Airport Experience® News - Food & Beverage Issue 2024

Left: Boston Harbor Distillery bar and restaurant at Boston Logan International Airport is generating one of the highest revenue-per-enplanement levels across the country for SSP America since its opening.

Above: Rhonda Kallman, founder and CEO of Boston Harbor Distillery, believes an airport outpost is an important differentiator for craft spirits brands looking to reach a wide and diverse audience and stand out in an increasingly competitive market.

“Over the last five years, our increase in total adult beverage sales as a percent of total sales mix has increased, with the majority of the increase driven by spirits,” he says. “Spirits now represent a significant portion of our total adult beverage sales—they are in fact the largest category, larger than beer sales. Whiskey and tequila have been the two biggest spirit categories driving that increase, and we are also seeing an increase in demand for craft cocktails.” Bob Stanton, SSP America’s senior vice president of business development, adds that American whiskey, in particular, is seeing a surge in popularity. “Combined with an interest in mixology and craft cocktails as well as global demand, whiskey’s popularity is at an all-time high,” he notes. “What’s happening in airports is a reflection of the larger market interest.” Boston Harbor Distillery opened at BOS less than a year ago and it’s already been very successful. “With the recent opening of the new security entrance in Terminal E the Boston Harbor Distillery has moved into our second highest sales location in SSP’s Boston portfolio,” Stanton says. “Boston Harbor is generating one of the highest revenue-per-enplanement levels across the country for SSP America during this opening phase of the terminal development.” Local craft distilleries seem poised to take off in a big way in the airport, following the trajectory of craft breweries, points out Tyler Pitman, senior vice president of concept development, brand

that it led to a successful proposal for an inline tasting room, which opened in late 2016. In the tasting room, travelers can sample the Westward range of American single malts and also purchase bottles and merchandise. Since Westward hit the ground running at PDX, other North American distilleries have taken note and opened their own airport outposts. Josh Barone, vice president of commercial at SSP America, points out that spirits sales have been booming in recent years, making partnerships between concessionaires and local distilleries a no-brainer. AWAY

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AX NEWS JUNE 2024