Focus on: SASCO, Vietnam

Vietnam has a new inflight catering business now operational in Ho Chi Minh City. Julie Baxter discovers more

southern Airports Services Company (SASCO) has moved into the inflight catering market with a newly-built kitchen facility at Vietnam’s busiest airport, Tan Son Nhat International Airport, in Ho Chi Minh City.

The SASCO Inflight Services (IFS) centre opened at the start of this year specifically to meet demand for aviation-related services and support the growing number of airlines operating to Vietnam. The business is focused on offering diverse and authentic culinary services, and is backed by its well-established parent company already active at the airport.

new catering facility

The newly-opened facility can serve over 10,000 meals a day and already has HACCP and halal certification. It aims to offer comprehensive Vietnamese inflight services for both catering and ground handling.

The new set up includes catering trucks for all types of aircraft currently operational in Vietnam, and its launch customer was Vietnamese-owned airline, Bamboo Airways (BAV).

BAV'S operation includes the newest Boeing B787-9 Dreamliners and the special meal programme created by IFS has been designed to focus on true Vietnamese cuisine using fresh, flavourful ingredients presented well.

IFS is also set up to supply Business lounges at the airport and recognises the need to meet both local and international culinary tastes and provide a genuine welcome and good first impressions.

Airport heritage

Parental company SASCO was founded in 1993 to offer business lounges, duty free, F&B, transport and other key airport services.

It aims to add value to the Vietnam travel experience with genuine, highend facilities and services. Its retail outlets are regularly listed among the country's top ten most reputable retailers, and it operates a number of F&B chains including +84 Café, The Phoenix and Cuisine de Saigon as well as Fresh2go, a brand of ready-toeat F&B.

Ranked among the top ten most Sustainable Enterprises in Vietnam (awarded by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce), SASCO has been recognised as a top Asian employer and is also EDGE certified for its gender equality policies. •

Designed to focus on true Vietnamese cuisine using fresh, flavourful ingredients