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INTERNATIONAL. Leading travel food concessionaire SSP has been named as a Platinum Partner of the seventh annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference and Awards, which take place in Helsinki on 20-21 June.

SSP will also host a special live cooking session titled FAB Cooks! on day two of the conference. This will feature renowned Finnish chefs Marko Palovaara (Bistro O Mat, Kirkkonummi) and Mika Roito (Ravinteli Bertha, Tampere), who work closely with the company.

SSP CEO Kate Swann said: “SSP is delighted to be a Platinum Sponsor of the FAB Conference & Awards. We believe strongly in promoting our sector by supporting events such as FAB, which celebrates the best in travel F&B. As long time partners of headline sponsor Finavia, we’re particularly pleased that the event is being staged in Helsinki, where we run a number of excellent restaurants, bars, cafes and lounges.

“Following the success of last year’s SSP FAB Cooks! live demonstration in Toronto, we’re pleased to be staging the event once again with two of Finland’s finest chefs, Mika Roito and Marko Palovaara, who have both worked with us at Helsinki Airport. No doubt, this year’s FAB will be an excellent event.”

FAB, which is dedicated to travel-related food & beverage, attracts senior representatives from the world’s leading airports and F&B concessionaires to network with their industry colleagues, share best practice and insights in this fast-growing sector.

The event is organised by The Moodie Davitt Report and sister title The Foodie Report, and hosted this year by Finavia.

Nominations for the annual FAB 2018 awards, a cornerstone of the event, are open with a 28 March deadline. The judging criteria are available at http://airportfab.events/ along with hotel and conference registration, which is also open.

FINLAND/INTERNATIONAL. A powerful programme of diverse and expert speakers is taking shape for the seventh Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference, to be held in Helsinki from 20-21 June.

FAB is organised by The Moodie Davitt Report (with sister title The Foodie Report) and will be hosted this year by Finavia Corporation, operator of Helsinki Vantaa Airport.

Topics will range from best practice in airport food & beverage to digital developments and health and wellness; plus insights from the world of F&B design. Case studies and interactive sessions will highlight a range of innovative concepts and chef-led dining experiences.

Confirmed speakers include:          

• Finavia Vice President Commercial Services Elena Stenholm
• Concessions International Chief Executive Donata Russell Major
• Dubai Airports Executive Vice President Commercial Eugene Barry
• Sydney Airport General Manager Retail Glyn Williams
• Zürich Airport Head of Commercial Centres Heidi Köpple
• gategroup CEO Xavier Rossinyol
• HMSHost CEO Walter Seib
• HMSHost North America President & CEO Steve Johnson
• SSP CEO Western Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific and Nordics Nick Inkster
• OTG CEO Rick Blatstein
• HWH Hospitality Investments Chief Executive Officer Talha Al Hashimi
• JHP Joint Managing Director Steve Collis
• Airport Sherpa CEO Patrick DellaValle
• Chef Marko Palovaara of Bistro O Mat in Kirkkonummi, Finland
• Chef Mika Roito of Ravinteli Bertha in Tampere, Finland

The event will be held at the Clarion Hotel in Helsinki. Click here for hotel and conference registration.

A Gala Dinner on 21 June will see the annual FAB Awards recognise and reward best practice in airport food & beverage. Leading travel restaurateur and master concessionaire OTG has been named as a Platinum Partner for FAB 2018.

FAB 2018 will begin with an Opening Lunch on 20 June (preceded by an airport tour), followed by a half-day plenary session and the Opening Cocktail. Day Two will feature a full-day conference, culminating in the Gala Dinner and FAB Awards on 21 June.

FAB, the only industry event dedicated solely to the airport F&B sector, attracts senior representatives from the world’s leading airports, food & beverage concessionaires and brands.

FAB Awards

The submission deadline for nominations for the 2018 Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Awards is b Wednesday 28 March.

The annual awards recognise and reward best practice in airport (and railway station) food & beverage. For more information on awards categories, click here.

Nominations are already flowing in as excitement builds for the airport world’s only event dedicated solely to food & beverage.

The glittering awards ceremony will champion best practices across the global industry. To make a nomination, click here. Entries must relate to businesses that were trading, or campaigns operating by the first quarter of 2018.

INTERNATIONAL. The submission deadline for nominations for the 2018 Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Awards is just one month away – Wednesday 28 March.

The awards, organised by The Moodie Davitt Report and sister title The Foodie Report, are a cornerstone of the Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards. This year’s FAB will be hosted by Finavia Corporation, which operates Helsinki Vantaa Airport, and takes place at The Clarion Hotel in Helsinki on 20-21 June.

Nominations are already flowing in as excitement builds for the airport world’s only event dedicated solely to food & beverage.

The glittering awards ceremony will champion best practices across the global industry. To make a nomination, click here. Entries must relate to businesses that were trading, or campaigns operating by the first quarter of 2018.

Hotel and conference registration is also open. Full details can be found here.

This year 20 different international awards will be handed out at the Gala Dinner, together with regional winners across Asia Pacific; Europe; the Americas; and Middle East, Africa & India.

New awards for 2018 include F&B Team Member of the Year; Outstanding Food & Beverage Design of the Year; Airport F&B offered within a Retail/Convenience Store of the Year; and Airport Street Food Offer of the Year.

In an exciting innovation, this year will see a first Motorway Services F&B Offer of the Year award, along with the long-established Railway Station Individual F&B Business of the Year award.

Additionally, the hugely popular Airport Bar of the Year and Airport Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year awards will each be split into two, graded by total sales. This is designed to recognise top-class bars and restaurants in smaller airports.

Appropriately enough in the Chinese Year of the Dog, The #AiroftheDog Great Airport Cocktail Award, sponsored by Copper Dog blended Speyside malt whisky, returns for FAB 2018.

This award places the emphasis squarely on people, on panache, on passion and on product. We’re looking for the best original cocktail (made with Copper Dog of course) created with the airport environment in mind – one that captures the eclectic, exciting travel world in concept, name, suitability, taste and presentation.

First introduced in 2017, the  ‘La spirito de vojaĝado’ (meaning ‘The spirit of travel’ in Esperanto, the universal language) award will recognise the best original dish created especially for FAB 2018 – one that is relevant and best captures the essence of international travel.

FAB 2018 will begin with an Opening Lunch on 20 June (preceded by an airport tour), followed by a half-day plenary session and the Opening Cocktail. Day Two will feature a full-day conference, culminating in the Gala Dinner and FAB Awards.

FAB attracts senior representatives from the world’s leading airports, food & beverage concessionaires and brands to network with industry peers, share insights and celebrate best practice in this burgeoning, ever-changing sector.

Leading travel restaurateur and master concessionaire OTG has been named as a Platinum Partner for FAB 2018.

INTERNATIONAL. Leading travel restaurateur and master concessionaire OTG has been named as a Platinum Partner for the 2018 Airport Food & Beverage Conference and Awards, which take place in The Clarion Hotel, Helsinki, on 20-21 June.

The event is organised by The Moodie Davitt Report and sister title The Foodie Report. It is hosted this year by Finland’s airport company Finavia.

OTG CEO Rick Blatstein said: “As a company, we at OTG love to partner with other innovators in the global industry, including The Moodie Davitt Report and this year’s FAB Conference & Awards host Finavia/Helsinki Airport. FAB is a showcase and celebration of best-in-class in travel dining. We look forward to contributing to this prestigious event in 2018.”

FAB, which is dedicated to travel-related food & beverage, attracts senior representatives from the world’s leading airports, railway station operators and F&B concessionaires to network with their industry colleagues, share best practice and insights in this fast-growing sector.

As reported, nominations for the 2018 Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Awards can now be made online.

Hotel and conference registration is also open, with details available at the dedicated FAB 2018 website, together with information about the exciting social calendar being organised by Finavia.

FAB 2018 will begin with an Opening Lunch on 20 June (preceded by an airport tour), followed by a half-day plenary session and the Opening Cocktail. Day Two will feature a full-day conference, culminating in the Gala Dinner and FAB Awards.

INTERNATIONAL. Welcome to the latest issue of The Moodie Davitt e-Zine. The sixth Airport Food & Beverage Conference and Awards – the best-attended and one of the classiest FAB events yet – took place in Toronto recently.

In a special edition of The Foodie Report, we look back at some of the highlights of the conference and offer a comprehensive report on the spectacular FAB Awards – including judges’ comments on the winning entries, accompanied by images and video.

The Moodie Davitt Report and m1nd-set have partnered to present a new column offering critical insights into airport commercial tenders. The first instalment focuses on Beijing Capital International, Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International and San Francisco International airports.

In our new Travel Retail’s Positive Disruptors series in association with Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Portland Design Director of Environments Lewis Allen asks Alexa, Amazon’s all-knowing virtual digital assistant, what the outlook for travel retail is in airports. The response is fascinating.

A ‘Scandal-ous’ fragrance launch and a stylish summer promotion feature in our regular look at the industry’s best new launches, campaigns, activations and openings.

Please enjoy this edition of The Moodie Davitt e-Zine with our compliments.

CANADA. The sixth Airport Food & Beverage Conference and Awards – the best attended and arguably the best FAB event yet – concluded on Friday in Toronto. It was organised by The Moodie Davitt Report/The Foodie Report and hosted in superb style by Toronto Pearson International Airport. [In related news the 2018 event will be hosted Finavia/Helsinki Airport, with dates to be confirmed soon].

The conference was studded with many exceptional presentations that showcased the variety and ambition of the airport F&B business worldwide today. A key feature too was how candidly many speakers addressed the shortcomings of the industry and how it engages with consumers, even against the background of progress over recent years.

An excellent example was the opening address on day one, where Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) Vice President of Customer and Terminal Services Scott Collier said that GTAA aimed to be “the best airport in the world”: but admitted that there remains a long way to go to achieve that goal. He said the company planned to leverage the image and reputation of the city of Toronto to build its reputation among consumers. There is investment too, with 90% of its F&B outlets having been updated since 2012 and a +40% rise in sales per enplanement in that period.

“We acknowledge that GTAA has been difficult to work with at times,” he openly told business partners. “But we are listening and we are changing. We are looking in the mirror and challenging the status quo. If we chase perfection, we might just reach excellence.”

Collier’s vision of lifting the airport environment into something memorable, comfortable and user-friendly were mirrored later in the day by a top-class presentation by OTG CEO Rick Blatstein, who addressed how the industry needs to better understand the consumer and focus on creating fresh experiences.

A major highlight of day one was an audience with celebrated Canadian chef Lynn Crawford, in which she discussed her life, career, values and the challenges of the airport market.

There were a number of outstanding panel discussions, among them an airport-focused session on morning one featuring Copenhagen Airports Head of F&B/Convenience John Lungstrom Khan, Greater Toronto Airport Authority Director Commercial Development Mike Ross and AIRMALL USA President & CEO Ben Zandi. Another highlight panel involved Smart Design President & CEO Nick Baker, London Gatwick Head of Retail Rachel Bulford and Emirates Leisure Retail Chief Operating Officer Kevin Zajax, who each addressed new influences on the business, from design to a new generation of travellers.

Among the most striking presentations of the day came from HMSHost North America President & CEO Steve Johnson, who assessed what he sees as the next wave of innovation in the dining scene and its impact on our environment.

Areas Worldwide Chief Executive Pedro Fontana offered some personal, candid views on the shortcomings of the concession model and the future for airport F&B in North America.

In a first for FAB, SSP memorably hosted a live cooking demonstration on stage blended with a walk-and-talk interview led by GTAA’s Scott Collier. The session, introduced by SSP America CEO Michael Svagdis, featured chef Massimo Capra and Wahlburgers’ Norm McLennan with a lovely cameo appearance from sous-chef Justin of the Wahlburgers’ company. The session managed to beautifully evoke the passion for cooking from each of the chefs, alongside an open discussion of the challenges of the airport space for brands.

 

Day two also began on a high note, with a showcase of the next generation of airport commercial environments in North America and a conversation around partnership and driving progress in the channel. This featured New York JFK T4 (JFKIAT) VP Concession Management Ed Midgley, Paradies Lagardère CEO Gregg Paradies and Westfield Airports Vice President Leasing Iris Messina.

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Later, San Francisco International Airport Director Revenue Development & Management Cheryl Nashir and Toronto Pearson International Airport Manager of F&B Programs Suzanne Merrell outlined their views on the key dynamics that will drive the market in future. Among the influences are the rise of healthy food as a trend; concepts that connect with people emotionally (such as Joe & The Juice at San Francisco Airport, noted Nashir); the continuing importance of breakfast – but often eaten at different times of the day; pop-ups and street food.

There was also an unforgettable contribution from Leon Co-Founder John Vincent, who appeared alongside business partner Walter Seib, CEO of HMSHost International.

Vincent memorably articulated how “the purpose of business is to do good” and to “maintain our humanity”. Citing how the Leon team and location were caught up in the recent London Bridge terror attacks in London, he noted: “We are the fourth emergency service”.

Day two also featured a breezy round-up of the latest developments in technology that are affecting the channel, featuring GRAB CEO Mark Bergsrud, HMSHost Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer Sarah Naqvi and Kallpod COO Steven Barrow Barlow. Later, we heard how small can be beautiful in the evocative stories of three brands aiming to make their mark in the airport environment. Speakers included Marqette General Manager Michael Thornton, EMCAT – Airport F&B Alliance Managing Director Lars Crone and Mango Tree Managing Director Trevor MacKenzie.

The importance of making a connection between food tourism and airports was neatly illustrated by Culinary Tourism Alliance President Rebecca MacKenzie, who noted how the airport environment can and should be an incubator for local brands.

As always, the social and networking side of FAB was an important element. Major highlights included the Autogrill/HMSHost-organised Welcome Cocktail at the Hockey Hall of Fame, and an SSP-hosted After FAB Party in the Historic Distillery District of Toronto on Friday afternoon.

The FAB Awards and Gala Dinner, hosted in classy style by OTG and Toronto Pearson International, was the centrepiece of the event, with the award winners announced in our story here.

Full coverage of the FAB Conference and Awards 2017 will appear in a special edition of The Foodie Report e-Zine soon.

INTERNATIONAL. The best and most innovative concepts in travel-related food & beverage were recognised on Thursday evening at the 2017 FAB Awards.

The awards were presented at a glittering gala event held during the sixth annual Airport Food and Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards in Toronto this week, organised by The Moodie Davitt Report and The Foodie Report.

The gala evening was hosted by OTG and Toronto Pearson International Airport. A special e-Zine exploring the winning concepts – and reviewing the FAB conference – will be published in coming weeks.

The winners, regional winners and commendations are:

Airport Coffee or Non-Alcoholic Beverage Shop of the Year

Winner: HMSHost North America; Starbucks, Los Angeles International Airport

Regional winner (Middle East & India): Emirates Leisure Retail; Costa Coffee, Dubai International Airport

Regional winner (ASPAC): Emirates Leisure Retail; Hudson Coffee, Sydney International Airport

Regional winner (Americas): HMSHost North America; Starbucks, Los Angeles International Airport

Regional winner (Europe): Lagardère Travel Retail; So! Coffee, Krakow Balice Airport

Highly commended: Argo Tea; Argo Tea, Chicago O’Hare International Terminal 2

Airport ‘Food to Go’ Offer of the Year

Winner: Pret A Manger; London Heathrow Airport

Regional winner (Middle East & India): Emirates Leisure Retail; Giraffe Stop, Dubai International Airport

Regional winner (ASPAC): Sydney Airport; Joe & The Juice, Sydney Airport

Regional winner (Americas): OTG; Dynamic Concepts, Newark Airport

Regional winner (Europe): Pret A Manger; Pret A Manger, Heathrow Airport

Highly commended: Autogrill Group; Exki Takeaway, Brussels Airport

Airport Bar of the Year

Winner: Crews; Rock & Brews Bar & Grill, Los Angeles International Airport

Regional winner (Middle East & India): Emirates Leisure Retail; The Draft House, Dubai International Airport

Regional winner (ASPAC): Emirates Leisure Retail; Heineken Bar, Sydney International Airport

Regional winner (Americas): Crews; Rock & Brews Bar & Grill, Los Angeles International Airport

Regional winner (Europe): TRG Concessions; Nicholas Culpeper, London Gatwick Airport

Highly commended: TRG Concessions; Nicholas Culpeper, London Gatwick Airport

Airport Wine Bar of the Year

Winner: Areas; Ferrari Spazio Bollicine, Milan Malpensa Airport

Regional winner (Americas): SSP America; Le Grand Comptoir, George Bush Intercontinental Airport

Regional winner (Europe): Areas; Ferrari Spazio Bollicine, Milan Malpensa Airport

Highly commended: SSP America; Le Grand Comptoir, Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport

Airport Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year

Winner: TRG Concessions; Wondertree, London Gatwick Airport

Regional winner (ASPAC): Emirates Leisure Retail; The Bistro by Wolfgang Puck, Sydney International Airport

Regional winner (Americas): Dan Food Service Corporation; Gachi House of Sushi, BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport

Regional winner (Europe):  TRG Concessions; Wondertree, London Gatwick Airport

Highly commended: Dan Food Service Corporation; Gachi House of Sushi, BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport,

Airport Upscale Dining Restaurant of the Year

Winner: SSP America; Lift Bar and Grill, Vancouver International Airport

Regional winner (ASPAC): HMSHost International; Crystal Jade, Beijing Capital International Airport

Regional winner (Europe): SSP Denmark; Aamanns, Copenhagen Airport

Regional winner (Americas): SSP America; Lift Bar and Grill, Vancouver International Airport

Airport Food Hall of the Year

Winner: Michael J.F Wright Hospitality Group; Marqette, Dublin Airport

Regional winner (ASPAC): OURHOME; Food Empire, Incheon International Airport

Regional winner (Americas): Tastes on the Fly; Napa Farms Market, San Francisco International Airport

Regional winner (Europe): Michael J.F Wright Hospitality Group; Marqette, Dublin Airport

Highly commended: OURHOME; Food Empire, Incheon International Airport

Tastes on the Fly; Napa Farms Market, San Francisco International Airport

New Food & Beverage Concept of the Year

Winner: Changi Airport Group; Hello Kitty Orchid Garden – A Kitty-fied Dining Experience, Singapore Changi Airport

Regional winner (Middle East & India): Emirates Leisure Retail; The Draft House, Dubai International Airport

Regional winner (ASPAC): Changi Airport Group; Hello Kitty Orchid Garden – A Kitty-fied Dining Experience, Singapore Changi Airport

Regional winner (Americas): HMSHost North America; Book & Bourbon, Louisville International Airport

Regional winner (Europe): CasualFood; Goodman & Filippo, Dusseldorf Airport

F&B Marketing & Promotions Campaign of the Year

Winner: OTG; Truffle Week, Newark Liberty International Airport

Regional winner (Europe): Autogrill Group; Bistrot Digital Communication Strategy

Regional winner (ASPAC):  Changi Airport Group; Changi Loves Kids, Singapore Changi

Regional winner (Americas): OTG; Truffle Week; Newark Liberty International

Regional winner (Middle East & India): Travel Food Services; Indonesian Festival at GVK Lounge, Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International T2

Customer Service Initiative of the Year

Winner: Incheon International Airport; CS 3.0, Incheon International Airport

Regional winner (Europe): Areas; Areas Increase Customer Satisfaction program, multiple locations

Regional winner (Asia Pacific): CS 3.0; Incheon International Airport

Regional winner (Americas): MarketPlace Development; Merchant Development Program, Reagan National and Dulles International

Highly commended: Areas; Areas Increase Customer Satisfaction program, Multiple Locations

Individual Food & Beverage Offer of the Year in a Railway Station

Winner: SSP UK; Gino D’Acampo – My Restaurant, London Euston Station

Highly commended: Lagardère Travel Retail; L’Etoile du Nord, Paris Gare du Nord Station

Travel Food Services; Raildhaba – Visakhapatnam (Vizag) Railway Station

Airport Food & Beverage Offer Best Reflecting ‘Sense of Place’

Winner: Lagardère Travel Retail; La Plage & Pan Garni, Nice Côte d’Azur Airport

Regional winner (Middle East & India): Travel Food Services; GVK Lounge (Domestic) by TFS Performa, Mumbai Airport

Regional winner (ASPAC): Emirates Leisure Retail; James Boag’s Upper Deck, Launceston Airport

Regional winner (Americas): HMSHost North America; Book & Bourbon, Louisville International Airport

Regional winner (Europe): Lagardère Travel Retail; La Plage & Pan Garni, Nice Côte d’Azur Airport

Highly commended: Copenhagen Airports; Copenhagen Airport

‘La spirito de vojaĝado’ – ‘The spirit of travel’

Winner: Autogrill; Creative Carbohydrates

Highly commended: Tastes on the Fly; Mariskoj Aventuro

Sustained Commitment to Quality and Excellence

Winner: Caviar House & Prunier

The FAB Dining Transformation Award (Airports)

Winner: OTG; Newark Liberty International Airport

The FAB Dining Transformation Award (Railway stations)

Winner: Travel Food Services; Raildhaba – Visakhapatnam (Vizag) Railway Station

#AiroftheDog Great Airport Cocktail Award

 Winner: Gavin George; OTG Aprops; Toronto Pearson International

The FAB ‘Wow’ Factor 2017

 Winner: HMSHost International; Pier Zero, Helsinki Airport

The FAB Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution to Airport Food & Beverage

Winner: Zenola Campbell Vice President Concessions Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year

Winner: Changi Airport Group; A Foodie’s Gastronomic Experience, Singapore Changi Airport

Regional winner (Middle East & India): Dubai Airports Company; Concourse D, Dubai International Airport

Regional winner (ASPAC): Changi Airport Group; A Foodie’s Gastronomic Experience, Singapore Changi Airport

Regional winner (Americas): Greater Toronto Airports Authority; Toronto Pearson International Airport

Regional winner (Europe): Copenhagen Airports; Copenhagen Airport

Highly commended: Copenhagen Airports

 

CANADA. The sixth annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards began on Wednesday night with a stunning Opening Cocktail hosted by Autogrill and HMSHost at The Hockey Hall of Fame in downtown Toronto. The Hall of Fame celebrates ice hockey’s greatest players, with memorabilia and icons from the sport’s illustrious history.

Guests were treated to a series of high-class dishes served by leading Canadian chefs (and partners of HMSHost North America) Lynn Crawford, Roger Mooking, Susur Lee and John Placko, who were on hand to greet delegates.

FAB 2017 is being hosted by Toronto Pearson International Airport, and the event has attracted a record 210 delegates, underlining just how important food & beverage has become to the airport community.

The conference begins today. Delegates can expect to hear from a variety of engaging and accomplished speakers – and will celebrate the industry’s finest during the FAB Awards, with the ceremony taking place at a glittering Gala Dinner tonight (22 June).

Toronto Pearson International hosted an in-depth and widely acclaimed airport tour on Wednesday, while other social highlights will include a trip to Toronto’s Distillery Historic District on Friday, for a reception which coincides with the launch of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival.

NORTH AMERICA/INTERNATIONAL. The sixth annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards will kick off tonight at the traditional Opening Cocktail, this year hosted by Autogrill and HMSHost at The Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

FAB 2017 is being hosted by Toronto Pearson International Airport, and the event has attracted a record 210 delegates, underlining just how important food & beverage has become to the airport community.

Over the next few days, delegates can expect to hear from a variety of engaging and accomplished speakers – and celebrate the industry’s finest during the FAB Awards, with the ceremony taking place at a glittering Gala Dinner tomorrow (22 June).

Social events, such as an airport tour taking place today (21 June) and a trip to Toronto’s Distillery Historic District for a reception which coincides with the launch of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, will offer further excitement and networking opportunities.

FAB 2017 will champion best practice, debate the major issues and try to identify how we can collectively grow the global business for all industry stakeholders.

The speaker line-up includes several of North America’s most celebrated chefs, including reality TV star, chef and restaurateur Paul Wahlberg and Toronto culinary legend Massimo Capra. Chef Lynn Crawford will also discuss her culinary vision and values, and the challenges and opportunities of the airport market.

Travel restaurateurs OTG, SSP, Areas, Autogrill and HMSHost are Platinum Partners of this year’s FAB Conference. Lagardère Travel Retail is a Bronze Partner, and additional sponsors include Booster Juice, Mango Tree, Travel Food Services and The Restaurant Group.

If you couldn’t make it to Toronto, don’t worry. We’ll keep you up to date with all the happenings on Moodie Davitt Live, including the big announcements Thursday night of the FAB winners.

Click here to read a preview of FAB 2017 in the latest edition of The Foodie Report.

INTERNATIONAL. The Moodie Davitt Report and sister title The Foodie Report today proudly unveil the shortlist for this year’s Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Awards hosted by Toronto Pearson International Airport.

The shortlist was drawn from almost 250 entries, representing all sectors of the burgeoning airport food & beverage sector (plus a special award for railway station dining).

The awards, which recognise and reward best practice in the sector, will be presented on 22 June during the Gala Dinner of FAB 2017. Besides the winners (and in some cases Highly Commendeds), regional winners will also be named in certain categories where the judges consider the respective entries to have been of appropriate quality. A number of special Judges’ Awards are also being presented.

FAB attracts a who’s who list from the world’s leading airports, railway station operators and F&B concessionaires.

“In some categories, for example casual dining and airport bar, we were overwhelmed with entries”

Preliminary judging for FAB awards took place in London recently. The main judging panel comprised Martin Moodie, Founder & Chairman, The Moodie Davitt Report & The Foodie Report; David King, Founder, King & King; Anders Barsøe, CEO of Letz Sushi; and Alan Gluck, Senior Manager, ICF.

They were joined by special judges Pete Redman, Chef Director, Bartlett Mitchell (for the ‘La spirito de vojaĝado’ culinary competition); and for #AiroftheDog Great Airport Cocktail Award, in association with Copper Dog Whisky, Calum Lawrie, Country Manager UK, Copper Dog Whisky and Andrew Torrance, Managing Director, Copper Dog Whisky. The four shortlisted candidates below will take part in a #AiroftheDog ‘shake-off’ in Toronto.

Where results are too close to call, further diligence is currently being conducted, via anonymous site visits, social media research and confidential interviews.

“We can already reveal that the FAB class of 2017 represents a continuation of the sharp upward quality momentum that we have witnessed – and championed – in recent years.”

Commenting on the shortlist, Martin Moodie said: “Judging the 2017 FAB Awards has been a phenomenally exciting but hugely challenging task.

“In some categories, for example casual dining and airport bar, we were overwhelmed with entries; while in others complex questions of definition and conceptual interpretation arose that made the evaluation both difficult and educational. The extensive shortlists in certain categories once more reflect not only the high interest level but also the consistent quality. The process is not yet complete – the judges are still undertaking further analysis in some cases to ensure FAB truly represents the cream of the crop. But we can already reveal that the FAB class of 2017 represents a continuation of the sharp upward quality momentum that we have witnessed – and championed – in recent years.”

This year the judges asked nominees to focus on five key criteria:

1.  Innovation
2. Performance
3. Suitability for the travel channel
4. Service
5. Quality

The shortlist entries are as follows (showing operator and/or brand plus airport location)

Airport Coffee, Non-alcoholic Beverage Shop of the Year

• Argo Tea; Argo Tea, Chicago O’Hare International Terminal 2
• Emirates Leisure Retail; Costa Coffee, Dubai International Terminal 2
• Emirates Leisure Retail; Hudsons Coffee, Sydney International
• HMSHost North America; Starbucks, Los Angeles International Terminal 6
• Lagardère Travel Retail; SO! COFFEE, John Paul II International Airport Kraków–Balice
• Metropolitan Airports Commission; Roasting Plant, Minneapolis–St Paul International
• OTG; World Bean/World Nectar, Newark Liberty International
• SSP Frabel; Joe & the Juice, Nice Côte d’Azur
• SSP Sweden; OAK, Stockholm Arlanda
• SSP Switzerland; NZZ Café, Zürich
• TRG Concessions; Joe’s Coffee House, London Gatwick

Airport ‘Food to Go’ Offer of the Year

• Areas; Blue Window, Los Angeles International Terminal 3.
• Autogrill Group; Exki Takeaway, Brussels
• Dallas Fort Worth International; Garrett Popcorn Shops
• Emirates Leisure Retail; Giraffe Stop, Dubai International Terminal 3
• Joe & The Juice, Sydney Airport Terminal 2 Domestic
• Marqette; Marqette, Dublin Terminal 1
• OTG; Dynamic Concepts, Newark Liberty International
• Pret A Manger; London Heathrow Terminal 5
• SSP Frabel; Pret A Manger, Paris – Roissy Charles de Gaulle Terminal 3
• Travel Food Services; Food@Gate, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai

Airport Bar of the Year

• Crews; Rock & Brews Bar & Grill, Los Angeles International Terminal 1
• Dallas Fort Worth International; Bleu Mediterranean Bar
• Delaware North; Coopers Ale House, Adelaide
• Emirates Leisure Retail; The Draft House, Dubai International
• HMSHost International; Heineken Bar, Amsterdam Schiphol
• HMSHost North America; Blu2O; Los Angeles International
• Marqette; Dublin Terminal 1
• OTG; Tacquila, Newark Liberty International
• SSP America; Ducky’s, Tampa International
• SSP America; Union Street Gastropub, San Francisco International
• SSP America; UrbanCrave, Orlando International
• Emirates Leisure Retail; Heineken Bar; Sydney
• TRG Concessions; Nicholas Culpeper, London Gatwick

Airport Wine Bar of the Year

• Areas; Ferrari Spazio Bollicine, Milano Malpensa
• Autogrill Group; Rosso Intenso, Roma Fiumicino
• Restaurant Works; CRÚ Food & Wine Bar; Dallas Fort Worth International
• OTG; Vinifera, Toronto Pearson International
• SSP America; Le Grand Comptoir, George Bush Intercontinental
• SSP Finland; Wine & View, Helsinki
• SSP Switzerland; Walter, Zürich
• Taste Inc; Vino Volo, All locations

Airport Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year

• Areas; California Pizza Kitchen, Los Angeles International Terminal 1
• CasualFood; Goodman & Filippo, Düsseldorf
• Dan Food Service Corporation; Gachi House of Sushi, BWI Thurgood Marshall
• Emirates Leisure Retail; The Bistro by Wolfgang Puck, Sydney International Terminal 1
• HMSHost International; Kebaya, Amsterdam Schiphol
• HMSHost North America; Publican Tavern, Chicago O’Hare
• Paradies Lagardère Travel Retail; III Forks, Los Angeles International
• Paradies Lagardère Travel Retail; Bar Symon, Pittsburgh International
• OTG; Little Purse, Newark Liberty International
• Select Service Partner Hong Kong; Yung Kee, Hong Kong International
• SSP America; Wahlburgers, Boston Logan International
• SSP America; Hard Rock Café, Tampa International
• Stone Arch; Stone Arch at MSP, Minneapolis–St Paul International
• TRG Concessions; Wondertree, London Gatwick
• The Italian Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck/PhaseNext Hospitality; Dallas Fort Worth International

Airport Upscale Dining Restaurant of the Year

• Areas; Gastrohub, Madrid Barajas
• HMSHost International; Crystal Jade, Beijing Capital International
• HMSHost International; Pier Zero; Helsinki
• HMSHost North America; L’Auberge Saint-Gabriel; Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International
• OTG; Saison; Newark Liberty International
• SSP America; Lift Bar and Grill, Vancouver International
• SSP Denmark; Aamanns, Copenhagen
• SSP Finland; Fly Inn Restaurant, Helsinki
• Vancouver Airport Authority; Globe@YVR, Vancouver International

Airport Foodhall of the Year

• Marqette; Marqette, Dublin
• OTG; LGA Food Hall, LaGuardia
• Our Home; Food Empire, Incheon International
• Select Service Partner Hong Kong; East to West Food Market, Hong Kong International
• SSP America; The Eatery, Tampa International
• SSP America; Five Borough Food Hall, John F. Kennedy International
• Sydney Airport; Domestic Casual Dining Precinct, Terminal 2
• Tastes on the Fly; Napa Farms Market, San Francisco International

New Food & Beverage Concept of the Year

• Booster Juice; Booster Juice Fit & Fun Zone, Toronto Pearson International
• CasualFood; Goodman & Filippo, Düsseldorf
• Changi Airport Group; Hello Kitty Orchid Garden – A Kitty-fied Dining Experience, Singapore Changi
• Emirates Leisure Retail; The Draft House, Dubai International
• HMSHost North America; Book & Bourbon, Louisville International
• OTG; Daily, Newark Liberty International
• SSP Hungary; Tashba Gourmet Bar, Budapest International
• SSP America; Five Borough Food Hall, John F. Kennedy International
• Stone Arch; Stone Arch at MSP, Minneapolis–St Paul International

F&B Marketing & Promotions Campaign of the Year

• Autogrill Group; Bistrot Digital Communication Strategy, Multinational
• Changi Airport Group; Changi Loves Kids, Singapore Changi
• HMSHost North America; Airport Restaurant Month, Multiple locations
• Paradies Lagardère Travel Retail; No Kid Hungry, US airports
• OTG; Truffle Week, Newark Liberty International
• Travel Food Services; Indonesian Festival at GVK Lounge, Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Terminal 2

Customer Service Initiative of the Year

• Areas; Areas Increase Customer Satisfaction program, Multiple locations
• Autogrill Group; MyAutogrill, Multiple locations
• HMSHost North America; Guest Experience Team, Multiple locations
• CS 03; Incheon International Airport
• MarketPlace Development; Merchant Development Program, Reagan National and Dulles International
• OTG; Desire Program, Multiple locations

Individual Food & Beverage Offer of the Year in a Railway Station

• CasualFood; Quicker’s, Frankfurt and Hamburg stations
• HMSHost International; Bistrot Centraal, Utrecht Central Station
• JD Wetherspoon; The Booking Office, Waverley Railway Station
• Lagardère Travel Retail; L’Etoile du Nord, Paris Gare du Nord Station
• SSP UK; Gino D’Acampo – My Restaurant, London Euston Station
• Travel Food Services; Raildhaba – Vishakhapatnam (Vizag), Visakhapatnam (Vizag) Railway Station

Airport Food & Beverage Reflecting ‘Sense of Place’ of the Year

• Copenhagen Airports; Copenhagen
• Emirates Leisure Retail; James Boag’s Upper Deck, Launceston
• Finavia Corporation; Helsinki Airport
• HMSHost North America; Book & Bourbon, Louisville International
• JFK International Air Terminal; Five Borough Food Hall, JFK Terminal 4
• Lagardère Travel Retail; La Plage & Pan Garni, Nice Côte d’Azur
• Stone Arch; Stone Arch at MSP, Minneapolis–St Paul International
• Travel Food Services; GVK Lounge (Domestic) by TFS Performa, Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Terminal 2

#AiroftheDog Great Airport Cocktail Award 

• Doug Draper; HMSHost North America; Cocktail – Copper Clouds
• Gavin George;  OTG Apropos; Toronto Pearson International; Cocktail –  The Copperdog Carry-On
• Joe Ehlenz; SSP America; Lolo American Kitchen and Craft Bar;  Minneapolis–St Paul International; Cocktail – The Red Eye
• Dominic Hawksworth; TRG Concessions; Manchester Airport; Cocktail – Life in the Old Dog

‘La spirito de vojaĝado’ – ‘The spirit of travel’

• Autogrill; Creative Carbohydrates
• Emirates Leisure Retail; The DSA Burger
• Tastes on the Fly ; Mariskoj Aventuro
• TRG Concessions; A Global Bowl for the Soul

Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year

• Amsterdam Airport Schiphol; Amsterdam Schiphol
• Changi Airport Group; Singapore Changi
• Copenhagen Airports; Copenhagen
• Dubai Airports Company; Dubai International Concourse D
• Finavia Corporation; Helsinki
• Greater Toronto Airports Authority; Toronto Pearson International
• JFK International Air Terminal; JFK Terminal 4
• Paradies Lagardère Travel Retail; Long Beach
• OTG; The Toronto Pearson Experience, Toronto Pearson International
• OTG; The United Experience at EWR, Newark Liberty

As reported, FAB 2017  will be accompanied by a high-class conference programme  and an eclectic social programme, courtesy of host Toronto Pearson International Airport and leading concessionaire partners. The conference agenda features contributions from leading Canadian chefs, airports from around the world, plus the industry’s leading F&B concessionaires.

On 21 June, the Welcome Evening and Opening Cocktail will be hosted by Autogrill/HMSHost at the iconic Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. The event will feature menu items from HMSHost-operated restaurants at Toronto Pearson International including Twist by Roger Mooking, The Hearth by Lynn Crawford, and LEE Kitchen by Susur Lee. The evening will also feature Chef John Placko.

SSP will sponsor lunch on day one of the conference (22 June), showcasing the work of leading chefs Paul Wahlberg (Founder of Wahlburgers) and Massimo Capra (Boccone Trattoria), both of whom run signature restaurants at Toronto Pearson. They will also speak about their influences and trends in the F&B market in a special conference session preceding lunch.

A spectacular Gala Dinner on 22 June, hosted by OTG, will see the FAB Awards 2017 presented.

On the afternoon of Friday 23 June, delegates are invited to join SSP America, Toronto Pearson International Airport and The Moodie Davitt Report for what promises to be a memorable conclusion to FAB 2017. Guests will be transported to Toronto’s Historic Distillery District (departure 4.30pm) for a reception. This coincides with the launch of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, one of North America’s premier jazz festivals, which begins the next day. Visitors will have the chance to explore the Distillery District’s many shops, restaurants and entertainment venues during the evening.

Registration for FAB 2017 is open at this link. Companies can register three or more people at the same time and benefit from a special -25% discount.

Travel restaurateurs OTG, SSP, Areas, Autogrill and HMSHost are Platinum Partners of this year’s FAB Conference. Lagardère Travel Retail is a Bronze Partner with additional sponsors including Booster Juice, Mango Tree, Travel Food Services and The Restaurant Group.

PICTURE GALLERY – A HISTORY OF FAB (2011-2016)