SSP Group is to cut up to 5,000 jobs across its 580 UK travel hub food sites and head office due to the major decline in passenger numbers during lockdown.
The firm operates sandwich QSR chain, Upper Crust, the Caffè Ritazza chain, deli brand, Camden Food Co, and bar chain, Cabin.
Currently only 10 sites have reopened and SSP expects only one-fifth of its UK site to reopen by the autumn.
The company stated, 'If the pace of the recovery continues at the current level, this could lead to up to c. 5,000 roles becoming redundant from within the head office and UK operations.'
CEO Simon Smith said, 'COVID-19 continues to have an unprecedented impact on the travel industry and on SSP's businesses in all geographies.
'We are beginning to see early signs of recovery in some parts of the world and are starting to open units as passenger demand picks up. However, in the UK the pace of the recovery continues to be slow.'
