HOVERSPEED is preparing itself for the demise of duty-free sales by bolstering its duty-paid shopping revenue and undercutting high-street prices.
The cross-Channel operator’s latest offer on board is a pay-as-you-talk mobile phone which the company is retailing from ú55 against a Dixon’s price of ú69.99.
Hoverspeed has been building up its duty-paid shopping for some time with the introduction last year of the sale of fridges and freezers.
It already owns a string of wine stores in France, Belgium and Denmark, opened to take advantage of the lower duty rates and higher purchasing limits, and plans to open another in Dieppe on April 23 to coincide with the launch of the Newhaven to Dieppe route.
Hoverspeed retail director David King said: “We are looking at a whole range of products to see where we can offer a genuine tax-free saving on the UK high street price.
“Working with our suppliers to absorb the VATmeans that we will continue to be able to offer such products even if the decision on duty-free goes against us.
“Although we have been encouraged in recent months, the jury is still out.”