How to Break into Travel Catering: A Brand’s Gateway to Trains, Planes & Cruises
posted 23rd June 2025
For food and drink brands looking to scale, travel catering is one of the most untapped routes to growth. Whether it is passengers on a luxury cruise, frequent flyers in airport lounges, or daily commuters grabbing a bite on the train, these consumers are a captive audience primed for discovery. So, how do you get your product onboard?
At TickEat, we help brands just like yours break into the travel sector. Let us explore why travel catering matters, how it can benefit your brand, and how others have already succeeded through this exciting channel.
🚆✈️🚢 Why Travel Catering Matters
Travel catering is a high-volume, high-visibility channel that combines the reach of retail with the exclusivity of premium placements. Every day, millions of passengers are served food and drink while in transit, meaning your product could be front and centre in front of a new, often affluent, audience.
Travel operators, from rail and airline services to cruise liners, are always seeking innovative, high-quality products that meet their customers’ expectations and elevate the onboard experience. That is where you come in.
🌍 The Benefits of Brand Exposure in Travel Channels
Getting your product into travel channels is not just about bulk orders; it is about strategic brand building. Here is how it can transform your business:
High-Value Audience: Travellers tend to be decision-makers, professionals, and tourists who are willing to spend on quality. This exposure can translate into loyal customers long after the journey ends.
Global Reach, Local Relevance: By partnering with international operators, your brand can cross borders without the complexity of setting up global retail operations.
Premium Positioning: Being stocked in lounges, first-class cabins, or cruise dining halls sends a strong signal about your brand’s quality and appeal.
Repeat Revenue: Many travel operators place regular orders, meaning consistent, repeat business for suppliers that perform well.
✅ Real Stories: How TickEat Brands Found Success Onboard
Our TickEat exhibitors are proof that, with the right guidance, brands can flourish in travel catering. Here are just a few who have made the leap:
🍿 Joe & Seph’s, British Airways
With TickEat’s support on packaging, pricing, and buyer expectations, Joe & Seph’s secured their first listing with British Airways in 2014, featuring their Salted Caramel Popcorn. They continue to grow through TickEat’s Meet the Buyer events.
🍜 itsu, easyJet
At a 2023 Meet the Buyer event, itsu secured a listing with easyJet for their chick-n ramen noodle cup, a restaurant-inspired, handcrafted instant noodle now flying across Europe.
🍫 JimJams, Virgin Atlantic, Avanti and Wightlink
Through TickEat meetings, JimJams now supplies Virgin Atlantic and Avanti Trains with Barista Syrups, and Virgin Atlantic and Wightlink Ferries with Chocolate Dippers, gaining presence across air, rail, and sea.
🧭 Your Next Stop: How to Get Started
Breaking into travel catering can feel daunting; however, it does not have to be. Here is how to take the first step:
Tailor Your Offering: Think single-serve, high quality, and shelf stable. Travel operators need compact, consistent, and logistically friendly products.
Understand the Buyer: Each operator has different priorities. Airlines may focus on weight and waste, while cruise liners might value premium presentation.
Partner with Experts: Platforms like TickEat connect your brand directly with decision-makers in travel foodservice, saving months of outreach and research.
Tell Your Story: Buyers value a strong brand narrative. Highlight your values, origins, and why your product belongs onboard.
✈️ Ready for Takeoff?
Travel catering is more than a distribution channel; it is a brand accelerator. Whether you are seeking new revenue streams, brand prestige, or greater visibility, getting onboard might just be your next big move.
Want to meet the people behind the purchasing decisions? Join our next TickEat event and position your brand for take-off.
