Come fly with me: Manchester Airport searches for big brands and small pop-ups for £1bn transformation

By Georgia Bronte

- Last updated on GMT

Come fly with me: Manchester Airport searches for big brands and small pop-ups for £1bn transformation

Related tags Mcdonald's Food and drink

Manchester Airport is searching for food and beverage outlets to fill new retail and leisure space amid a £1bn transformation programme.

The airport has launched a ‘We are changing’ marketing campaign with the aim of attracting high street brands to the project, as well as independent and local brands.

Construction work at Terminal Two began over the summer, and will see the space more than double, creating 60 new units over a combined space of 167,000sq ft.

The units are of a variety of sizes, and the creation of a ‘market space’ area will create space for pop-up food stalls and small, less established brands.

By working with larger brands, the airport says it will be able to demonstrate the ‘best in class’ within retail and food and beverage, but the smaller, local brands will give travellers the option to try brands they usually would not encounter.

The terminal’s current food and drink offering comprise a selection of chains, including Frankie & Benny’s; McDonald’s; Burger King; Pret a Manger; and Giraffe, alongside lesser known operators such as British deli Pork & Pickle, and BBQ smokehouse Spinning Jenny.

The airport hopes to use tech to keep up to date with changing trends and ensure that menus are up-to-date to reflect varying changes in demand.

“The transformation programme is a hugely significant investment for the airport as we look to create a facility that will give our passengers a world class experience,” says Stephen Turner, commercial director for Manchester Airport

“As part of this, we have a chance to create a unique retail environment that will be memorable and engaging for our customers.”

When completed, the renovated terminal will be able to cater for 45 million passengers a year, an increase of almost 20 million. The project is set for completion by 2020.  

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