Upper Crust owner SSP Group delivered a 4% rise in group sales year on year in Q3, reflecting sustained quarter-on-quarter trading momentum in three of its four regions.
In the three months to 30 June 2026, sales increased 8% year on year in the UK and Ireland, with like-for-like sales growth of 11%. This was supported by “seasonal trading, a strengthened customer proposition and robust operational delivery”.
In Continental Europe, sales remained stable overall year on year, while like-for-like sales grew 2%. Sales grew by 4% year on year in North America, with like-for-like sales growth of 2% following improvements to its proposition.
SSP noted that it had experienced a “significant contraction” in passenger numbers in its Asia Pacific, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Gulf region due to the conflict in the Middle East. In this region, like-for-like sales fell by 2% year on year and slowed by 10% quarter on quarter.
The group, which operates restaurants, bars and other outlets in travel hubs such as airports, added that performance in the region also included a “modest benefit” from lapping the prior year’s M&S cyber incident. SSP currently operates over 50 M&S Food stores across UK travel hubs under a franchise partnership.
For the nine-month period to 30 June 2026, group sales were up 5% on a constant currency basis, with like-for-like sales of 5%.
Looking ahead, the group said that while trading conditions in the Gulf and the surrounding region remain “uncertain”, its focus remains on customer and operational delivery through the peak summer trading period.
No comments yet