SSP AMERICA CAPTURES MULTIPLE TOP HONORS AT ACI-NA EXCELLENCE IN AIRPORTS AWARDS CEREMONY
Lansdowne, VA, November 18, 2013: SSP America celebrated an afternoon of stunning success last week at the industry’s annual ACI-NA Concessions Conference, achieving six top honors – including four out of five places in the “Best New Food & Beverage Quick-Service Concept” category. The awards were received during the event’s prestigious ACI-NA Excellence in Airports Awards Ceremony.
At this year’s conference, hosted by Sacramento County Airport System, there were more than 200 nominations from airports of all sizes across North America, competing for the coveted prizes. Entries are judged by an independent panel comprised of high-level industry professionals representing the various disciplines reflected in the contest.
Winners of the “Best New Food & Beverage Quick-Service Concept” included: 1st Place – Jack’s Urban Eats (Sacramento International Airport); 2nd Place – Shake Shack (JFK Terminal 4); 3rd Place – Freshii (Toronto Pearson International); and Honorable Mention – Cake Tin (JFK Terminal 4).
Other notable SSP America triumphs at the event included 2nd Place for the highly contested “Best Food and Beverage Program” which went to JFK Terminal 4 – SSP’s star-studded portfolio in partnership with JFKIAT at the airport’s recently expanded Terminal 4, the new home of Delta Air Lines at JFK.
There was further achievement for Shake Shack (JFK Terminal 4) winning 3rd Place in the “Best Green Concessions Concept or Practice” category.
Celebrating the wins, SSP America President and CEO, Les Cappetta enthused, “Today we are celebrating a shared success. Our work is the result of a collaborative effort between our partnering airports, phenomenal brands, celebrated chefs and design consultants, SmartDesign Group, who are responsible for bringing these exciting programs to life. Together, we have permanently changed the way travelers dine in airports today. Today’s recognition underlines our continued success at being innovative, forward-thinking restaurateurs and confirms that we’re doing something very right. Our on-going mission is to move forward, create and deliver - the best, most memorable food and dining experience to all who travel.”
The Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) annual Concessions Conference is recognized as being one of the best conferences in the airports concessions industry. The conference’s Excellence in Airport Concessions Contest seeks to “inspire creativity in the industry and to recognize innovative and outstanding airport concessions.” The Council also notes that, “under the continuing financial stress that airports experience, these awards help to demonstrate the importance of airport concessions.” More than 300 representatives of the North American airports concessions industry were in attendance.
SSP’s wins highlight the concessionaire’s continued creative and progressive contribution to the airport concessions industry and, to passengers across North America.
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About SSP
SSP is the leading dedicated provider of food and beverage brands in travel locations, operating restaurants, bars, cafés, food courts, lounges and convenience stores in airports, train stations, motorway service stations and other leisure locations. With a heritage stretching back over 60 years, today SSP has 30,000 employees, serving over a million customers every day. It has business at over 140 airports and over 250 rail stations, and operates more than 2,100 units in 30 countries around the world.
SSP operates an extensive portfolio of over 200 international, national, local and specialty brands. These include Upper Crust, Starbucks, Caffè Ritazza, Burger King, M&S Simply Food, Millie’s Cookies, O’Learys, Caviar House & Prunier, and leading Asian brands Ajisen Ramen and Saboten, as well as stunning bespoke concepts such as the Montreux Jazz Café in Geneva and the award winning Center Bar at Zurich.
Its brand portfolio is tailored for each specific location, depending on variables such as passenger profile, consumer need states, location type, size and design.
About SSP America/SSP Canada
SSP America/Canada operates in more than 30 airports across North America bringing a variety of local, regional and national brands to the traveling consumer at a vast array of price ranges. Third party brands in the company’s broad portfolio include The Palm Restaurant, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Gordon Biersch, Panda Express, Tigín, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Tim Hortons, Buffalo Wild Wings, Shake Shack, Freshii and Red Mango. SSP America’s brand portfolio also includes strong, local award-winning icons such as Laurelwood Public House & Brewery, Harry & Izzy’s, Nonna Bartolotta’s, Four Peaks Brewery and Humble Pie.
Contact:
Darleen Nascimento
SSP America
(703) 723-5418
(703) 462-4699 (c)
darleen.nascimento@foodtravelexperts.com
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