SSP enjoys rising gross sales pushed by partnership with M&S meals retailers
SSP Group reported an uptick in sales across its portfolio in the first quarter, driven by its airport outlets.
The food-to-go business said like-for-like sales increased by 5 per cent in the three months to 31 December, with its UK and Ireland business enjoying 8 per cent growth.
SSP flagged a strong performance across its airport and railway sites linked to its partnership with Marks & Spencer at 50 of the supermarket chain’s Simply Food shops.
M&S recently recorded a record Christmas for food and drink sales.
In North America, sales rose by 4 per cent, largely due to net gains as the group boosted its presence across its 57 airport locations.
Continental Europe grew 1 per cent, held back by weak consumer sentiment and lower spend levels, particularly in rail, which is under review.
Rising sales: SSP Group shares rose on Friday after the group reported an uptick in sales
Chief executive Patrick Coveney called it a ‘good start to the financial year’ and said the group was ‘on track’ against his ‘Focus 26’ operational plan, with a range of actions underway to deliver improvements in profitability, cash and returns on capital.
He added: ‘Given this momentum, we remain confident in our prospects for the balance of FY26 and beyond.’
The company said it had completed £24million of the £100million share buyback it initiated in October 2025. Its annual forecasts remained unchanged.
In May last year, SSP launched a sweeping overheads cost-cutting programme. At the time, SSP said this would focus on ‘gross margin optimisation, supply chain and procurement, labour productivity, overhead efficiency and addressing above market concession fees’.
In July 2025, its India joint venture, Travel Food Services Ltd, started trading on the two main Indian stock exchanges.
Shares in SSP rose 1.74 per cent or 3.40p to 198.50p on Friday, having jumped around 15 per cent in the last year.
The group is holding its annual general meeting in London today.
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