Dane County Airport Wins National Food and Beverage Award

November 09, 2007
Eileen Denne, edenne@aci-na.org, (202) 293-4537 Megan Miller, mmiller@aci-na.org, (202) 861-8080 Sharyn Wisniewski, wisniewski@msnairport.com, (608) 661-6485
Airport

Chicago (November 7, 2007) — Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) on Nov. 6 recognized Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) as a winner in the Best Food and Beverage Program category in its 2007 Concessions Contest. MSN was awarded 2nd Place-Small Airport in this category, which honors a single terminal or concourse for its mix, quality, brands, sales and build-out of the food service offerings included. Judges said of MSN’s entry, “This award goes to Dane County Regional Airport for the success of their 5-year, $68 million terminal renovation and expansion. The emphasis of the new food program was on providing visitors with regional favorites that differentiate Madison from other communities. This was accomplished by including a ‘German Wurst Bar,’ a grab and go bratwurst concept, along with the ‘Great Dane Pub and Grill’ and a local coffee concept called ‘Ancora Coffee.’ National brands including Quizno’s and Ben & Jerry’s also rounded out the food program which generates $3.32 in sales per enplanement.” Kathleen Falk, Dane County Executive, said, “Passengers really enjoy the variety and quality of our airport restaurants. It is just one more reason the airport shines as a gateway to our whole region.” Bill White, chair, Dane County Airport Commission, said, “Providing good food and beverage options, with both local and national brands, was a goal of the Airport Commission in renovating and expanding the terminal. It helps create a more pleasant atmosphere for our passengers.” Twenty other airports were recognized for their superior concessions programs. The top honors went to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which won the Overall Griesbach Award of Excellence, honoring an airport’s entire concessions program including food service, retail and consumer services. Also, for the first time ACI-NA recognized a Concessions “Person of the Year,” Susan Stiene, Director, Retail & Passenger Services, Vancouver International Airport. The announcement was made during the ACI-NA Airport Concessions Conference in Chicago, at which representatives from the entire North American airport concessions industry are in attendance. This annual conference brings together airport management and concessions professionals to examine the trends and best practices in airport retail planning, goal setting, and key operational and management issues. Entries for this year’s contest were judged by an independent panel comprised of high-level professionals from each of the various disciplines reflected in the contest (i.e. food and beverage, retail mall development, consumer groups, architecture and academic communities). In addition to the independent panel a minimum of one representative from the previous years’ overall winner is also involved in the judging process. The contest received over 125 entries from airports of all sizes throughout the U.S. and Canada. This year’s winners include: Best Food and Beverage Program in North America: Honors a single terminal or concourse for its mix, quality, brands, sales and build-out of the food service offerings included. Small Airports 1st Place: Spokane International Airport—Rotunda 2nd Place: Dane County Regional Airport Medium Airports 1st Place: San Antonio International Airport—Terminal 1 2nd Place: Southwest Florida International Airport Large Airports 1st Place: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport 2nd Place: Boston-Logan International Airport—Terminal A 3rd Place: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport—Lindbergh Terminal Best New Food and Beverage Concept in North America: Honors a single food service unit operating superior new concepts in sit-down restaurants, quick-service concepts, coffee and takeaway snacks. 1st Place: Stanford’s Restaurant & Bar at Portland International Airport, operated by Restaurant’s Unlimited 2nd Place (tie): Five Guys Burgers and Fries at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, operated by GVM Associates 2nd Place (tie): Waji’s by Uwajimaya at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, operated by Concourse Concessions Honorable Mention: Obrycki’s Crab House at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, operated by CRC Restaurants Best Specialty Retail Program in North America: Honors a single terminal or concourse for its mix, quality, brands, sales and build-out of its specialty retail offerings including apparel, jewelry, accessories, books, music, DVDs, toys, computer equipment, and perfume. Small Airports 1st Place: Spokane International Airport—Rotunda Large Airports 1st Place: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport 2nd Place: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport—Lindbergh Terminal 3rd Place: Boston-Logan International Airport—Terminal A Best Convenience Retail Program in North America: Honors a single terminal or concourse for its mix, quality, brands, sales and build-out of its convenience retail offerings, such as newsstands, drugstores, pharmacies and convenience stores. Small Airports 1st Place: Spokane International Airport—Rotunda Medium Airports 1st Place: Southwest Florida International Airport 2nd Place: Houston William P. Hobby Airport—Central Terminal Large Airports 1st Place: Detroit Metropolitan Airport—Wayne County Airport Authority—McNamara Terminal 2nd Place: Las Vegas McCarran International Airport—Terminal 1 3rd Place: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport—Lindbergh Terminal Best New Retail Concept in North America: Honors a single retail unit including concepts such as apparel, jewelry, accessories, books, music, DVDs, toys, computer equipment, and perfume. 1st Place: Apple & Motorola Automated Retail Stores at San Francisco International Airport’s International Terminal, operated by Zoom Systems 2nd Place: Harmony Pharmacy & Health Center at Newark Liberty International Airport, operated by Harmony Pharmacy & Health Center Incorporated—Terminal C 3rd Place: Second Edition Book Sellers at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, operated by The Book Cellar LLC Honorable Mention: Crocs at Orlando International Airport, operated by Crocodile Kiosk LLC Best New Consumer Services Concept in North America: Honors a single personal services unit operating at an airport, including concepts such as spa, manicure, business center and shoe shine. 1st Place: Free Charge Power Stations at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, operated by Clear Channel Airports 2nd Place: butterLondon at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, operated by butterLondon Honorable Mention:10 Minute Manicure at the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport, operated by :10 Minute Manicure LLC Best “Green” Concession Practice or Concept in North America: Honors a practice being applied or a single concession unit operating at an airport that supports the protection and sustainability of the environment. 1st Place: Your Planet at Salt Lake City International Airport, operated by Air Terminal Gifts —Terminal 2 Concession Person of the Year: Honors a professional working at an airport, concession operator, service provider or consultancy that has contributed to enhancing the North American airport industry through their time, involvement and expertise. Susan Stiene, Director, Retail & Passenger Services, Vancouver International Airport About ACI-NA Airports Council International - North America represents local, regional and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. Over 300 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the six worldwide regions of Airports Council International. # # #
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