FRANCE. Travel food & beverage specialist SSP Group has opened two new outlets with a local flavour at Paris Montparnasse rail station. They are concepts which have been developed in partnership with Parisian brewing company Paname and well-known chef, Yann Couvreur.
The Paname Tap House offers eight craft beers, including an IPA, an American pale ale, an American wheat, a blond ale and several seasonal beers. A variety of food options including hand-crafted burgers made from locally-sourced ingredients are also available.
SSP’s partner in the project, Paname Brewing Company, was founded by four beer enthusiasts who decided there was not enough top-quality craft beer in the French capital and opened their own brewery and bar to fill the void.
SSP has collaborated with railcar lessor Ermewa and its recycling partner SGM to fit the bar with tables and chairs created using reclaimed wood and other elements salvaged from disused wagons.
The company said it hopes to incorporate this concept in other bars and restaurants in the SSP portfolio in the future, as part of its commitment to sustainability.
Also recently opened by SSP at Montparnasse station is the Yann Couvreur Pâtisserie, part of a popular bakery chain owned by the brand’s eponymous Parisian baker. The new unit offers a premium range of sweet French creations, from a light cream filled pastry flavoured with rare blue vanilla from Réunion Island, to a lime and coconut tarte filled with almond sugar paste in a crisp biscuit base.
The Montparnasse store will be the first to open in a travel location and aims meet the increasing demand from travelling consumers for high-end products, according to SSP.
Yann Couvreur Pâtisserie is located in the heart of the station. SSP said plans are now in place to open a terrace outside the bakery, which will allow customers to sit outside and relax as they enjoy their pastries and coffee.
SSP has also recently opened an outlet in partnership with French healthy grab-and-go brand EXKi at Marseille Airport. Only the second EXKi in Marseille, the new opening follows SSP’s introduction of the brand in Montparnasse station and at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
SSP France Managing Director Gérard d’Onofrio said: “These new brand openings underscore SSP’s position as a leader in the field when it comes to bringing leading downtown high street names such as Starbucks and Burger King to the travel space.”
He added: “The focus on sustainability of brands such as Paname and EXKi shows we are meeting our commitment to operate responsibly in ways that are not only beneficial for our customers, but also the environments in which we operate.”
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