Zug,21.10.2016

Major changes to businesses operating at the station

A number of major changes will be taking place over the next few months with regard to businesses operating at Zug station.
 
Travellers will have already noticed that the SBB travel agency, previously by the ticket office and the Zug Tourist Board, closed a few months ago after the SBB decide to pull out of this side of its business by the end of 2015.
Now it has been announced that the K-Kiosk of the Valora company is to move into these premises in December. The company is currently housed diagonally opposite in the corner.
 
In turn, these premises currently occupied by K-Kiosk, along with the adjoining premises currently occupied by Caffè Spettacolo, are to be merged together and then used by Aperto, which is currently on the upper floor of the station by platform four. For its part, the Caffè Spettacolo is to move to new premises by the pharmacy as current advertising there already announces. According to the SBB, this new Spettacolo, which is to open in December, is to be smaller, covering just 13 square metres, in line with a new concept the company has for its businesses country-wide, namely that of being even closer to the travelling public, as its marketing manageress, Sandra von Bidder, explained.
 
The biggest change at the station affects the Aperto company, which, instead of operating from premises of 250 square meters, will in future have just 100 at its disposal. Furthermore, there will be changes as to what will be on offer there. As Andreas Hofer, the CEO of the Alimentana company behind Aperto explained, “When we moved to Zug station ten years ago, we were a retail outlet but as things have changed much in this time we have decided to focus on the convenience market, concentrating on selling items which people on the move need.” Hence the store will provide a buffet selling hot food and drinks as well as fresh sandwiches and salads. No longer will it sell food which needs to be prepared, neither will there be any seats for people to sit on. One reason for this change is the fact that a branch of the Coop opened on platform three about three years ago, meaning competition for Aperto, though Hofer said that, even before this time, the company had been intending to change its concept. “We are now operating in this niche area, and very successfully, too,” he added. Work is to start on their new premises in February with the opening in spring. As to what is to happen to the current Aperto outlet on platform four, this is not yet known. “We have advertised the space and are currently holding talks with possible new tenants,” said SBB spokeswoman Franziska Frey.