23rd Nov 2006 10:00
WH Smith PLC23 November 2006 23 November 2006 WH Smith PLC to open 50 new units in motorway service areas WH Smith PLC announces agreements with Moto Hospitality Limited and SwayfieldGroup to open travel stores in UK motorway service areas. 48 new units will beopened in Moto service areas and a further 2 units at Swayfield Group sites. These agreements open up a new channel for WHSmith Travel and bring WHSmith'sproducts and services direct to motorists for the first time. The 50 new units will enhance WHSmith Travel's existing network, which comprises203 units in key air and rail locations. Today's announcement follows the trials of WHSmith Travel stores at two ofMoto's busiest sites, Birch West on the M62 near Manchester and Leigh Delamereon the M4 near Chippenham. The Moto stores will be operated under a franchise agreement, with the majorityopening in 2007. The Swayfield Group sites are a leasehold arrangement and areexpected to open during 2008. Commenting on the announcement, Kate Swann, WHSmith Group Chief Executive, said: "We are delighted to be working with Moto and the Swayfield Group to open up anew channel for our Travel Retail business and bring WHSmith products andservices direct to the motorist for the first time." Tim Moss, Moto's Chief Executive, said: "We are very excited at the prospect of having Britain's biggest CTN* retaileras a partner in our network of motorway service areas. The agreement comes onthe back of a trial of WHSmith's Travel format, which showed itself to beextremely popular with our customers." "We are looking forward to rolling out WHSmith stores across the entire estate.This is a natural step for Moto in providing the widest and best choice offamiliar high street brands to our customers." Andrew Long, Managing Director of Swayfield Group, commented: "We are pleased to be working closely with WHSmith." * CTN - confectioner, tobacconist, newsagent - Ends - Enquiries: WH Smith PLC Sarah Heath Media Relations 020 7851 8850Mark Boyle Investor Relations 020 7851 8820 Brunswick Tom Buchannan 020 7404 5959Charlotte Kenyon NOTE TO EDITORS WH Smith PLC is made up of 543 high street stores and a further 203 retail unitsin 129 airports and stations. The High Street business sells a wide range ofnewspapers, magazines, stationery, books and entertainment products, whileWHSmith Travel sells a tailored range of newspapers, magazines, books andconfectionery products for people on the move. In addition, WHSmith Direct -www.whsmith.co.uk - serves customers on the internet 24 hours a day. Moto Hospitality Ltd is Britain's biggest operator of motorway service areas,with 48 sites catering for the needs of over 100 million travellers every year. Moto is owned by Macquarie Bank, a diversified international provider ofspecialist investment banking and financial services, with more than 8000 peoplein 23 countries. Macquarie Bank is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, witha market capitalisation of approx £6.2bn. The Macquarie Bank Group's totalassets are approximately £43.7bn, with a further £57.8bn in assets undermanagement. Macquarie is a global leader in the acquisition, funding andmanagement of infrastructure and essential service assets, with more than 90assets globally. Swayfield Group owns and operates 7 existing motorway service areas and hasplanning consent for a further 5 new developments, which are due to open overthe next 12-18 months. The majority of the existing and new motorway serviceareas operate under the Swayfield umbrella brand 'Extra'. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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