Deal signed with Moto
Bookseller and stationer WHSmith is pulling into motorway service stations after forging a joint venture with Moto Hospitality and Swayfield Group.

The retailer will open 50 roadside shops, bolstering its 203-strong travel portfolio in airports and railway stations. The opening drive follows trials of WHSmith outlets in two of Moto's busiest properties - Birch West on the M62 near Manchester and Leigh Delamare on the M4 near Chippenham.

WHSmith chief executive Kate Swann said the venture would 'bring WHSmith products and services direct to the motorist for the first time.' There will be 48 shops operated under a franchise agreement with Moto, most opening next year. The Swayfield stores will open in 2008 and will run under a leasehold agreement.

Moto is the UK's biggest service station operator and its 48 units cater for more than 100 million travellers a year.

Bridgewell Securities analyst Charles Nichols believed the deal would add£2 million to WHSmith's profits in 2008. He said: 'Given management's carefully nurtured reputation for under-promising and over-delivering, we would be unsurprised to see this target exceeded.'

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