Grab’n Go, delicatessen and smart vending machines at KEF
SSP Group has been awarded a five-year contract to open two new convenience stores, a delicatessen and seven high-tech vending machine spaces at Keflavik Airport, which are set to open by the end of the year. The new contract comes just over a year after SSP Iceland made its debut at the airport in Spring 2023.
The convenience stores will be specifically tailored to appeal to passengers travelling to and from Iceland. They will offer several products unique to the country including Icelandic confectionery and beverage brands, while hot food offerings including the renowned Icelandic pylsur (an Icelandic style hot dog) will feature prominently on the menu.
The delicatessen will showcase Icelandic delicacies to travellers from all over the world. It will offer a wide range of quality local foods and delicacies, ranging from artisan cheeses, cured meats and seafood to local breads, gourmet condiments, chocolates, snacks, and other food items. A selection of artisan beers, spirits and other beverages will also be featured.
In addition, the deal includes the operation of 17 smart vending machines in seven locations across the airport. These will offer a range of fresh food, confectionary, coffee, pastries, travel, and gift items. As the first introduction of smart vending in Iceland, they represent a step-change for retail technology in Iceland and will provide customer-friendly and convenient retail options at the gate areas.
SSP expands presence in Iceland with new opening
Managing Director of SSP Norway and Iceland Stian Lund said, “This new deal means we have now doubled our size in the Iceland market, enabling economies of scale and greater flexibility. It was a competitive tender against significant players in the market, and to be expanding our presence at KEF less than a year after we were awarded our first contract is a testament to the hard work of the SSP team across our business, and gratifying evidence of the airport’s faith in our abilities.
Gunnhildur Vilbergsdottir, Commercial Manager at Isavia, said of the partnership "A number of operators took part in the tender process. We were particularly keen to work with an operator with a high degree of professionalism in operations that can respond quickly and well to changing conditions in the complex operating environment, and we are certain that SSP will live up to our expectations."
About SSP
SSP is a leading operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, with c.42,000 colleagues in over 600 locations across 36 countries. We operate sit-down and quick service restaurants, cafes, lounges, and food-led convenience stores, principally in airports and train stations, with a portfolio of around 550 international, national, and local brands. These include our own brands (such as UrbanCrave, which brought the first “street eats” concept to airports in the US and Nippon Ramen, a noodle and dumpling concept in the APAC region) as well as franchise brands (such as M&S, Starbucks, and Burger King).