NEW ZEALAND. Leading travel food services group SSP has secured an eight-year contract to operate five outlets at Christchurch Airport, main gateway to the country’s South Island.
The latest deal marks SSP’s debut in the New Zealand market, further strengthening the company’s presence in the high-growth Asia Pacific region.
The agreement comes after it was announced in February that the food services giant acquired 100% of Airport Retail Enterprises’ (ARE) Australian business.
SSP – a Platinum Partner for The Moodie Davitt Report’s upcoming Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Conference and Awards 2024, to be held in Ontario, California on 25-26 June – has yet to announce the line-up of brands to be featured in this new partnership, but said it will introduce a “fresh approach” to F&B at the airport.
Among the openings include a range of local culinary concepts to be developed in close collaboration with the Christchurch Airport team to reflect a strong Sense of Place.
The F&B mix will include a bespoke café, a bar and casual dining offer, two tailor-made concepts that will celebrate the essence of the Christchurch culinary scene, and a quick-service restaurant.
The new F&B venues will also feature digital touchscreens and order-at-table options for an efficient and convenient dining experience.
SSP Asia Pacific CEO Jonathan Robinson said: “The Asia Pacific region offers a significant opportunity to build returns and drive growth, and this deal is a fantastic foundation for our operations in a truly exciting territory. We will be working in close collaboration with the airport to create sustainable offers that excite and delight our customers.
“Our global perspective coupled with our strong local expertise was also instrumental in winning this prestigious new contract, and we very much look forward to developing our operations here in Christchurch and beyond.”
Christchurch Airport Chief Executive Justin Watson noted a busy summer season for the airport amid the return of its international airlines, plus a new direct service to the USA, increasing the number of passengers to the city. He said: “This is an important part of our wider refresh of our food & beverage offering, to give us a suite of offerings to meet all our customer needs.
“It is important to have a range of great modern food & beverage options to reflect not only the broad international spectrum of our customers, but also their tastes and preferences. We see SSP as a strong fit for us, backed by a proven track record of delivering wonderful offerings including in several large Australian airports.” 
Note: The Moodie Davitt Report publishes the FAB Newsletter, which features highlights of openings, events and campaigns from around the world of airport and travel dining.
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