 |
UAE. In major breaking news, Abu Dhabi Airports has revealed the winners of a hotly contested tender for its food & beverage operations at the new Midfield Terminal Building which is due to open at Abu Dhabi International Airport in late 2017.
In an intriguing four-way split, Emirates Leisure Retail, HMSHost International, Lagardère Capital and SSP picked up the concessionaire contracts. The results represent a strong spread of several of the world’s biggest F&B concessionaires and an impressive array of brands and concepts.
Abu Dhabi Airports promised a number of world firsts in the F&B offering, including celebrity chef-inspired outlets that would be unique to Abu Dhabi International.
“The F&B offering will challenge the very perception of F&B retailing in an airport environment thus far and will set the benchmark for dining concepts moving forward,” said Abu Dhabi Airports CEO H.E. Eng. Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei.
“Bearing in mind the wide demographic that we will be catering to, we are thrilled with the pioneering, avant-garde approaches that we have been able to gather together under one roof.”
The broad and eclectic F&B offer will be one of many highlights of the new terminal under construction at Abu Dhabi International Airport. The terminal will increase overall capacity to more than 45 million passengers per year and offer 11,300sq m of food & beverage space and 18,000sq m of pure retail.
 |
A bird’s eye view of the stunning core retail area |
 |
The Midfield Terminal will transform aviation in the emirate |
Over 80 concessionaires submitted more than 250 brands to Abu Dhabi Airports when the tender process began in April 2015. Bidders were required to produce “spectacular and innovative” ideas that would put an emphasis on enhancing passenger experience above all else.
The airport company said solutions outlining authentic, technological and sustainable details were sought, which would reflect Abu Dhabi’s renowned hospitality and “further cement the capital’s status as a top-tier destination”.
“The four main concept pillars that we outlined for the bidders were: experiential dining – adding experience to the occasion; customisation – giving customers the chance to interact and be involved with the end product; casualisation – providing familiar yet outstanding dining environments, whilst offering a wide menu selection; and personalisation – present brands that resonate with diners and make a personal connection,” explained Al Mazrouei.
“We challenged bidders to capture the essence of Arabian hospitality. The winning concessionaires were those that had demonstrated their ability to deliver on the vision behind it all: providing spectacular ideas that will translate into sensational experiences, and exceeding the expectations of our business partners and customers alike.”
 |
Abu Dhabi Airports challenged bidders to “tear up the rule book” |
 |
 |
HMSHost unveils mix of brands
HMSHost International said it had won contracts to operate eleven stores in the Midfield Terminal Building. The contracts average seven and a half years in length and range in duration from five to ten years. Total sales are expected to approach €164 million and the outlets are expected to open at the end of 2017.
The concepts will include Australian all-day gourmet deli Jones the Grocer; Wedgwood Tearoom, serving afternoon tea and sweet and savoury dishes using Wedgewood china; fast casual Italian dining concept Bottega; Lebanese fast casual restaurant Comptoir Libanais; and Australia-inspired Outback Steakhouse. Other F&B concepts will include authentic French bakery Fournil de Pierre; Indian restaurant Masale; market-style outlet Urban Food Market; sports bar Cricket Sports Club; Italian coffee house Puro Gusto; and Juicy Details, which will serve juices.
Lagardère’s “bespoke vision”
Lagardère Capital, a joint venture between Lagardère Travel Retail and Abu Dhabi Capital Group, also revealed further details of its nine units at the new Midfield Terminal Building following the announcement.
Its 2,388sq m of space will be spread across four units located in the main departure halls (landside and airside) and five units at the piers.
In addition to operating franchised brands, Lagardère Capital will operate owned brands, and tailor-made concepts created especially for Abu Dhabi International Airport, said the company.
“Lagardère Capital is honoured to have been selected by Abu Dhabi Airports as one of the food & beverage operators for the Midfield Terminal Complex in Abu Dhabi” said Jassim Alseddiqi, Board Member of Abu Dhabi Capital Group. “We have created a bespoke vision for Abu Dhabi Airports: ‘Bringing Abu Dhabi to the World’. Our mission will be to enable passengers using the Midfield Terminal Building to discover world-class hospitality by delivering a memorable food service experience consisting of tailor-made Emirati concepts, partnerships with celebrity chefs as well as world renowned brands.”
Lagardère Travel Retail Chairman and CEO Dag Rasmussen said: “Lagardère Capital is extremely proud to be awarded a significant part of the Midfield Terminal Building food & beverages concession. This award is a mark of confidence from Abu Dhabi Airports and a proof of the success of our development strategy in Abu Dhabi, originally in duty free and as of today in food & beverages. It is also a proof of the professionalism of our partners, who took a very active part in this achievement.”
SSP blends local and international names
SSP will operate three F&B units and a food court featuring a range of brands in the International Departures Lounge of the Midfield Terminal Building. The contracts are valued at approximately £280 million in total and run for between five and ten years, depending on the unit.
The concessionaire will introduce a total of 17 brands and is aiming to blend local and international names as well as “themed, bespoke, and uniquely designed” concepts.
The food court will be called the Food Park and is inspired by Abu Dhabi’s Umm Al Emarat (Mushrif Central Park), one of the oldest and largest urban parks in the city.
SSP WEMEAP Chief Executive Officer Nick Inkster said: “We always aim to exceed passengers’ expectations and we thrive on being a part of the ever-changing culinary scene, adapting our offer to shifting tastes and trends. Having had the privilege of being a significant F&B provider at Abu Dhabi International Airport for nearly a decade, we are delighted to be building on this important partnership. This deal will also pave the way for further development of our business in the wider Middle East region.”
 |
The Jones the Grocer menu features ingredients produced by specialist, artisan suppliers |
 |
Wedgwood Tearoom will offer a “contemporary and indulgent” interpretation of afternoon tea |
NOTE TO AIRPORT OPERATORS: The Moodie Report is the industry’s most popular channel for launching commercial proposals or publishing the results. If you wish to promote an Expression of Interest, Request for Proposals or full tender process for any sector of airport revenues, simply e-mail Martin Moodie at Martin@TheMoodieReport.com
