Airport Experience® News - Conference Issue 2024

DIRECTOR’S CHAIR

WARD: Moving into the passenger experience, I want to talk a bit about concessions. Can you tell me how concessions are doing and, as you build out this new terminal space, what the vision is for the concession program? THOMPSON: In 2023 we awarded new food and beverage and news and convenience agreements to SSP America and Hudson . This was the first time we’d renewed our concessions in over 20 years. Our goal in these new agreements was to update and to expand our offerings, bring more local regional flavors into the airport, elevate the customer experience, and to improve upon our revenues as well. We have the existing terminal concession program, and then the new expansion will come with [new concessions] as well. We anticipate there will be a Mexican concept, a full service restaurant/bar, and then some expansion on our existing facilities. SSP America is going to bring in a concept called Mad Duck, a restaurant brewery

concept that’s local to Fresno. It will be a sit-down restaurant/bar/brewery, with a grab-and-go [component] as well. SSP has already converted the Starbucks to a Peet’s Coffee concept. Peet’s Coffee is regional to California. They will also be bringing in a new deli concept called Ike’s Sandwiches, as well as the Mexican concept in the terminal expansion. Hudson will be completely updating the retail side. They are converting existing facilities to a new concept that will include the addition of a Brookstone in the airport. They will also offer a new retail, news and convenience concept. Then pre-security, Hudson will offer a new retail concept and will also operate Einstein Bros. Bagels. It’s definitely going to update and elevate our customer experience and bring in some really good offerings to the airport.

WARD: Are there any other passenger amenities or anything else new and noteworthy included in the terminal expansion? THOMPSON; We’re also going to be piloting a food truck concept as part of our concession offerings during the [terminal expansion] transition. We are partnering with local food truck providers and creating some opportunities for them to come into the airport and provide their

Right: Expansion is underway for FAT’s terminal, which will include new concessions as well as upgrades and changes to existing F&B and retail offerings.

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