Travel F&B operator SSP reports 8% revenue increase

Travel hospitality operator SSP has reported an 8% jump in revenue for its full year ended 30 September 2025.

Revenues for the operator hit £3.6b, up 8%, with like-for-like growth of 4%, while operating profit reached £223m, up 13%.

SSP operates bars, cafés and F&B outlets in travel locations across 38 countries, with the UK producing 26.5% of its 2025 revenue.

The company operates a number of quick-service brands in travel locations up and down the country, including Upper Crust, Starbucks, Burger King and Popeyes.

Patrick Coveney, group chief executive, said: “We have delivered a resilient financial performance this year, with revenue and earnings per share up 8% and 25% respectively, on a constant currency basis, and a pivot to positive free cash flow.  As a result of our actions in the year, including an ongoing focus on cost efficiency, we saw strong trading across three of our four regions.

“However, we acknowledge there is more to do to strengthen our operational performance, most notably in Continental Europe, where we have now reset our team, model and balance sheet, and have a range of initiatives under way to do so.

“While there remains a degree of macro-economic uncertainty across the world, our focus is on what we can control. We have made an encouraging start to FY26, with like-for-like sales growth now positive in all regions and tracking at 4% year-to-date for the group as a whole. This early momentum, together with the specific actions that we are taking to deliver sustained improvements in profit, cash and return on capital, gives us increasing confidence in our prospects for the coming year.”

The company is increasing it offering of experience-led concepts, such as its Peaky Blinders themed Shelby & Co bar at Birmingham Airport, and continuing to roll out digital ordering and payment systems, with 31% of its transactions taking place through hardware.

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