SWEDEN. SSP Group will open ten new food & beverage units at airports across the country after agreeing a landmark deal with state-owned operator Swedavia.
The raft of openings will include a strong presence from Sweden’s most popular artisan bakery, Gateau, with four new branches opening across Stockholm Arlanda Airport – at the Sky City Mall, Terminal 5 Marketplace, T2 and Pier F.
SSP will also introduce a Cornelius coffee shop, a Craft n’ Draft bar and a new family–friendly hybrid retail concept called Kiosak at Luleå Airport, while traditional Swedish eaterie Husman, coffee house Fika, a Bistro & Bar and another Kiosk will land in Malmö Airport.
SSP Sweden Managing Director Björn Olsson said the focus will be on creating authentic, local experiences. “In the many years we’ve been operating in Sweden, we’ve built strong relationships with the teams at Swedavia across the country,” he commented.
“We’ve also spent this time developing innovative concepts, inspired by the regions in which they are located, as well as fostering partnerships with a range of local-favourite brands that we can bring to airports and rail stations.”
He added: “We know that passengers want to have truly local experiences as they travel and these new concepts and brilliant brand partnerships give them a genuine opportunity to engage with Swedish food and drink culture.”
Swedavia Chief Commercial Officer Charlotte Ljunggren added: “It’s important for us to offer a selection of food options at different price points, and our ambition is always to offer both high quality and value for money. We also want to spotlight the Swedish coffee culture – fika – and Gateau can positively contribute to this aspiration.”
At Malmö Airport, the new Husman restaurant will have a specific focus on Swedish ‘husmanskost’ – traditional, simple, home-cooked Swedish food made using locally sourced ingredients.
Meanwhile, Gateau’s signature menu will combine the delicacies of French baking with a modern Scandi twist, offering travellers everything from traditional Nordic cinnamon buns to refined mousse cakes and florentines. And with an expanded range of fresh sandwiches and coffee options, guests will be able to enjoy a final ‘fika’ (‘coffee break’) before their flights.
The décor of the new outlets has been inspired by the ambience of traditional downtown Swedish coffee houses, with a simple blend of marble and dark wood throughout.
In line with SSP and Swedavia’s wider sustainability goals, all of the new food and drink units will offer vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options and will make use of local and recycled materials wherever possible.
Note: Earlier this year in an exclusive interview with The Moodie Davitt Report Swedavia set out its hopes for the tender and its vision to create a food and retail concept of the future in its expansive 11,500sq m space at Stockholm Arlanda Airport. ✈
