SSP Canada Opens Award Winning Camden food co. at Toronto Pearson

TORONTO, Jan. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Travelers to Toronto Pearson International Airport can now enjoy a true taste of the region whenever they fly to and from Canada's busiest airport.

SSP Canada, the Canadian division of SSP, the leading operator of food and beverage brands in travel locations worldwide, is delighted to announce today its partnership with Toronto Pearson International Airport and local, Ontario farms, dairies and specialty food artisans in the opening of Camden food co. in Toronto's Terminal 1.

In 2011, Toronto Pearson unveiled its new strategy for becoming North America's leading international gateway.  In addition to growing connecting traffic and the number of destinations, the airport is focused on improving the overall guest experience at the airport.   This includes providing more shopping and dining choices for guests.

"We are pleased that SSP is bringing another great food and beverage offering to Toronto Pearson," said Pamela Griffith-Jones, Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer at Toronto Pearson International Airport.  "We are committed to expanding our dining options for our guests and the diverse and local food choices our guests will have at Camden food co. is a great example of this commitment."

Winner of ARN's 2010 "Best New Food & Beverage Concept" and "Best Airport Restaurant Design", Camden food co. is the traveler's haven for healthy eating.  At Toronto Pearson, Camden has taken its ever-present ethos of using the freshest possible foods and embraced the true meaning of the word "locavore".  SSP Canada and Toronto Pearson have partnered with local farms, dairies, premium growers and specialty food artisans to bring travelers a market laden with locally produced and regionally sourced products, all with the nutrition-packed, wholesome nourishment consumers are looking for.

Farm – terminal – table – tummy.  Stepping into Camden, travelers will immediately feel the comfort and nostalgia of an old farm with its reclaimed and salvaged wood, bringing rich texture and warm ambience to this unassuming space.  The modern, mixed media graphics, burnished elements and the integration of environmental graphics throughout the space speak to the authenticity of the brand. Rich earth tones, rustic metal, stone mosaic wall tiles as well as rural-inspired lighting and accents create a warm and inviting atmosphere that lend to the comforts of home. 

A sense of freshness abounds. Garden fresh veggies offer a colorful spread within Camden's salad bar, providing an endless variety for a traveler to create their own salad. Pastries are displayed on eclectic platters and antique trays of various heights, while organic chocolate bars are displayed in big, old-fashioned country pickle jars. 

Use of energy efficient dimmable lighting, non-toxic, low VOC paints and food served in earth friendly containers and cups all underscore Camden's commitment to having a minimal impact on the environment. 

You don't have to be good, to eat good food.  The handmade Breakfast Paninis are made with Omega-3 organic eggs from Gray Ridge Farms, an Ontario egg grader since 1934, served with cheddar and hickory smoked bacon, pressed between hefty, thick slices of Toronto's own Fred's Bread sourdough.  The Artisanal Cheese Plate features a selection of award winning, mouthwatering fromage straight from the Niagara wine region's Upper Canada Cheese Creamery, just an hour south of Toronto on Lake Ontario.  Parents of little flyers will be happy to see locally loved and made Kiju Organic Juices with no added sugar, color, flavors or preservatives offered in mango orange, apple and pomegranate cherry.  And for the bigger flyers, Fairtrade endorsed Balzac Coffee from Toronto's distillery district will be brewed into cappuccinos and lattes.  Named by Vogue Magazine as "Toronto's Best Coffee", each cup of Balzac is proudly steamed with Harmony Organic Milk.   For travelers in a hurry, Camden will offer healthy grab and go items such as locally produced Gramma Garret's All Natural Snack Bars, all-natural and peanut free bars sweetened with natural sugars and the juice from real fruit.

Les Cappetta, President and CEO of SSP Canada, commented, "Our award winning Camden food co. is successful for a reason.  Camden is the perfect example of how good things come when a community works together in harmony to bring its passion for good, honest food to the table.   Time and time again, we've found that travelers want fresh, local, wholesome options to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle – even when they travel.  At SSP, we will always strive to provide our customers with a wide range of choices that reflect their needs.  Nutritious, affordable food, that is locally sourced wherever possible, is here to stay and we're proud to be bringing that option to our forward-thinking partners at Toronto Pearson and, to our customers at the Terminal."

Camden food co. can also be found at Vancouver International, Indianapolis International, Raleigh-Durham International, Sacramento International and, also coming in 2012, Houston's George Bush Intercontinental, Milwaukee's General Mitchell International and San Diego International airports.

Camden's 92 square meter shop is located at Terminal 1 near Gate 131.

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 America (SSP Canada) 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.

About Camden food co.

SSP's own, award winning Camden food co. premiered in the UK 12 years ago where it was already ahead of the game, delivering organic, Fairtrade and freshly made sandwiches and salads to the demanding consumers of British Rail stations.  In 2007, Camden won the British Sandwich Association's "En-route Sandwich Retailer of the Year", quite an honor, coming from the country that brought us the 4th Earl of Sandwich and his bread and meat creation now known the world over.  With SSP's introduction of Camden to North American airports in 2008, the brand evolved to a much needed market-style shop giving travelers even more healthy food and beverage options.  In 2010, Camden was awarded ARN's "Best New Food & Beverage Concept" and "Best Airport Restaurant Design".

Contact:
Darleen Nascimento
SSP Canada
(703) 723-5418
(703) 462-4699 (c)
[email protected]

SOURCE SSP Canada