USA. HMSHost has landed a 12-year food & beverage contract at Norfolk International Airport, marking a significant expansion of its presence at the Virginia gateway as the airport embarks on its largest modernisation programme in more than five decades.
The agreement will see the Avolta-owned travel restaurateur redevelop more than 4,200sq ft of existing concessions space and add nearly 2,000sq ft of new space across concourses A and B, with a line-up combining local culinary concepts and established national brands.
Read our story on the wider Avolta contract for the airport, announced yesterday (27 May) here.
F&B line-up highlights
HMSHost will introduce Virginia Beach-born café The Stockpot in Concourse A. The concept will offer bowls, ramen, salads and biscuits alongside regional craft beers and locally produced wines designed to showcase Virginia’s food & beverage culture.
Concourse B will feature the first permanent airport location for Chef Blake Sehestedt’s Ghost Kitchen food truck concept, which has previously operated as a popular Norfolk Airport pop-up.
The quick-service outlet will focus on burgers, sandwiches and street-food-inspired dishes.
HMSHost will also launch Waterside Bites, an automated retail hub inspired by Norfolk’s Waterside District.
In the Main Terminal, Buffalo Wild Wings will open a full-service sports bar alongside the first Buffalo Wild Wings GO format in HMSHost’s restaurant portfolio.
The offer will include the chain’s signature wings, burgers and sandwiches supported by local beer and wine selections.
HMSHost is also adding two new Starbucks coffeehouses as part of the contract.
Technology will play a central role in the upgraded passenger experience, the company noted. The new outlets will incorporate self-checkout, digital menu boards, order-ready boards and QR code order-and-pay functionality.
Travellers will also have access to the Club Avolta loyalty programme, including promotions and rewards.
HMSHost will operate the new F&B concessions programme in partnership with four small business operators: Nia Corporation, FDY, Holt Hospitality and Evolve Vending.
Avolta President and CEO, North America Steve Johnson said, “We’re tremendously proud of the food & beverage programme we created for Norfolk International Airport, and we appreciate the trust Norfolk Airport Authority has in HMSHost as a partner in this significant modernisation.
“It’s a standout model of what strong partnership and a shared vision can deliver: enhanced choice, improved convenience and an experience travellers can truly enjoy.”
Norfolk Airport Authority President and CEO Mark Perryman commented, “As we write the next chapters in ORF’s story, it’s been important to maintain an authenticity that represents those familiar tastes that make our region so beloved among residents and visitors alike.
“HMSHost understands that vision and has developed plans that will soon bring a mix of favoured local eateries to ORF alongside many well-known and popular national brands.
“I applaud our partner’s efforts and look forward to air travellers experiencing its selections on upcoming trips through Coastal Virginia.” 
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