WEYBRIDGE, England--()--SSP has secured a seven year deal worth over £35 million to operate five units at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport when its new third terminal opens in November.
The new offer will combine a mix of Chinese and South East Asian brands and Western cuisine, specifically selected following an extensive survey of passenger needs at the airport. This showed a high demand for concepts based on Chinese foods, but also a desire for variety, quick service as well as table service and value for money.
Chinese brand Goubuli is renowned for its baozi (Chinese filled steamed buns). Founded in 1858, the brand has grown to become one of China’s best known names, and represents Northern Chinese cuisine at its best.
Ajisen Ramen is top of the list of Chinese passengers’ favourite quick casual brands, and will need no introduction to travellers at Hangzhou. The leading Japanese Ramen chain in China, Ajisen Ramen has been a highly successful name in SSP’s brand portfolio since the company opened its first outlet at Hong Kong in 2003.
Downtown research revealed that the cuisines of South East Asia and Korea are becoming increasingly popular in China. SSP’s offer will therefore include its own brands, Spices, which serves South East Asian dishes, and Feng Yuan, which is based on the foods of Korea. This has operated with great success at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport since 2008.
SSP’s studies also concluded that there was a demand for local Hangzhou snacks, and SSP will create a bespoke counter service restaurant offering this menu.
The line-up will be completed by the addition of French-style brasserie Le Grand Comptoir, which recently opened to great acclaim at Oslo Airport. SSP’s research found there is a desire for Western food at the airport, and the company believes that Le Grand Comptoir will tap into the growing interest in French food and culture in China.
The outlets will be located in two separate areas of the terminal and will total 1,000 square metres.
Daren Lau, Managing Director of SSP Asia Pacific said the new win was an important milestone in SSP’s endeavours to expand in mainland China ‘We are delighted with this latest success, as Hangzhou Xiaoshan is one of the key airports in the Yangtze River Delta, the economic powerhouse of China. We believe that our offer will meet consumer demand and offer passengers great environments in which to dine at the airport. Our high operational standards and our strong commercial acumen were also instrumental in securing this deal. We are certain this offer will be popular with both passengers and staff, and will also help our clients to achieve their aspirations for their airport.’
Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport handled 17.8 million passengers in 2011, a rise of over 50% since 2007. The new terminal has been designed to enable the airport to cater for the continuing rise in passenger numbers, which are predicted to top 24 million in 2014.
About SSP
SSP is the leading dedicated provider of food and beverage brands in travel locations, operating restaurants, bars, cafés, food courts, lounges and convenience stores in airports, train stations, motorway service stations and other leisure locations. With a heritage stretching back over 60 years, today SSP has 30,000 employees, serving over a million customers every day. It has business at over 140 airports and over 250 rail stations, and operates more than 2,100 units in 30 countries around the world.
SSP operates an extensive portfolio of over 200 international, national, local and speciality brands. These include Upper Crust, Starbucks, Caffè Ritazza, Burger King, M&S Simply Food, Millies Cookies, O’Learys, Caviar House & Prunier, and leading Asian brands Ajisen Ramen and Saboten, as well as stunning bespoke concepts such as the Montreux Jazz Café in Geneva and the award winning Center Bar at Zurich.
Its brand portfolio is tailored for each specific location, depending on variables such as passenger profile, consumer need states, location type, size and design.