SSP America Rolls in the Food Trucks

LANSDOWNE, Va., Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Travelers visiting Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport can now enjoy their favorite street craze when they travel.  SSP America, the North American division of SSP, the leading operator of food and beverage brands in travel locations worldwide, is proud to debut its newest brand, Mango Taco Truck, in Houston's Terminal C.

The ultimate grab and go.  The food truck rage that is sweeping the US is popular for a reason – great food, fresh food, authentic food, and fast.  It's what many Americans want – and especially when they're on the move.  Mango Taco Truck will bring its traveling 'amigos' traditional Mexican fare that exudes the authenticity of a Latin Barrio.

At Houston, an overarching roughhewn wood trellis crowns the street-side patio that comfortably seats 25 with crisscrossing strings of twinkling lights.  Galvanized metal bar stools, chairs and tables scrape the floor and complement the servers' vintage tees that parade the taco truck's clever slogan, "My Taco Truck is better than Yours, Amigo." Swaths of zinging, bold, vibrant hues, distressed posters and pulsating music carry a rhythm of culture that transports travelers straight to the street.

And then it's about the food. Mango Taco Truck's 'wheelless kitchen' cooks up all natural, straightforward tacos - just steps from the departure gate.  Warm corn tortillas are filled with juicy marinated steak, chili-rubbed chicken and cochinita- the traditional Mexican slow-roasted pork from the Yucatan.   Tortillas Fritas – tortilla chips with house made guacamole, fresh jalapenos, queso fresco and chipotle fire-roasted salsa can be washed down with imported Mexican sodas flavored with mandarin, grapefruit or pineapple.   Freshly sliced mangos are served plain or sprinkled with chili and lime.  Early risers are treated to piquant chorizo, ripe avocados and fragrant cilantro slipped atop softly cooked huevos.  

Les Cappetta, President and CEO of SSP America, commented, "Mango Taco Truck is a fantastic fit for George Bush Intercontinental and, we're sure, the beginning of a new trend in airports.   We will always put our customers first, and if we identify a food style that is widely popular on the street, we will develop ways to bring it to our customers at the airport.  We are proud to be introducing this new and exciting brand concept in conjunction with our outstanding partners at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental, who have worked with us every step of the way to deliver the very best, innovative food options to the consumers of IAH."

SSP America operates 10 additional restaurants at IAH, including zpizza, URBANCRAVE and Le Grand Comptoir, winner of the international Moodie Report's Food and Beverage Awards "Best Food-Led Cafe Bar/Restaurant" and named by AOL Travel as one of the "Ten Best Airport Bars in the World."

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 across North America bringing a variety of local, regional and national brands to the traveling consumer at a vast array of price ranges.  Third party brands in the company's broad portfolio include The Palm Restaurant, Einstein Bros. Bagels, 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