LITHUANIA. SSP Group has been awarded a seven-year contract to operate its first units in Lithuania at Vilnius International Airport. The global travel restaurateur will introduce six new units at the Baltic travel hub, with the first expected to begin trading next year.
SSP noted it already operates a successful business in Estonia, and this new deal will enable the company to leverage its resources there, as well as the scale of its well-established operations in the Nordics.
The SSP line-up at Vilnius International Airport will include a mix of its most successful proprietary brands along with a Burger King venue. There will also be a tailor-made concept for the Lithuanian market named Vilnius Bar & Bistro – Le Grand Comptoir.
SSP said the menus and service styles across the outlets have been designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of local travellers (who represent 80% of passengers at the airport), as well as international passengers.
Located landside, Vilnius Bar & Bistro – Le Grand Comptoir will provide those passing through the airport with an authentic taste of Lithuania, along with international favourite dishes. Inspired by 1930’s art-deco style, the sense of place venue’s design is influenced by Vilnius and the wider Lithuania, SSP noted.
Factory Bar and Kitchen will offer seating space across two floors in the airport. In response to the popularity of craft breweries across the country, the menu will offer ten beverages on draft, while a further 20 will be available by the bottle.
SSP will also operate three own-brand coffee and bakery favourites in the form of a new style Ritazza, an Upper Crust and a Soul + Grain. Vilnius Airport will be the first location in the SSP estate to feature the new concepts for all of these brands in a single location.
SSP Nordics CEO Bente Brevik said: “We’re delighted to be a part of the exciting project at Vilnius Airport to elevate the passenger experience. It’s a testament to the hard work and know-how of our teams that Lithuanian Airports has decided to partner with us for these new F&B outlets.”
Lithuanian Airports’ Chief Commercial Officer Gintarė Norvilaitė-Tautevičė said: “Having seen first-hand the quality of SSP’s operations at many of the world’s leading airports, we’re certain that the food and beverage offering coming to Vilnius will enhance the experience of passengers travelling to and from the city.
“As we enter an exciting phase of redevelopment at Vilnius Airport, SSP’s ability to provide a brand mix and concepts that capture the charm and vibrancy of Lithuania with menus that appeal to our broad passenger base stands us in good stead as we move to this next chapter in our history.”
She added: “The coming years will be crucial for the development of infrastructure at Vilnius Airport, with a series of major upgrades set to transform the travel experience. In 2025, the airport will open its new departures terminal, marking a significant leap in quality by doubling passenger capacity and offering a modern, enhanced travel experience with state-of-the-art technology.
“Representatives of Lithuanian Airports are committed to elevating the standard of travel, making the new terminal a comfortable gateway for all passengers. Starting in mid-2025, the old terminals will undergo a transformation to create more space for commercial services and improve passenger convenience.
“This conversion is set to be completed by the end of 2026, while work on a new arrivals terminal, expected to open by late 2028, will continue in parallel.”
Vilnius Airport is located 6km from the city centre, serving the city’s 600,000 population as well as passengers from across Lithuania and the rest of the Baltics.
The most popular international destinations from Vilnius Airport include Germany, Italy and the UK, and just under half (45%) of its passengers are travelling for leisure. 
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