SSP serves up recovery

SSP has hailed the ‘rapid recovery’ in leisure travel as it continued to emerge out of the pandemic.

The airport caterer, which owns Upper Crust and Caffe Ritazza, said the end of Covid restrictions prompted an increase in leisure travel as commuters returned to the office. Following strong trading during Easter, SSP has forecast its sales in the second half of the year to reach as high as 85pc of preCovid levels and full year sales to hit between £2.0bn and £2.1bn.

But business-related travel recovered more slowly, it added. The firm opened 50 units in the first half and expects to open 230 more over the next two years which could bring in a further £300m of sales.