Nuance finalises Houston duty-free contract

Gavin Lipsith

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The Nuance Group has signed the contract at Houston International airport after a legal dispute delayed the process

Branch-McGowen claims that it invested in retail outlets at Houston on the understanding that its contract would be renewed, although the airport denies having made such a commitment. In a statement Nuance made no mention of the dispute, which is still under way, but welcomed the addition of the third US location to its portfolio alongside Denver International and Las Vegas McCarran airports.

The retailer will operate a total 550sq m (5,900sq ft) of space in terminals A, B and D under a five-year contract with three one-year extension options. In terminal D it will offer a full range of merchandise through a large outlet with a smaller store featuring fashion, leathergoods, fashion accessories, watches, jewellery and sunglasses. Two kiosks in terminals A and B will offer liquor, tobacco, confectionery, electronics, top-selling fragrances as well as fragrance and cosmetics value sets.

The Nuance Group North America CEO Richard Rendek said: "In the past year we have been refining our plans for targeting US tender opportunities. Winning the Houston tender shows we are on the right track with our approach and are poised for US expansion in the near future."

Houston is the fourteenth-busiest airport in the world in the terms of passenger traffic.