Sodexo Live! Partners with The Culinary Edge to Reimagine Future of the Airport Lounge Experience

Partnership Will Entice Lounge Loyalty through Elevated, Chef-driven Food & Beverage Offerings

SAN FRANCISCO, Ca., October 27, 2021 - Sodexo Live!, a global leader in hospitality and events and a leader in airport lounge services has today announced a first-of-its kind partnership with The Culinary Edge (TCE) - America's leading culinary innovation agency offering future-driven solutions for foodservice brands - to reimagine the airport lounge experience for today's travelers through elevated, chef-driven culinary offerings. This collaboration between two inventive industry thought leaders will transform over 80 U.S.- based airport lounges into havens for inventive menu offerings.

"Each one of our guests is unique. Their visit to the lounge is a moment of respite during their journey. Our mission is to ensure their greatest and smallest needs are met, every step of the way. Our new consumer segmentation survey results tracker show an appetite in lounge food and beverage offerings to drive loyalty in the aviation sector. The work done with TCE allows us to create new concepts rooted in meticulous consumer insights and are sure to be a hit."

- COO Julieta Gutierrez, who oversees airport lounges for Sodexo Live! North America

Today's lounge guests have varied eating habits and dietary needs and how they eat may change based on whether they are traveling for business or pleasure. With this in mind, The Culinary Edge worked with Sodexo Live! chefs to craft a menu strategy moving away from menu categories such as entrees and lighter fare and more toward "experience zones," reimagining a club's culinary offerings as distinctive zones such as pre-packaged grab-and-go, signature items/beverages and a DIY meal bar, each one fulfilling different guest occasions and needs.

"We're thrilled to work with Sodexo Live's team - they are true leaders in tailor-made hospitality. Combining their awe-inspiring operational expertise with some fresh insight on guests has unlocked a fresh perspective on how lounges can compete and win loyalty from travelers. Today, good food and beverage isn't just a lounge 'plus' but a foundation for long-term loyalty,"

- Graham Humphreys, CEO of The Culinary Edge

Several of the new menu items The Culinary Edge and Sodexo Live! collaborated on include:

• Bao Bun Bar: featured within the DIY Meal Bar, the Bao Bun Bar features soy-glazed pulled pork or tempeh, kimchi-style cucumbers, crunchy cabbage slaw, and pickled rainbow carrots.
• Chocolate Pot de Creme: those with a sweet tooth can venture to the dessert area to enjoy this creamy chocolate mousse with whipped cream and cocoa powder.
• Mocha Cold Brew Shakerato: a decadent shaken beverage made to order by a skilled bartender.

About The Culinary Edge

The Culinary Edge is a San Francisco based food and beverage innovation consultancy, fusing culinary excellence and human-centered design for a better future. At TCE you'll find classically trained chefs working alongside designers, brand planners, operational experts, and food anthropologists. Their unique 360 process has led them to work with ambitious national brands including Starbucks, First Watch, Buffalo Wild Wings, and the launch of their own brand, Starbird. To learn more about The Culinary Edge and the team, visit www.theculinaryedge.com. Follow The Culinary Edge on Instagram for the latest news and trends.

About Sodexo Live!

Sodexo Live! manages prestigious conference, cultural, and sporting venues and major events all over the world. With 40,000 employees and 500 sites, we offer our clients a range of bespoke catering, sales, and event management services, helping to transform the consumer experience into unforgettable memories. As strategic and responsible partners, we commit to unlocking our customers' full potential while favoring local communities, including at over 170 airport lounges around the world.

Sodexo Live! contributes to the success of prestigious events such as Royal Ascot, the Tour de France, the Rugby World Cup and soon the Paris 2024 Games, and showcases exceptional venues such as the Eiffel Tower Restaurants, the Hard Rock Stadium, Bateaux Parisiens, Yachts de Paris, the Royal Academy of Arts in London, the Prado museum in Madrid and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Learn more.

Media Contact

Paul Pettas
PR & Communications Director

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