The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and JFKIAT – a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub and operator of JFK Terminal 4 – have announced a new line-up of food & beverage concessions. The mix of local and national brands is designed to create a unique New York sense of place at the recently expanded terminal. Local brands include Bessou, Dos Toros Taqueria, Boqueria, Eataly, the James Beard Foundation’s Good To Go by JBF, and Villa Russo Café, a Queens-based family operated business.
“From the outset, our goal in building a new JFK International Airport has been to create a world-class passenger experience that will include a mix of exceptional local food & beverage brands alongside notable national brands,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “Terminal 4’s line-up of appealing, iconic local brands will help to create a travel experience that is unique to New York.”
The selection of brands was curated following a competitive process that awarded HMSHost the contract to oversee their operations at Terminal 4. Additionally, HMSHost formed joint-venture partnerships with seven local and diverse airport concessions disadvantaged business enterprise (ACDBE)-certified businesses selected following an extensive community outreach led by HMSHost. As the operator of T4, JFKIAT’s objectives in these partnerships was to foster a mentorship program in which local and diverse business owners would have the opportunity to learn how to operate an airport concession from a global travel retail operator, while offering passengers a selection of local culinary experiences.
“Locally-owned, iconic food & beverage concessions at JFK’s Terminal 4 are an important part of our effort to create the world-class experience that travellers expect at the nation’s premier international airport,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “Passengers travelling through JFK International will get to experience the tastes of our region from the moment they arrive until the moment they depart.”
JFKIAT Chief Executive Officer Roel Huinink commented: “The transformation of T4 and JFK Airport has given us a new opportunity to work with local businesses and provide gateways for meaningful local investment. I am looking forward to the arrival of our new local partners at T4, and I am pleased that we will be able to offer our customers even more authentic New York flavours and experiences.”
Joint-venture partnerships with HMSHost will provide a unique opportunity for the redevelopment of T4 to benefit local and diverse business owners who will be directly involved in the management of the restaurants, learning about the complexities of airport operations and bolstering their chances of successfully competing for and operating their own airport concessions in the future. As part of this initiative, JFKIAT will ensure local business participation and input into the assortment of offerings, supply, and fit out of these new retail and food and beverage locations.
“In a city so renowned for its culinary scene as New York, JFK has evolved into a dining destination in itself,” said Steve Johnson, President & CEO, Avolta, North America. “We embraced the opportunity to partner with JFKIAT, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and our joint-venture partners to be a part of the evolution of JFK and make the journey as exciting as the destination for travellers passing through Terminal 4. These new food & beverage offerings will more than double our presence at JFK, which we are tremendously proud of.”
