Alpha Airports Group (AAG) reports that it has recently completed a ?3.75m ($7m) refurbishment programme at its two Florida airports of Orlando Sanford and Orlando International, complete with full rebranding, upgrading and expansion.

Alpha?s Sanford store has been expanded from 6,500sq ft to 8,000sq ft at a total cost of ?1.75m ($3.3m) with a significant expansion of the perfume area which now features new customisations by Parbel, Dior, Issey Miyake, Jean Paul Gaultier and Calvin Klein.
In a statement Alphas said: ‘Similarly, the store?s fashion and accessories section has also been increased and its range extended to include new designer sunglasses ranges by Gucci, Ralph Lauren and Diesel, watches by Guess, DKNY and Tommy Hilfiger and handbags by Guess, Fossil and Diesel. The store?s jewellery range has also been expanded and now incorporates a range of international brands, including Swarovski, Hot Diamonds and Pilgrim.’
In addition to the existing store at Sanford, Alpha has recently opened a new Bijoux Terner outlet which offers a wide range of affordable women?s accessories including handbags, watches, fashion jewellery, shawls and hats, all available for US$10. A Bijoux Terner store already operates in Orlando which works very well.
Rod Wiltshire, President of Alpha Retail USA, commented: ?Since the refurbishment, initial sales have been strong, particularly in the expanded categories of perfume and specialities, which have both recorded double digit growth in passenger spend. The Bijoux Terner store is also performing well and we?ve seen no dilution in duty free sales since its launch ? the two offers complement each other well.?
A further ?2m ($3.7m) was invested in Alpha?s two Orlando International Airport stores earlier this year [as reported exclusively in The Business in March 2006-Ed], the contracts for which have been extended to July 2010.
The airside store in Terminal One has more than doubled in size from 1,000sq ft to 2,300sq ft, while the retailer?s Delta store has been expanded from 4,300sq ft to 5,000sq ft.
The focus here has also been on expanding the stores? perfume and accessories areas, both of which have recorded growth in passenger spend since the refurbishment. The new ranges echo those introduced at Orlando Sanford Airport.
Wiltshire continued: ?Alpha?s investment into these stores reinforces our dedication to improving our customer offer throughout the lifetime of our contracts. It also reflects our commitment to reviewing and refreshing the design of our stores and fixtures to ensure we are able to compete with the High Street. This allows us to introduce new brands and extend ranges, thereby improving the offer to customers and enhancing our sales.?
Alpha caters to a passenger profile of 65% British and 25% Canadian in Orlando, with the rest made up of Europeans and South Americans. In Sanford the profile is 100% British charter traffic.
In a separate announcement in what has been a good news week for the company, Alpha Airports Group confirmed yesterday that it has won a 10-year exclusive flight catering and ancillary services' contract with United Arab Emirate?s Sharjah International Airport to serve all airlines operating out of the airport.
In addition to a comprehensive range of flight catering services, Alpha will also take responsibility for the Business and First Class airline lounges and will be introducing its World News Caf? brand to the newly developed and much expanded airport terminal. The company says that sales from comparable concession activities in 2005 were in the region of ?5m ($9.4m).