AUSTRALIA. Mountain Culture Beer Co, an acclaimed Blue Mountains craft brewery, has been awarded two food & beverage sites in Western Sydney International (Nancy Bird Walton) Airport’s (WSI) soon to open integrated terminal – serving both domestic and international passengers – in a partnership with Airport Retail Group Australia.
The award, which represents the first big food & beverage contract reveal for the 24-hour global gateway, reflects WSI’s commitment to creating a distinctly Western Sydney experience, the airport company said.
WSI is on track to begin air cargo services from 26 July with passenger services taking off from 25 October.
Airport Retail Group Australia is an Australian-owned and operated airport hospitality group with an established footprint in major Australian airports. The company’s partnership with WSI includes two more (yet to be named) sites under a seven-year agreement.
WSI CEO Simon Hickey said the Mountain Culture venues will bring an authentic sense of place to the terminal. Design elements of the locations were inspired by the famed Blue Mountains range, which is also reflected in the terminal’s striking feature ceiling, he noted.
“Western Sydney International is an airport which reflects the character, creativity and energy of the region it represents, and a strong presence from local brands like Mountain Culture helps bring that vision to life,” Hickey commented.
“We are delighted to showcase one of the great success stories of the Blue Mountains and to give passengers from around the world a genuine taste of the top-tier hospitality offerings this region is ready to serve.
“Mountain Culture has also given us the great honour of developing a new WSI brew, which is incredible and something only our visitors enjoying the new state-of-the-art airport terminal will get to experience.”
Airport Retail Group Australia Managing Director George Drivas said his company’s exclusive partnership with Mountain Culture Beer Co will give WSI travellers a memorable first or last taste of Australia.
“Recently awarded Australia’s fastest-growing craft beer, Mountain Culture matches our ethos of creativity and innovation in hospitality and is brewed just 22 kilometres from the terminal in Emu Plains and in the beautiful Blue Mountains,” Drivas commented.
“We believe the passenger experience should be elevated, and for us, that starts with what you eat and drink.
“To complement the beers, we’ll also be running a modern Australian menu in a restaurant-bar setting – the kind we know passengers will enjoy as part of their airport experience.”
The Mountain Culture venues at WSI will incorporate vibrant designs inspired by the nearby World-Heritage listed Blue Mountains landscape and surrounding Western Sydney region.
The design ambience will be complemented by a modern Australian menu served up locally connected brews including Pierces Pass and Blue Gum.
Mountain Culture Co-Founder and CEO DJ McCready said the opportunity to showcase the product to passengers on this scale was exciting.
“Our brand was built on the simple premise that a day discovering the mountains is always made infinitely better when you can end it with a good beer.
“So, extending this to passengers of Western Sydney International Airport as they look at the Blue Mountains outside their gate window, could not be more apt,” he said.
“We have always put the beer first at Mountain Culture – and being voted the #1 beer in the country for the last four years is testament to that. We can’t wait to share our product with passengers.” {Main article continues following the opinion piece below).
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In praise of Local Heroes
Business Blue Mountains Chair Mark Barton said Mountain Culture’s presence at Australia’s newest international gateway would showcase the creativity, hospitality, and entrepreneurial spirit for which the Blue Mountains is renowned.
“Business Blue Mountains supports initiatives that bring together local businesses, government and corporate organisations to create opportunities that strengthen the regional economy,” he said.
“As one of Australia’s fastest-growing craft breweries, Mountain Culture has become a flagship success story for the Blue Mountains, earning national recognition while remaining proudly connected to its local roots.
“Mountain Culture’s expansion into airport venues has been widely praised as a perfect fit – bringing an authentic Blue Mountains experience to travellers from around the world while celebrating a local brand that has grown into a national success.” 
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