SSP America Captures Two Top Honors at ARN Awards

LANSDOWNE, Va., March 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- SSP America, the North American division of SSP, the leading operator of food and beverage brands in travel locations worldwide, were the proud winners of two prestigious awards at the ARN Awards Banquet held in National Harbor, Maryland this week, winning "Best Food & Beverage Brand Operator" and "Best New Food & Beverage Concept" for The Real Food Company, located at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport.  This is the second consecutive year for SSP to win these two distinguished industry awards.

ARN, publishers of Airport Revenue News and the ARN Fact Book, hosted its annual Airport Revenue Conference & Exhibition to more than 800 high level executives and experts in the field of non-aeronautical airport revenue.  It is one of the industry's highest regarded conferences.  Their annual awards ceremony recognizes airports and concessionaires "at the top of their game."

SSP America's awards include, "Best Food & Beverage Brand Operator" in the large division category.  SSP's continued industry recognition in this category clearly highlights their contribution to the airport concessions industry, showing what strong airport/operator partnerships can achieve in bringing creative, forward-looking concepts to passengers across the nation.

The other top honor went to SSP's own proprietary, one-of-a-kind brand, The Real Food Company, winning "Best New Food & Beverage Concept" in the large division category.   SSP also won this award in 2010 for its healthy Camden food co.  Winning this award for two consecutive years clearly demonstrates SSP's commitment and success in bringing innovating concepts to travelers worldwide.

Providing eight separate and distinctly different menus at once, an active open kitchen and a dedicated head chef, The Real Food Company epitomizes its name – "real food".  The vast 6,200 sq. ft. modern marche-style restaurant entices travelers with beautiful displays of fresh ingredients and the sounds of culinary craftsman at work. Theater-style cooking is complemented with artistic flourishes amongst the constantly evolving menus.   The Real Food Company is located in Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport's Terminal C, South.

Les Cappetta, president and CEO of SSP America delighted, "SSP America is deeply proud of the honors we have received this week.   Three years ago, we set off on a journey to change the way people eat in airports.  We knew that our partners, the airports, the brands and, most importantly, our customers were ready for change – ready for fresh and innovative food options that mirror the outstanding creativity found in restaurants, big and small, across the nation.  We pioneered that change, and last night is a clear affirmation from the industry that our passion for food and attention to detail has set the trend.  We are proud of our awards and will continue to move forward and raise standards at every opportunity."

About SSP

SSP is the leading dedicated operator of food and beverage brands in travel locations, operating restaurants, bars, cafes, food courts, lounges and convenience stores in airports, train stations, motorway service stations, shopping malls, conference centers and other leisure locations. With a heritage stretching back over 60 years, today SSP has 30,000 employees, serving millions of customers every week. It has business at over 140 airports and over 250 rail stations, and operates more than 2,100 units in 30 countries around the world.

SSP operates an extensive portfolio of over 200 international, national, local and specialty brands. These include Upper Crust, Starbucks, Caffe Ritazza, M&S Simply Food, Bonne Journee, Caviar House & Prunier, and leading Japanese noodle brand Ajisen Ramen as well as stunning bespoke concepts such as the Montreux Jazz Cafe in Geneva and Sydney and the Bambini Wine Room in Sydney. Its brand portfolio is tailored for each specific location, depending on variables such as passenger profile, consumer need states, location type, size and design.

About SSP America (SSP Canada/SSP Caribbean)

SSP America operates in more than 40 airports and motorways across the USA, Canada and the Caribbean.  Third party brands in the broad portfolio include The Palm Restaurant, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Houlihan's, Gordon Biersch, Panda Express, Tigin, Peet's Coffee & Tea, T.G.I. Friday's, Tim Hortons, The Great American Bagel and Buffalo Wild Wings.  SSP America's brand portfolio also includes strong, local, award-winning icons such as Laurelwood Public House & Brewery, Harry & Izzy's, Nonna Bartolotta's, and Alterra Coffee.

SOURCE SSP America