nuance Group today issued a statement acknowledging an announcement by Macquarie-owned Copenhagen Airports (CPH) to tender the duty free contract at Kastrup Airport. The contract expires on 28 February 2007.
The Swiss retailer said: “The announcement by Copenhagen Airports that it will issue a tender for the tax and duty free shops at Copenhagen Airport is in line with the expected timetable in the lead-up to the expiry of the concession currently operated by The Nuance Group. Nuance has operated the tax and duty free shops at Copenhagen Airport continuously since July 1995.”
In the statement, The Nuance Group President & CEO Roberto Graziani underlined: “The expiry date of the concession at Copenhagen has been known for a long time and it does not come as a surprise. Having held the concession since 1995, it is entirely reasonable to expect that a new airport owner would want to establish a valuation of the concession on the open market. We continue to work closely with CPH and value the tender process as an opportunity for a retailer to offer new approaches to structuring what is a significant contract.
“We will be one of many interested parties and we look forward to taking advantage of our intimate knowledge of this particular market place as well as of our specific retail expertise to deliver an innovative and interesting proposal for the airport and its shareholders.”
CEO Europe Jean-Paul Bonnel added: “Despite our past difficulties, Nuance has always been committed to delivering first-class retail in Copenhagen and we have made significant investments in our operation which were carried out in tight collaboration with the airport. The award-winning new shop concepts are performing to our satisfaction and have been well received by our customers.”
