Alpha homes in on $4m Manchester revamp

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Alpha Retail plans a £2.8m ($4m) revamp of its new stores at Manchester airport terminals two and three. As exclusively revealed by Duty-Free News International in June (Email Flash June 22) Alpha won the two concessions from The Nuance Group (UK) and will take over at the end of this year.

Alpha said it would keep both stores open during refurbishment, which will be complete by the end of March 2002. The retailer has pledged to retain Nuance staff in terminals 2 and 3, and said further jobs would be created by expanding and revamping the retail operation. Alpha has appointed design company Design House to create interiors, point of sale and merchandising units. The project may extend to the creation of an Alpha bar in terminal 3 to complement the retail outlets.

Manchester airport managing director John Spooner said: "We are looking forward to seeing Alpha Retail's proposals come to fruition to ensure passengers coming through Manchester airport have access to a top-quality shopping experience before they fly." Tax- and duty-free shopping was worth £18.6m ($26.5m) at Manchester last year.