SSP to open international food hall at Brisbane Airport with hawker-style dining options

AUSTRALIA. Brisbane Airport Corporation has awarded SSP Group a seven-year contract to open a new international food hall. The contract is estimated to be worth around £40 million (US$49.2 million).

The food hall, called Food Collective, draws inspiration from local outdoor hawker street dining and farmers markets, SSP said. It is scheduled to open in November this year in the domestic terminal, and will be located on the second level of the departures zone.

“True spirit of Brisbane”: Travellers will find a mix of global and local food & beverage brands at Food Collective, reflecting Brisbane’s diverse city culture

Food Collective will feature five restaurants – Ze Pickle, Upper West Side Deli, Yo! Sushi, Nippon Ramen and Mi Casa Burritos – as well as a large centralised seating area. SSP said its aim was to create a community feel. Technology will be used to enhance the customer experience, with on-site self-order kiosks allowing passengers to order food across all restaurants.

Ze Pickle is a popular Australian burger bar offering “wholesome, down-to-earth” food and a rotating selection of craft beers, SSP said. Upper West Side Deli is a New York-inspired concept offering sandwiches, bagels and other traditional deli lines.

Brisbane favourites: Concept art for burger bar Ze Pickle (above) and Upper West Side Deli (below)

These will be complemented by two international brands. Yo! Sushi serves sushi, sashimi and other classic Japanese dishes, while Nippon Ramen offers a selection of dumplings and ramen noodles.

Completing the line-up is Mi Casa Burritos, with a menu comprising classic Mexican dishes including burritos, tortillas and tacos. A newly refurbished Roll’d concept store will also return to the domestic terminal.

SSP said it would rotate in new food & beverage concepts throughout the course of the contract as global culinary tastes and trends evolve, “ensuring the consumer offer continues to remain relevant”.

Range of options: International brands Yo! Sushi (above) and Nippon Ramen (below)

“We’re proud to be working in co-operation with Brisbane Airport to develop the Food Collective, which is a style of concept that has never been seen before in Australian travel retail,” said SSP Asia Pacific CEO Mark Angela.

“With our strong range of local and international brands and cutting-edge design, our intention is to create a welcoming environment that captures the true spirit of Brisbane. This is SSP’s largest commercial win in Australia to date and will cement our reputation in this important market.”

Brisbane Airport Corporation Executive General Manager Consumers Martin Ryan commented: “The upgraded Café Court in the northern end of the terminal forms the centrepiece of Stage 2 of the domestic terminal redevelopment, and SSP’s exciting hawker-style dining options will bring a unique point of difference to Brisbane Airport’s domestic terminal.

Hawker-style dining options: Food Collective is described by SSP as a first of its kind in an Australian airport

“Brisbane travellers are already familiar with the fresh and tasty food and excellent service offerings of SSP-managed stores, [with the company having] opened three F&B stores in the domestic terminal in 2016.

“Food Collective will further complement the high-quality in-terminal offerings, while providing travellers with an exciting range of pre-flight dining options that draw inspiration from popular food styles around the world.

“SSP’s concept also beautifully captures elements of the South East Queensland lifestyle and incorporates them into the terminal in ways that haven’t been seen before.”

NOTE: The Moodie Davitt Report also publishes FAB, the world’s only media focused on airport (and other travel-related) food & beverage. The FAB Newsletter is published every two weeks and The FAB eZine every month.

Please send all news of food & beverage outlet openings, together with images, menus, video etc to Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com to ensure unrivalled global exposure.

The company also organises the annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards. FAB 2019 was held in June in Dallas, hosted by Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

Food & Beverage The Magazine eZine