Nuance and Shoppers’ Stop win Hyderabad tender

Gavin Lipsith

Print Article E-Mail Article E-Mail Author

The joint venture secures its second Indian airport contract, a seven-year deal to operate domestic and international retail at the new Hyderabad Internartional airport

The Nuance Group and its Indian joint-venture partner Shoppers’ Stop have been awarded the seven-year contract to operate international and domestic retail at Hyderabad International airport. The deal, which commences in March 2008, is expected to generate sales of up to $240m over the contract term, and marks the last of the first batch of tenders at newly-privatised Indian airports.

Nuance and Shoppers’ Stop recently secured the contract to operate at Mumbai International airport. At Hyderabad the joint venture, Nuance Group (India), will operate retail at the international terminal while Shoppers’ Stop Airport Division will oversee retail at the domestic terminal. The deal covers a total of 2,810sq m (30,236sq ft) of retail space.

The retail offer in the international terminal will comprise a total of three stores, covering 2,50sq m (26,900sq ft), including a 1,277sq m (13,741sq ft) arrival store. Domestic retail will consist of three stores totaling 310sq m (3,336sq ft).

Hyderabad Airport is one of India’s five largest airports and, according to Nuance, has the highest growth rate. In 2006, it handled 5.5m passengers, of which over 1.1m travelled internationally. The new, private airport opens next year.

The Nuance Group president and CEO Roberto Graziani said: “We are highly pleased to have been awarded this contract, which is an important foothold on the Indian sub-continent. India is one of our key markets for future expansion, and with our partner Shoppers’ Stop and two high-profile contracts won we are ideally set to benefit from the extraordinary growth potential this market offers.”

Nuance executive vice-president business development and strategic marketing Carlo Bernasconi added: “Winning this significant contract proves that The Nuance Group, in cooperation with Shoppers’ Stop, is ideally equipped to partner modern Indian airports for their retail approach. Again, our holistic approach to airport retailing has been instrumental in creating a truly outstanding retail offer for our winning tender.”

Managing Director, Shoppers’ Stop managing director BS Nagesh said: “[This] shows the confidence airports have in the capability of the joint venture between Nuance and Shoppers’ Stop. We believe our customer-centric approach towards retailing will bring in the best of modern retail at Hyderabad airport.”

Hyderabad airport owner GHIAL COO T Srinagesh added: “We are happy to collaborate with a reputed name like the Nuance-Shoppers Stop consortium. Duty-free being a key component of passengers’ experience in the airport, this collaboration will be a key step in the endeavor of GHIAL to establish our airport to international standards.”