News and Trends

Source: Getty Images Industrial action aside, the UK travel market has recovered fairly well following the pandemic, something that has been good news for Upper Crust and Millies operator SSP. 2022 was an exceptional year for the travel food business, according to chair Mike Clasper, with turnover up 162% to £2.2bn as it bounced back from the restrictions forced on the industry by Covid-19. Recovery was even stronger in the UK division, with revenue up 224% year-on-year to £614.9m, although sales averaged only 73% of 2019 levels. SSP made a reported operating profit of £27.7m, versus a £57.4m loss the previous year. The company’s annual report revealed key opportunities and trends that will be relevant not only to SSP but other baked goods retailers and suppliers. Here we pick five of them:   Menus: Healthier and sustainable food is driving development SSP is developing menus to offer healthier and more sustainable options. The company explained that by the end of 2022, 33% of meal...

Greggs is providing market-leading value propositions and increased choice to passengers F&B specialist SSP Group has secured a franchise deal with UK food-on-the-go retailer Greggs and is set to open stores across the UK. The first unit has begun trading at Derby Railway Station, with other openings in progress. Greggs will be providing market-leading value propositions and increased choice to passengers. The new stores will be located in SSP units which will be converted to Greggs. Richard Lewis, CEO, SSP UK & Ireland, says, “At SSP, we have a long history of bringing popular high street brands that customers love into travel locations. We’re delighted to have struck a deal with Greggs, which not only delivers a great core range, but is constantly innovating to meet evolving trends. “The deal has also been welcomed by our regional travel clients, who are looking forward to the opportunity to bring an instantly recognizable food offer to their platforms and concourses, and we ...

Source: SSP Group SSP Group has posted third-quarter results that suggest its recovery from the pandemic is gathering pace, with revenue reaching 87% of 2019 levels. In a trading update covering the period from 1 April to 30 June 2022, the travel food and drink operator said its revenue performance had been driven by an ongoing recovery in passenger numbers as well as longer passenger dwell times in some markets. The group – which owns travel-hub bakery-led brands including Upper Crust and Ritazza – added that the recovery had been driven by domestic and leisure travel in both air and rail sectors, with rail commuter travel recovering at a slower pace than leisure travel. In the UK, SSP’s sales averaged 82% of 2019 levels for the quarter, driven by a further strengthening of sales in air, whereas trading in rail was impacted by the recent nationwide industrial action. The group pointed out that there remains “considerable uncertainty in the macroeconomic and geopolitical backdrop”, but...