gategroup Adds Significant New Business in North America

ZURICH, March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- gategroup brands in North America have been awarded airline contracts totaling nearly CHF 200 million over the three- to five-year terms of the agreements, equally spread across new and existing business.  

gategroup is the world's largest independent global provider of services and products related to a passenger's onboard experience. The agreements cover a mix of U.S. and international carriers and include gategroup brands Gate Gourmet, Pourshins, Supplair, deSter, eGate Solutions and Gate Safe.

"Earning these contracts is a powerful vote of confidence in gategroup. It demonstrates once again that the integrated offering of our award-winning brands positions us as the strategic partner for many of the world's premier carriers," said gategroup CEO Guy Dubois. "These awards at major gateways have turned a corner for our North American region and will serve gategroup well when the inevitable economic upturn materializes," he added.

The wins strengthen gategroup's focus on strategic hubs, where flight activity and passenger traffic is the highest in any economic environment.  In addition to highlighting the Group's proficiency in managing complex hub operations, new and retained business wins underscore the brands' complementary service offerings:

• Virgin Atlantic Airways. Virgin, a leading international airline, has awarded the in-flight catering and provisioning business for all 10 of its U.S. gateways to Gate Gourmet, with Pourshins and Supplair to handle sourcing, distribution and warehousing of unique food and beverage service concepts. The three-year agreement, effective May 2010, covers Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York JFK, Orlando, San Francisco and Washington-Dulles.
• American Airlines. Gate Gourmet will continue to provide catering and provisioning services to American at Los Angeles, an important focus city for the airline. Pourshins also continues to provide supply chain solutions.  

New business awards for gategroup brands on a standalone basis include Gate Gourmet's successful launch of catering business for Aer Lingus at Washington Dulles and Chicago; eGate Solutions' TS4 onboard retail technology solution being implemented systemwide by JetBlue; and Gate Safe's expansion into the U.S. cargo screening market with several new customers, including Cargo Airport Services USA.

Gate Gourmet has been awarded the airline catering services business for Swiss International Air Lines’ new route to San Francisco, and for new and existing business in Boston and Chicago O’Hare, respectively. The company also recently began catering Kuwait Airways at New York’s JFK airport.

"The combined offering of our 11 brands creates value for both customers and gategroup.  The growing partnerships bring our customers innovation and quality at a competitive price, and pave the way for potential new business opportunities for gategroup at major U.S. gateways," said Andrew Gibson, Group SVP and President, North America region.  

About gategroup:

gategroup comprises 11 member companies, which are deSter, eGate Solutions, Elan, Gate Aviation, Gate Gourmet, Gate Safe, Harmony, Performa, potmstudios, Pourshins and Supplair.

Shares of Zurich-based gategroup are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the symbol GATE. Please visit www.gategroup.com.

SOURCE gategroup