Four bids in for Montevideo tender

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According to local newspaper reports, the Uruguayan Ministry of Defence has received four bids for the duty-free concession at Montevideo Carrasco airport. The incumbent Neutral, Mexico's Operadora de Aero-Boutiques, Brasif Duty Free Shop and Spain's Aldeasa have all submitted bids. Aldeasa's head of international operations Marcelino Oreja confirmed his company's participation to TRW and said he expected the result to be announced soon.

Eight operators requested tender documents though four did not follow up with a bid. Those pulling out from the bidding are thought to include InterBaires and London Supply.

The tender concerns two points of sale: one in depatures and one in arrivals. The contract will run for eight years, with the Ministry of Defence receiving 20% of monthly turnover plus a rent of $30,000 per month. According to Uruguayan daily El Observador, the victorious operator will pay a one-off sum to win the concession. The government is to analyse the technical bids submitted by the four operators before inviting financial bids, which are expected within a week.   

•  Full details will appear on TRW and in the November 1 issue of Duty-Free News International.