Airport and rail bar and restaurant operator SSP Group PLC (LON:SSPG) said its full-year sales growth could reach 3%, boosted by increased air passenger numbers and offsetting a disappointing rail performance.
SSP, which operates various food and beverage outlets in airports and train stations, including Burger King and Starbucks, said on Wednesday that net contract gains for the full year would be around the top end of its previously announced range of 4.5% to 5.0%, driven by strong growth in North America and on-going progress in the rest of the world.
READ: SSP flies higher as rise in number of air passengers boosts Q3 sales
Sales at train stations have been “soft” though, with strikes in France partly to blame.
The group, which also owns brand such as Upper Crust, said that its acquisitions of TFS in India and Stockheim had performed well and were expected to add around 1.5% to its annual sales.
SSP said it expects the full-year foreign exchange impact to be just under -2%.
“Looking forward, whilst a degree of uncertainty always exists around passenger numbers in the short term, we are well placed to continue to benefit from the structural growth opportunities in our markets and to create further shareholder value,” the company said in a statement.
Shares in SSP were 2.7% down at 696.80p in early trade.