New Concession Pact at Columbia Airport Brings New Eateries

    Feb. 12, 2007
    The airport's board awarded the contract, which became effective Feb. 1, to Concessions Carolina.

    Source The State

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    Feb. 10--Travelers passing through Columbia Metropolitan Airport soon will be grabbing STP Dipper sub sandwiches with Formula 45 sauce while waiting for flights.

    Groucho's Deli will become part of the airport's food offerings this spring after Concessions Carolina received a five-year contract for food services. Concessions Carolina will be a Groucho's franchisee, said Bruce Miller, Groucho's owner.

    The new food service wanted to give a "welcome to Columbia" flavor to the menu, Miller said.

    "They had heard of us and knew we were a staple to the community," he said.

    Other new food offerings also will include Coffee Beanery and Edy's Ice Cream, said Lynne Douglas, airport marketing director.

    The airport's board of directors awarded the contract, which became effective Feb. 1. Travelers won't notice food changes until the spring; a complete changeover won't be finished until fall.

    The company will pay the airport a minimum guarantee of 33 cents per passenger boarding a flight plus a percentage of its receipts:

    --Twelve percent of non-branded food and non-alcoholic beverage sales.

    --Ten percent of branded food sales.

    --Seventeen percent of alcohol sales.

    --Ten percent of in-flight and event-catering sales.

    The airport counts passengers in two categories -- those who board planes and those who exit them -- and last year a total of 1.3 million passengers passed though the airport's gates.

    The previous concessions contract was held by Creative Croissants, which paid the airport $209,655 in 2006, Douglas said.

    Concessions Carolina will operate a food court near the departure gates, which will include Groucho's, Coffee Beanery, Edy's and the Riverbanks Bar and Grill.

    The food court will be remodeled, Douglas said. "It's more or less a face lift," she said.

    In the main lobby, The Sky Bar and Grill will offer grab-and-go selections.

    The new company should offer more variety, and airport officials hope for expanded hours, better quality and improved customer service, Douglas said.

    Concessions Carolina is a partnership between Atlanta-based Concessions International and Boss Hogg dba The Friendly Caterer. Concessions International operates food service in nine airports in the United States and U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the company.

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