SSP Group has agreed to acquire 14 F&B units from Australian hospitality company Red Rock, taking over the latter’s operations at Perth Airport and the majority of its F&B business at Melbourne Airport.
At Perth Airport, SSP will acquire seven units, including two Longneck Public Houses, a modern bar brand located in the International and Domestic areas of Terminal 1; and Loco Poco, which can be found at Terminal 1 International, offering tapas, antipasto and small bites. The line-up also features two outlets from Italian-inspired brand Macchinetta and two Haymarket units, a marketplace of bars, cafés, bakeries, delis, juice bars and pizzerias serving everything from artisan breads and gourmet pizzas to Fairtrade organic coffee prepared by qualified baristas. SSP also intends to acquire a further three new units at Perth – Common Bar + Kitchen, Pronto by Macchinetta, and a new grab-and-go offer.
At Melbourne Airport, SSP will acquire four units. These include two Two Johns Taphouse pubs, which offer a friendly atmosphere and a wide selection of beers, wines and spirits, as well as classic bar food. These are located at Terminal 4 Domestic and Terminal 2 International. SSP will also operate BÀ XÃ noodle bar at Terminal 2 International. BÀ XÃ is a casual dining restaurant known for its Vietnamese dishes and tea bar. The fourth unit will be Able Baker Charlie, a modern Italian bakery, pizzeria and bar.
Simon Smith, CEO of SSP Group, said, “The acquisition announced today is in line with our strategy to grow our geographic footprint and expand our operations in the Asia-Pacific region. These new units will build on our newly established business at Melbourne Airport, and will mark our entry into Perth Airport for the first time. We’re very excited to be adding new Australian brands to our portfolio and welcoming new colleagues into our SSP team, and we look forward to growing our business further in Australia.”
SSP began its operations in Australia in 2009, opening its first F&B outlets at Sydney Airport. The group now runs 23 food and beverage units at four key travel hubs – Sydney Airport, Melbourne Airport, Brisbane Airport and Hobart Airport. Most recently in Australia, SSP opened the new Food Collective food hall concept at Brisbane Airport earlier this month.