Alpha announces new UK structure

Print Article E-Mail Article

Alpha Travel Retail today confirmed a restructure of its UK operations, a reorganisation previewed in the February 15 issue of Duty-Free News International. The new structure will be overseen by Alpha chief executive Kevin Abbott.

The core business areas of Travel Value/Duty Free and airport retail catering come under the direction of David King. As part of the expansion of this business, Alpha today opened its first store at Eurotunnel's Folkestone terminal. As part of the restructure, Emma Franklin is to head the duty- and tax-free buying team, working with King and international director Paul Topping, who operates the company's Asian business.

The other strand of the business is the World News and Glorious Britain tourist souvenir sector, to be headed by Stephen Buckley. Bob Davies is to head buying for this division. The company has been opening World News shops at the rate of one a month over the past year. The Glorious Britain brand is being rolled out to travel and tourist centres in the UK, including railway stations.

The company said the changes were designed to protect and grow its tax- and duty-free shopping sectors, as well as develop other UK travel-related centres.

Abbott said: "Our new structure is based around highly creative teams, who will focus on the traditional core of the business, and shape an environment that will enable us to respond to the retailing opportunities presented in all travel-related markets. To succeed, companies must be flexible, responsive, customer-focused and committed to the highest levels of service.

"The changes we have implemented will ensure we have an appropriate infrastructure and processes to maintain our lead within airports and will enable us to continue rolling out our concepts to the wider UK travelling public."