Upper Crust owner’s sales fall as Omicron kept commuters away

SSP owns chains including Upper Crust and Caffè Ritazza but sales in the last eight weeks from 6 December were only 57% of the equivalent in pre-pandemic 2019. Photograph: Newscast/Alamy

The owner of the Upper Crust sandwich chain has reported a drop in sales as concerns about the Omicron coronavirus variant kept customers at home but said it was hopeful of better performance as commuters return to offices.

SSP Group operates fast food chains targeted at railway stations and airports, which also includes Camden Food Co, Ritazza and Burger King franchises at travel locations.