Hospitality and food service job-seekers will be among the major benefactors of Delaware North – one of the world’s largest privately-owned hospitality service companies – entering into several new partnerships across New Zealand.
Details of Delaware North’s new partnerships which range from Auckland to Queenstown include:-
Auckland Airport
Delaware North has recently been awarded a major contract by Auckland Airport to deliver new food outlets at New Zealand’s busiest airport. The company will be looking to employ approximately 230 new employees to run nine new exciting food and beverage concepts at New Zealand’s main gateway, following a competitive tender.
Delaware North, which operates restaurants and retail stores in many of the world’s most high-profile airports, has partnered with some of New Zealand and Australia’s leading celebrity chefs as part of the deal, which will expand and enhance the variety of food and beverages available to travellers. The new concepts to be delivered are:
- Better Burger – Auckland’s rising star burger concept made with fresh New Zealand produce at great value pricing. To be located airside at the international terminal.
- Mexico – All the colour and vibrancy of its namesake nation, Mexico celebrates the delicious, fresh and lighter side of Mexican cuisine. To be located airside at the international terminal.
- Orleans Chicken & Waffles – New Orleans inspired southern fried chicken and waffles, quick service restaurant style. To be located at the domestic terminal.
- Best Ugly Bagels – Celebrity chef Al Brown’s famous Montreal style bagel concept will be delivered at two outlets servicing the domestic and international terminals.
- 400 Gradi – Internationally awarded celebrity chef Johnny Di Francesco brings his mouth-watering wood-fired, Neapolitan pizza and pasta to the international terminal.
- Tea Garden by Dilmah – High tea cuisine developed in collaboration with celebrity chef Simon Gault, Dilmah and Delaware North Master Chef Markus Werner.
- Blue Marble Lane – A new bar and eatery developed by Delaware North and the Britomart Hospitality Group. To be located landside in the international terminal.
- Oma Artisan Bakery & Café – A working artisan bakery in partnership with celebrity baker Isabel Pasch. To be located in the international terminal.
Auckland Airport had 19 million passengers move through its terminals in 2017. This figure is set to increase in the future, further strengthening Delaware North’s position as a global leader in travel hospitality. The company manages more than 300 restaurants and retail stores serving 350 million travellers each year at major airports and travel plazas around the world, including Los Angeles International Airport and London’s Heathrow Airport.
The Auckland Airport deal is one of many recent agreements Delaware North has reached with hospitality and travel vendors in New Zealand and Australia, setting the company on a growth trajectory in the region.
“We will be showcasing the best New Zealand tastes and flavours alongside an increased variety of popular international cuisines, all set in a modern and vibrant dining environment. There will be something for everyone, with a choice of in-terminal restaurants, casual dining, fast food, and grab-and-go outlets,” Auckland Airport’s General Manager Retail and Commercial, Richard Barker said.
“Delaware North’s impressive track record and unique approach made them a natural fit as a partner to help us realise our vision and to ensure travellers get to taste the very best of New Zealand and the world.”
Westpac Stadium
Delaware North has also recently been appointed by the Wellington Regional Stadium Trust (WRST) as the hospitality partner for Westpac Stadium, where it will manage and deliver catering services. At Westpac Stadium, Delaware North will provide food and beverage services in concessions, corporate boxes, catering and premium areas, and non-event day functions.
Delaware North operates in more than 50 sports stadiums and arenas around the world including the Sydney Cricket Ground, Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium, London’s Wembley Stadium, MetLife Stadium (United States) and the Singapore Sports Hub. It is also the longtime hospitality partner of the Australian Open.
Pinewood Lodge
Delaware North has also entered into a long-term partnership to operate Pinewood Lodge in Queenstown, featuring backpacker dorms, lodge-style private rooms and new four-star self-contained cabins. The lodge is located on three acres of freehold land, and has organically grown over the past 30 years to now comprise 228 rooms.
With occupancy rates in Queenstown averaging close to 80% per cent in recent years thanks to the multitude of year-round adventure activities, hiking and outdoor sports, Delaware North is confident Pinewood Lodge will continue to go from strength to strength.
Gary Brown, managing director of Delaware North’s business in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, said the company was excited at the many growth prospects in New Zealand.
“Our business in the region is poised for an exciting phase of growth that will create employment opportunities for hospitality and food services workers, as evidenced by our recent partnerships with Auckland Airport, Westpac Stadium and Pinewood Lodge,” Brown said.
“Over time, these new partnerships will contribute to New Zealand’s economic prosperity, particularly for businesses that are active in the leisure and hospitality service industries. We’re pleased to be expanding our footprint across the country.”
