his bid to open a coffee concession at the new-look Airport.

Adrian Jones, 26, who runs Woolf Distribution Ltd., and Olympic Club owner brother Nicholas struck a deal with Rock Island Coffee to use their products exclusively in their operation.

But Adrian Jones -- whose firm has supplied fitness clubs and stores with soft drinks for two years -- was knocked back by the Department of Airport Operations committee set up to evaluate proposals for shops at the airport.

Mr. Jones said: "I called to ask why and they said our proposal was excellent -- but that we didn't have experience in selling coffee.

"That's the lamest excuse I've ever heard -- I've been in business two years and I'm making headway. There's not much difference between soft drinks and coffee except one's cold and other's hot.

"I had the backing of my brother, who's been in business for 10 years and an agreement with Rock Island Coffee.

"A business is a business as far as I'm concerned -- it doesn't matter what you're selling.'' Mr. Jones' blast came only days after two business people claimed red tape was strangling bids by Bermudians to give a local flavour to the new retail areas at the Airport.

Bermuda Perfumery owner Colin Curtis and Windjammer Gallery owner Susan Curtis, who are not related, branded US government rules which will ban Bermudian-made products past the US Customs barrier in the lucrative upper area of the airport as "an insult'' to the Island.

And Ms Curtis -- who is considering withdrawing her already-approved application -- added that she considered the whole tendering process to be slanted in favour of large groups and against small businesses.

She also attacked the terms of the leases on offer as unfair.

Ms Curtis said that anyone interested in a concession had to lodge a $5,000 non-interest bearing deposit and the Department refused to grant her exclusive rights to art sales.

Mr. Jones said the tender document put out by Government said they wanted to "cultivate a Bermudian theme'' and give customers "a sense of place''.

Mr. Jones said: "We had created a uniquely Bermudian cultural experience through combining a simple service attractive to the needs of travellers and a a thoroughly Bermudian product.'' He also undertook to take on board the Bermudian theme in the shop's design and dress staff -- all Bermudian -- in brightly-coloured Bermuda shorts and socks.

"It looks like the Department were just going through the motions -- they don't seem to be interested in small Bermudian businesses at all.'' The Royal Gazette revealed in June that ex-Premier Sir John Swan's Grape Bay Ltd. planned to open a McDonald's restaurant at the Airport and that his firm, which also includes UBP MP Maxwell Burgess, was the sole bidder for the new food concession at the airport.

But Mr. Jones said: "I heard Sir John Swan had got it and he was going to put a McDonald's in there -- that's not very Bermudian. The request for proposals didn't ask for applicants to come in there and sub-let -- and Sir John doesn't have any experience in flipping burgers to my knowledge.'' GOVERNMENT GVT