New Food and Beverage Program Operator Announced for YYJ
Food Travel Leader SSP Canada Assumes Operation of Airport’s Food and Beverage Locations
VICTORIA, BC – October 10, 2024 – Victoria Airport Authority announces a new partnership with SSP Canada, which will operate the Victoria International Airport’s main food and beverage program starting this month.
SSP Canada, a division of SSP Group, a leading operator of food and beverage brands in travel locations worldwide, will oversee the operations of three existing food and beverage locations at the Victoria International Airport: Spinnakers On The Fly, Fresh Cup Café & Bar and Tim Hortons. The Fickle Fig Farm Market will continue to operate independently in the pre-security area.
“We are confident that this change will benefit not only the 5,000 travellers Victoria International Airport welcomes every day but also many airport employees and the public,” said Elizabeth Brown, President and CEO, Victoria Airport Authority. “YYJ’s concession program has always focused on highlighting local brands and products representing the best Vancouver Island has to offer, and we’re excited to have a leader in airport food and beverage concessions like SSP to help raise our food and beverage program to the next level.”
SSP Canada currently operates in 10 Canadian airports and is working to expand its operations into several more in the next eighteen months. “We could not be more pleased to join the YYJ community. Our team is ready to bring our unique ‘taste of place’ and authentic culinary experiences to the YYJ passengers. In the coming weeks, our first priority is to make sure we’re serving passengers each day with consistent hours of operations, quality food and beverage and heartfelt service. From there, we will start to think through refining the brand lineup if needed to ensure passengers enjoy their time at the Airport before take-off,” said Bob Stanton, Senior Vice President of Business Development, SSP Canada.
Recent changes to the food and beverage program at YYJ include the opening of Fresh Cup Café & Bar in 2019, the closure of White Spot and, most recently, renovations to Spinnakers On The Fly in 2023, which saw its seating capacity doubled in size, along with a new Grab and Go area and the expansion of its back-of-house kitchen area.
The airport is also exploring options for future terminal expansion that could introduce new concession offerings before and after security. More information about current projects at YYJ is available at www.yyj.ca.
About SSP Canada
SSP Canada is a division of SSP Group, a leading operator of food and beverage concessions in travel locations, operating restaurants, bars, cafés, food courts, lounges and convenience stores in airports, train stations, motorway service stations and other leisure locations. They operate in approximately 180 airports and 300 rail stations in 36 countries around the world and operate more than 550 international, national and local brands across their 2,700 units. The SSP Canada team is driven by a shared vision to bring authentic restaurant experiences to every airport in North America.
About Victoria Airport Authority
Victoria International Airport (YYJ) is the 11th busiest airport in Canada and has been rated one of the top ten most-loved airports in the world by CNN Travel. Winner of the Best Regional Airport in North America award by Airports Council International in 2012, 2014, and 2020, YYJ provides a safe, secure, sustainable, and efficient airport that creates prosperity for our region by connecting Greater Victoria with the world. Victoria Airport Authority has managed the operations at YYJ on behalf of the surrounding communities since April 1, 1997.
Media Contact
Lana Cramer | SSP
Lana.Cramer@foodtravelexperts.com | 240-882-0754
Rod Hunchak | Victoria Airport Authority
Rod.Hunchak@victoriaairport.com | 250-953-7514
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