Delaware North’s worldwide presence in airports recently caught the attention of the global travel-hospitality industry as several Delaware North-operated restaurants in New Zealand and the United States won awards at Moodie Davitt’s annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Awards, held in Dallas.
Auckland Airport in New Zealand was a star of the event, taking home awards in six different categories, while Delaware North’s Denver Central Market at Denver International Airport also took home an award.
Since its launch in 2011, FAB has flourished as the only event dedicated to the burgeoning airport food and beverage business. FAB 2019 brought together senior executives from airports and food and beverage concessionaires worldwide, as well as varied industry partners.
Delaware North took home the top overall award for its operations at Auckland Airport, winning the Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year award. It also was recognized in five other categories:
Airport Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year
Regional winner (Asia Pacific): Blue Marble Lane Bar & Bistro
Airport Coffee, Tea, Non-alcoholic Beverage Shop of the Year
Regional winner (Asia Pacific): Oma Artisan Bakery & Café
New Food & Beverage Concept of the Year
Highly Commended: Blue Marble Lane Bar & Bistro
The FAB Judges’ Distinction Award for Foodie Flair
Winner: Oma Artisan Bakery & Café
Outstanding Airport Restaurant Design of the Year
Regional winner (Asia Pacific): Blue Marble Lane Bar & Bistro
Over the past year at Auckland International Airport, Delaware North has partnered with some of New Zealand and Australia’s leading celebrity chefs to deliver eight new concepts, expanding and enhancing the variety of food and beverages available to travelers.
For its North American-based travel hospitality division, Delaware North was recognized as a regional winner in the Americas for its Denver Central Market concept, which opened in December 2018 and was named the FAB Awards’ Food Hall of the Year.
PHOTO CAPTION: Brad Counsel (right), operations director for Delaware North in Australia and New Zealand, and Kelly Hodder (center), Delaware North’s retail commercial director at Auckland Airport, pose with Martin Moodie (left), founder and chairman of Moodie International, after last week’s FAB Awards reception in Dallas, Texas.