SSP retains full-year earnings outlook despite Middle East sales hit

SSP Group PLC on Tuesday said sales growth in the UK & Ireland and US helped offset weakness elsewhere caused by the Middle East conflict.

The London-based operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations said sales were up 4% on a constant currency basis in the third quarter of its financial year, which ended on June 30, including like-for-like sales growth of 4%.

This reflected sustained quarter-on-quarter trading momentum in three of SSP's four regions but a significant contraction in passenger numbers in the Asia Pacific & Eastern Europe, Middle East region due to the conflict in the Middle East, in line with trends initially described at interim results in May.

In North America, against a backdrop of more-subdued passenger numbers towards the end of the quarter, sales grew by 4% on-year on a constant currency basis, with LFL sales growth of 2%.

In Continental Europe, sales remained stable overall on-year which included like-for-like sales growth of 2%.

In the UK & Ireland, sales rose by 8% on-year with LFL sales growth of 11% supported by positive seasonal trading.

In APAC & EEME, LFL sales fell by 2% on-year and by 10% quarter-on quarter.

Looking forward, SSP said it remains on track to achieve expectations for the financial full-year which include earnings per share of 13.6p to 14.8p and improving free cash flow to more than £100 million.

In financial 2025, the company swung to a loss of 9.3p per share from EPS of 3.4p the previous year.

Shares in SSP rose 2.6% to 199.60p in London on Tuesday.

Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.