USA. Minority-owned small business Concord Collective has made history at Los Angeles International Airport – it is the first Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) business to take over the entire portfolio of a major food & beverage concession operator.
Los Angeles-based Concord Collective recently acquired SSP America’s LAX business and has eight dining locations under its ownership, a mix of national brands and its own bespoke brands.
“To be a major business owner in one of the world’s largest and busiest airports is a dream come true,” Concord CEO & Managing Partner Greg Plummer said. “A lot of hard work and collaboration went into getting us to this point. Everyone recognised the significant opportunity at hand and came together to make it work. I am truly grateful.”
Concord Collective worked closely with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), LAX commercial developer and manager Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Airports (URW Airports) and SSP America to take over the business.
“Having diverse business owners is critical to creating the world-class experiences that today’s airport customers expect and demand,” said Christopher Adkins, URW’s Director of the Advance Network. “Understanding the barriers to entry these businesses face, we’re working together to bring more minority- and women-owned businesses into the airport. We’re inspired by Greg and his team and hope what we’re doing here at LAX can become a model for airports across the country.”
“At Los Angeles World Airports we’re focused on creating more opportunities for small, local and disadvantaged businesses,” said LAWA CEO Justin Erbacci. “Greg Plummer is a model for how we want to see our ACDBEs build their businesses at LAX and become prime concessioners – and help to bring in and mentor more ACDBEs. We want to congratulate Greg on his accomplishments and thank him for choosing to expand at our airport.”
Click on the video for more on the Concord Collective story.
ACDBE certification is a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) programme designed to level the playing field for small businesses who wish to participate in contracting opportunities at airports.
Certified firms must meet eligibility standards established by the USDOT including ownership of at least 51% by socially or economically disadvantaged individuals and management and daily business operations control by one or more of the socially and economically disadvantaged individuals who own it.
Plummer began his career as a restaurant manager at the airport, spending the next 12 years working his way up through minority-owned and operated CMS Hospitality before it was bought by HMSHost. In 2016, he left to start his own company, Enjoy Repeat, a certified ACDBE and minority joint venture (JV) partner of SSP America. When presented with the opportunity to take over SSP America’s LAX business, Plummer assembled a team of black and minority partners to form Concord Collective, a 100% ACDBE business. Concord Collective employs 140 people at the location.
“Unfortunately, the trend has been for larger prime operators to buy out smaller minority JV partners,” said Plummer. “We are charting a new course and are committed to helping launch more 100% minority-owned and operated businesses.”
A graduate of Morehouse College, Plummer also is an Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) member and AMAC Foundation Board Director.
Eboni Wimbush, AMAC President & CEO, said Plummer is an inspiration to the industry and to the next generation of women and minority entrepreneurs and small business owners.
“Greg is not just making history at LAX but he is inspiring all of us—from front line concessions workers to businesses partners, airport owners and operators across the country,” Wimbush said. “We all can learn from Greg and his exemplary ability to bring people together in partnership to benefit a community. LAWA and URW are changing business practices and paving a new path for a more inclusive and equitable future.”
The restaurants operated by Concord Collective include Panda Express, Einstein’s Bagels, Chick-fil-A, Ace Cervecería & Tacos and Betcha Burger in Terminal 1. Coming soon is a Qwench/Wetzel’s Pretzels concept. In Terminal 6, the company operates Peet’s Coffee.
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