UK stores will keep Spar fascia but uniforms and internal branding will change Exclusive John Wood, Sennelager The armed forces retailer Naafi has unveiled the first of a new generation of stores. The 37,670sq ft Naafi Max store at Sennelager in central Germany has undergone a DM5.4m refurbishment and redevelopment and is the first bearing Naafi's new red white and blue branding which will be used worldwide. Naafi chief executive Geoffrey Dart said Naafi had a new strategy to cope with fewer British personnel being posted to Germany. Naafi Local stores will cater for top-up and convenience shopping, while a limited number of Naafi Max stores will provide "centres of excellence" drawing in customers from outlying areas for more general shopping. Dart explained: "The Naafi Max stores need to provide a shopping experience worth a trip of up to an hour. What we have created is as good as any similar store in the UK." He said there would be three or four additional Naafi Max stores in Germany. Naafi's UK director Richard Burton said UK stores would retain their external Spar facsias, but internal Naafi branding and uniforms would be changed to the new format over a period of time. Only the shell of the original store remains at Sennelager, explained Naafi's director of Germany, Laurie Martienssen. Although it remained trading throughout the work, it has been given new flooring, ceiling and lighting, new chillers and freezers, and new livery throughout. In addition to the food hall and the home and leisure department, a range of new facilities have been introduced including a Toni & Guy hairdressers, Duds & Suds dry cleaning and laundry service, florist, creche and café. A new mall at the entrance to the store houses a post office and travel agent. {{NEWS }}

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