Partnering Made Perfect: Concessions International, LLC's Formula for Success

The Country's Fifth Largest Food & Beverage Concessionaire Celebrates 30 Years of Growth During Challenging Times In Our Country  

            April 06, 2009 - (Atlanta) Atlanta-based Concessions International, LLC, the fifth largest food and beverage concessionaire in the industry and the brand behind the brands in many of the country's airport restaurants and concessions, celebrates 30 years of serving its airport customers, and looks towards new endeavors to keep its business growing during the next 30 years.

            CI was founded by Atlanta's businessman and philanthropist, Herman J. Russell in 1978, and in 1979 he brought in partners Felker Ward and Jesse Hill with the vision of entering airport concessions and building a world-class food and beverage service organization. In 1999, Russell bought out his partners and now the Russell family has 100 percent ownership.

Concessions International (CI) has nearly doubled its revenue of $51M in 2000 to $100M in 2008. Although CI started as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, because of its financial success, it became a Prime Contractor in 1995. CI currently employs 1,450 team members throughout eight airports and one stand-alone restaurant in the country. Eight hundred of those team members are in Atlanta.

            The last eight years have brought significant unforeseen challenges and changes to the airport industry, including most notably the 9/11 terrorist attack in 2001, airline consolidations and a drop in air travel. However, according to R. Anthony Joseph, president of CI, they have weathered the storms over the years and have become even stronger, smarter and more successful for a variety of reasons.

 

"We know how to partner. We've successfully partnered with the cities in which we operate and the City of Atlanta where we are headquartered. We collaboratively partner with airports from coast-to-coast as well as national and local brands that can make the difference between winning and losing a bid," said Joseph. "We also have highly experienced leadership in place in major airport hubs like Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International airport where we manage 24 locations, and Denver International airport where we manage nine locations. And because our main customer is the business traveler, we have been fortunate. Business travel may dip when the economy dips, but travel for meetings and conferences are essential to most industries."

            CI plans to continue to compete for new opportunities in airports across the country, focusing on achieving and maintaining the highest standards in existing airports to increase sales, but they also plan on generating revenue from managing non-airport restaurants and concession locations, particularly in Georgia.

            "We began managing Paschal's Restaurant in Atlanta's Castleberry district in January of 2008 after the late James Paschal's passing, and we plan to add additional non-airport locations to our customer list," said Michael B. Russell, chief executive officer, CI.  "We aspire to be the operator of choice for regional and national brands.  We will build a balance of revenue from other restaurants and non-traditional food service operations.

According to Joseph, they plan to maintain the entrepreneurial environment and family culture of CI as well as appreciate and reward the loyalty and commitment of long-term employees. "Our Improved operations and an updated technology infrastructure have made us more efficient, but the commitment from our long-term employees has made us successful," said Joseph.

            Atlanta-based Concessions International, LLC, founded in 1978, is a dynamic food and beverage concessionaire with operations in eight airports. The company currently represents 32 different brands. Outside of the airport environment, CI also operates Paschal's Restaurant in the historic Castleberry district of downtown Atlanta. For more information visit www.cintl.com.

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