Airport Experience® News - ACDBE 2023

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ACDBEs Are Setting Their Sights High

Early this year, LaTrelle’s Management won a 10-year prime concessions contract at Houston’s WilliamHobby Airport (HOU). The agreement granted LaTrelle’s the right to operate in more than 17,000 square feet of the airport’s food and beverage locations, projected to generate as much as $74 million in revenue for Houston Airports. The win marked the first prime contract for LaTrelle’s, which is ACDBE-certified and

has operated at HOU and at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) for 35 years. LaTrelle’s isn’t the only ACDBE making big moves in the concessions space. In March 2022, Concord Collective made history at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) when it acquired SSP America ’s LAX business, marking the first time an ACDBE business took over the entire portfolio of a major food and beverage concessions operator. Under its new ownership, Concord Collective operates eight dining locations, including a mix of national brands and proprietary concepts. Another recent success story came about due to a new terminal and a massive opportunity. St. Louis-based ACDBE OHM Concession Group partnered with Vantage Airport Group to put their hats in the ring for a $1.5 billion concessions contract at Kansas City International Airport (MCI). In October 2021 they won that bid and earlier this year the new airport terminal opened with great fanfare. There are other ACDBEs who are also expanding their footprints at a rapid pace, such as Mission Yogurt, Bambuza Hospitality, Crews, Gameway and many more. And these recent success stories may only make up a tiny fraction of overall aviation concessions deals, but they mark a promising step toward leveling the playing field and securing a more equitable and inclusive concessions landscape.

BY SALLY KRAL

Left, Below: Early this year, the ACDBE certified concessions group Latrelle’s Management won a 10-year prime concessions contract at Houston’s William Hobby Airport, granting Latrelle’s operations at over 17,000 square feet of the airport’s food and beverage locations (restaurant renderings pictured).

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