SSP, the Food Travel Experts, is named the UK’s 30th biggest private company
SSP News Release 30-June-2008
SSP is ranked 30th in a major survey of the biggest privately owned businesses in the UK. The survey, in its seventh year, is compiled for leading UK newspaper the Sunday Times by research specialists Fast Track. Also featuring in this year’s list are major UK household names including Arcadia, Virgin Atlantic, bmi, Alliance Boots and EMI.
Commenting on the findings of the study, Andrew Lynch, Chief Executive Officer of SSP, said: ‘Since SSP came into private ownership almost exactly two years ago, we’ve delivered on ambitious growth plans. We are the leading operator of food and beverage brands in travel locations in Europe and Asia, where we have retained several important contracts and won significant new business. We’ve also considerably strengthened our North American business and entered new markets in the Middle East and India.
‘In addition, we’ve strengthened our brand portfolio both locally and internationally, signing major deals which give us exclusive rights in certain key travel markets to brands such as Caviar House & Prunier and Starbucks, amongst others. Our high placement in this well-regarded survey is an encouraging reflection of our success over the last two years’.
‘We believe our expertise and experience in the air and travel sectors on this global scale is unrivalled, and our portfolio of brands is world-class. This will support our equally ambitious plans for future growth.’
Stuart Counsell, head of the private company programme at Deloitte, title sponsors of the league table, praised the outstanding businesses the survey featured. ‘A full spectrum of businesses across all sectors is represented in this year’s Top Track 100. This shows there is the opportunity to succeed in any field, ensuring life in the business arena is interesting and full of potential.’
All 100 companies had sales over £500m up to £18bn, and more than a third (40) had sales above £1bn. The 100 companies on the league table generated combined sales of £149bn and directly employed more than 953,000 staff, representing around 10% of GDP and 3% of the UK workforce.
SSP’s turnover in 2007 was £1.236bn, with profit of £135m. Though correct at the time of writing, the list states SSP is present in 28 countries; in fact, SSP has subsequently added United Arab Emirates and Austria to its business, taking the total to 30 countries. SSP employs over 26,000 people worldwide.