Nuance launches new fine food franchise at Vancouver

Print Article E-Mail Article

The Nuance Group and Australian food retailer Simon Johnson have signed an exclusive franchise agreement for the roll-out of the fine food concept to international travel-retail markets. Nuance will open its first "Simon Johnson" franchise store in Vancouver International airport in June 2002.

Simon Johnson operates retail stores, wholesale fine food distribution, e-commerce and catalogue business and supplies 1,300 leading hotels and caterers. The company is committed to offering products and raw materials of the highest integrity from quality producers around the world.

Under the franchise agreement Nuance said it will roll-out the concept to other airports and travel-retail locations. As a first step Nuance has won a tender for a 125sq m (1,345sq ft) landside store at Vancouver airport with its proposal for a Simon Johnson branded food and homewares store. The store will carry 300 lines of the "best of the best" international and Australian foods.

The Nuance Group president and ceo Peter Petersen commented: "We are confident that our companies' combined expertise will result in a fresh and dynamic approach to fine food concepts at airports and tourist locations. Winning the tender at Vancouver airport was a first proof of the concept's attractiveness. We look forward to taking this great retail brand to travel-retail locations worldwide."