UK/USA. Manchester Airport announced the results of its major food & beverage tender at The Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference today (26 June), with HMSHost, TRG Concessions and SSP to operate a series of local and national brands.
HMSHost will operate five concessions, including some local favourites. Pot Kettle Black is an all-day brunch and coffee outlet, while Wrapchic is an Indian burrito concept which caters to vegetarian and religious diets. Amber Alehouse represents a collaboration with local craft brewery Seven Brothers.
Additionally, HMSHost will operate VIT, a juice and salad bar currently trading in Schiphol Airport, and fast food chain KFC.
TRG Concessions will operate six outlets. The Bridgewater Exchange is a 100sq m pub with runway views, and will feature an airside microbrewery. It is a collaboration with Manchester brewing company Joseph Holt.
The company will also operate Asian chain restaurant Wagamama, “upmarket but accessible” Italian restaurant San Carlo Cicchetti, and Mexican eatery Barburrito. Apiary is a premium bar overlooking the airfield.
Archie’s is a local fast food favourite with a neon pink colour scheme; its spokesperson is singer Rita Ora.
SSP will operate three outlets. M&S Food is a stalwart of the UK high street; Grindsmith is a coffee roaster from Manchester’s city centre; and Daisy Nook is an all-day bar and kitchen focused on healthy dishes and locally-sourced food.
Revealing the results, Manchester Airport Head of Retail Mike Ward stressed the importance of creating a “richer and deeper” Sense of Place. The airport engaged directly with local brands in the first place, with Ward stating that it is in the local markets rather than the airport that people “live their lives”. He said the airport discussed franchise agreements with the brands involving the airport F&B operators.
Ward said the airport’s goal was to reflect the foodie scene of the north west of England. He also noted the importance of delivering a diverse range of healthy options and using locally-sourced products, with these factors key to scoring in the tender.
Fitting out of the concessions will begin in the next few weeks, Ward said, with openings beginning in April 2020.
We will bring you a full report on Mike Ward’s presentation in our forthcoming review of FAB.
