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gategroup expands catering, supply chain capabilities to Haneda Airport

Direct News Source

07-Jun-2010 Gate Gourmet is expanding its airline catering and supply chain capabilities to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to begin operations when a fourth runway and international flights start there in October 2010.

Gate Gourmet, a member of gategroup, already operates a major flight kitchen at Tokyo's Narita Airport, where it more than doubled its meal capacity in 2009 after purchasing United Airlines' Narita catering facility.

The company has leased a building within minutes of Haneda. The facility is sized for growth and will be fully equipped with hot and cold kitchens, dishwashing, equipment and bar handling capabilities, a warehouse and bonded stores. The new catering unit kitchen will be ready in time to accommodate several airline customers of Gate Gourmet's operations worldwide who plan to begin Haneda flights.

"Our decision to open this second catering and provisioning operation in Tokyo reflects the importance of Japan as part of our strategy to expand in the Asia-Pacific region and into hubs with high growth prospects for international long-haul traffic," said gategroup Chief Executive Officer Guy Dubois. Gate Gourmet also operates a facility at Hiroshima International Airport.

In another regional development for gategroup, the company's Pourshins brand will open a bonded Asian Distribution Center in October 2010 near Haneda Airport and the Port of Tokyo. The facility will expand Pourshins' portfolio of managed warehouses beyond the United States and Europe and into Asia for the first time.

The warehouse initially will serve Delta Air Lines and will distribute products to 15 Asia airport locations for the airline. "The opening of the distribution center will reduce Delta's inbound and outbound transport and customs costs, while further improving service levels," said Andrew Langdale, Chief Executive of Pourshins/Supplair. Pourshins also will manage multi-temperature products from another nearby warehouse.