World Duty Free extends airport deal

WORLD Duty Free, the operator of duty free shops has agreed an extension to its deal with Manchester Airport which will see it continue to operate the airport’s five main travel retail and duty free stores until 2021.

The company has signed an extension to its existing deal, which wasn’t due to run out until 2017. Last year, the company made £60m through the Manchester Airport stores and in total it operates 89 stores through 23 UK airports, servinh around 20m customers a year.

Last year, Manchester Airport completed an £80m redevelopment of its terminals which saw all WFDF’s stores being upgraded – two Biza stores in Terminal 1, a Biza store in Terminal 2, and two Alpha Stores in terminals 1 and 3. It has also agreed that it will upgrade both the Biza T1 store and the Alpha T3 store next year.

The 24,000 sq ft Biza T1 store will house two new in-store concepts – Cocoon, which specialises in beauty products, while World of Whiskies will offer a selection of single malts. Its electronics section will be overhauled and it will add a section containing local products called “Best of Manchester”.

“The Biza brand was launched at Manchester and the airport is still home to our largest ‘flagship’ Biza store,” said WDF’s UK managing director, Padraig Drennan.
Andrew Harrison, Manchester Airport’s managing director said: “Our passengers have come to expect the best from Manchester Airport and this development enhances our tax and duty free offer.

“WDF has always been an important partner and the Biza brand is proving to be very popular with our passengers.”