Kuoni to focus on future-proofing shop network
Kuoni is to focus on future-proofing existing branches rather than expanding its presence on the high street, according to managing director Mark Duguid.
Kuoni currently has 26 stores in the UK, including eight in John Lewis, 10 on high streets and eight in shopping centres.
Duguid, who has been in the role for six months, said the current size of Kuoni’s shop network “feels about right”.
Speaking on a Travel Weekly webcast, he said: “The business strategy is not to grow the number of stores. We obviously closed a number during Covid. I see it more as future proofing.”
Ex-Body Shop executive Donna Hynes starts as Kuoni retail director on July 31 to oversee the firm’s shop network while Sarah Weetman is to take on the separate, new ole of head of trade partnerships to look after the brand’s third-party agent relationships.
Hynes will be tasked with helping to “reinvent” the shop network using a “fresh perspective”.
Duguid, who described Hynes’ appointment as a “huge coup” for the business, said: “With Donna, we’ve got someone who has a really strong grasp on that [the rapidly evolving high street] and can ensure we stay ahead, reinvent ourselves as needed, with a fresher retail proposition as we go along.”
In terms of any future expansion, Duguid said Hynes would assess the retail landscape and ensure the company’s retail proposition was “absolutely on point” first.
“From that point, we can look about the future size and shape of retail but from where I sit right now, retail is a profitable division of this company,” he said, stressing the company was “absolutely committed” to remaining a retailer.