SSP : expands presence in new Italian market with openings in Rome, Turin and Milan

SSP Group, a leading operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, is set to expand its operations in Italy with the opening of new restaurants in key travel hubs in Rome, Turin and Milan.

The company announced its entry into Italy last year when it revealed plans to open five units in Rome's Termini station, which is the country's largest station and one of the largest rail hubs in Europe. Building on this success, it has now secured contracts in Italy's second and third busiest stations - Milan Central and Turin's Porta Nova, following the inking of an agreement with Grandi Stazioni Retail, the organisation responsible for the commercial operations and advertising spaces of Italia's 14 main railway stations.

The brand mix that SSP is introducing in Italy has been carefully crafted to meet the needs of passengers at each of the three locations. In Rome, Tosca, the Tuscan dining brand recently created by entrepreneur Pietro Nicastro, which brings the authentic flavours of Tuscany to diners, has already welcomed its first customers. This restaurant will be joined by four other brands. These include Belgian-based restaurant concept EXKi, famed for its ethos of serving fresh, natural and healthy cuisine, Japanese-style brand YO!, and LEON.

Passengers passing through Milan station will be able to choose from first-class dining options including sushi served at YO!. Evoking the mood of traditional first-class station dining, In Prima will bring a dash of Milanese glamour and offer travellers the best of Italian and international cuisine.

Gerard D'Onofrio, managing director of SSP Frabel and Italy said; "With a strong presence across mainland Europe and a history on the continent that dates back to the 1960s, our debut in the Italian market is particularly exciting. We work with our clients and brand partners to offer travel dining of the highest quality, and our collaboration with these outstanding partners builds on this commitment. These latest ventures mark the first steps in SSP's robust plans for expansion in the Italian market."

Home to the fourth-largest high-speed rail network in Europe, the Italian rail system serves a substantial number of passengers, with over 150 million travellers passing through Rome Termini station every year, and a total of 186 million more using Milan Central and Turin's Porta Nova.