Setur wins Turkey border bid

Tina Milton

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The Turkish company has beaten an international field of bidders to secure the 15-year deal at Turkey's border stores

Turkish duty-free store operator Setur Service Turistik has won the 15-year contract to operate six outlets at Turkey's border gates. The tender is part of a government strategy to modernise the Turkish border business and comprises the management of duty-free space totalling 8,000sq m (86,080sq ft) as well as food and beverage units. Setur will operate stores on the border with Turkey and Iraq, Cilvegozu between Turkey and Syria, Sarp and Sarpi on the border between Turkey and Georgia, and Kapikule and Derekoy, located on the border between Turkey and Bulgaria.

Setur general manager Üstün Özbey told RavenFox.com: "We are very happy. I believe that we secured the contract as we are the strongest company - Setur is part of the Koç Group, which has over 90,000 employees. We have worked hard and it's nice to be given something back as we've been in the duty-free business for over 45 years. We will be able to produce a new standard of retail shops at the gates as all the border buildings are being knocked down and built from scratch."

Özbey said that the contract would start immediately, although construction has not been completed at all sites.

Hellenic Duty Free Shops and The Nuance Group's Turkish subsidiary Net Magaza Isetmeciligi Ve Ticaret were among the other bidders for the contract. Financial details of the bidding were not disclosed.