January 6, 2000 Leading fast car ferry operator, Hoverspeed, has come up with a novel idea to take the hassle out of duty-paid shopping on the Continent with a new pre-ordering service. Vehicle passengers simply select and pay for their goods in the UK prior to departure, and collect them on the Continent from the Hoverstore on their return journey. As a result, the goods are free of UK duty and tax. Available on Hoverspeed's Dover/Calais, Dover/Ostend, and Folkestone/Boulogne services, the pre-order range, which is on display in the UK terminals, includes multi-case offers of brand name beers, spirits, and wines. Hoverspeed is currently the only cross-Channel ferry operator trading on the Continent to take advantage of lower duty and tax rates following the abolition of intra-EU duty-free. Geoffrey Ede, Hoverspeed managing director, said: "The decision to abolish duty-free has proven to have been ill considered, largely because it forces people to panic buy whilst the vessel is outside UK territorial waters. This new service offers an innovative solution whilst operating within the new regime." Hoverspeed is promising further new developments to its retail offer, including pre-ordering via the internet and home delivery.Press Release Media contact: Nick Stevens, Public Relations Manager Telephone: (01304) 865170 |