SSP launches second phase of its food and beverage openings at Mactan Cebu International Airport

SSP Group, a leading operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, is building on the successful launch of its first food and beverage operations at Mactan Cebu International Airport with the addition of eight new units.

SSP was named as master concessionaire at Mactan Cebu International Airport in 2018, with the group unveiling plans to launch 27 food and beverage units at the airport. The first phase of its plans began last July, which saw the opening of seven outlets – The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Ritazza, Burger King, Bon Chon, Cabin Bar, Camden food co. and Nippon Ramen.

The latest outlets feature a combination of well-known global brands and popular local concepts to offer an even wider range of choices to customers. The brand mix was chosen after extensive research into passenger preferences and demographics in order to offer a selection that appeals to all tastes, from people who work locally to international travellers.

Among the new facilities is a food court called Food Avenue, which boasts 426 square metres of space and includes five bespoke food and beverage brands – The Bakery, Filipino Delights, Taipei Tea, Lolo Pinoy Lechon de Cebu and Nippon Ramen.

The Bakery is a contemporary café and bakery serving barista-style coffee and freshly-made doughnuts, baguettes and other baked goods throughout the day. Filipino Delights offers customers a new take on traditional Filipino dishes made using fresh local ingredients, while bubble tea fans have dozens of refreshing drink options to choose from at Taipei Tea, which also offers smoothies, juices and ice cream. Cebu’s iconic roasted pig, lechon, is the star attraction at Lolo Pinoy Lechon de Cebu, where customers can choose from a range of special lechon dishes or order by the kilo to take away. For travellers seeking Japanese cuisine, Nippon Ramen is the perfect place to pick up rice bento boxes, ramen noodle soup and other comfort food.

SSP has also added a further three stand-alone food and beverage units at the airport. Located in the Domestic Terminal 1 Departures area, Jolibee serves American-style fast food with a Filipino twist. The chain is famous for signature dishes such as ‘Chickenjoy’ a fried chicken served with gravy and rice. Shakey’s offers customers at Domestic Terminal 1 Arrivals a wide-ranging menu including pizza, fried chicken, pasta, starters and sides, with combo deals for families and parties. A second outlet of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has also opened at Domestic Terminal 1 Check-In, providing handcrafted speciality coffee and tea, as well as gourmet sandwiches salads and pasta.

Mark Angela, CEO of SSP Asia Pacific, said: “Our first units opened in Cebu have traded well since launch and continue to perform above expectations. The quality of the offer has also been recognised, with our Cabin Bar at Cebu being named Airport Bar of the Year for Asia Pacific at the 2019 FAB Awards.

“Our latest F&B outlets offer something for everyone, with popular regional dishes that are close to the heart of local travellers and top global brands that are instantly recognisable among international passengers. We’re now looking forward to working on the next step of our F&B development, which will give customers even greater choice at the airport.”