LSG Sky Chefs

LSG Sky Chefs is the brand name of LSG Lufthansa Service Holding AG, which is the world's largest provider of airline catering (although Gate Gourmet claims the title of world's largest "independent" provider ) and in-flight services. It is a subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. A part of the company was formerly owned by AMR Corporation, parent company of American Airlines. Its primary business function is to prepare and deliver meals, beverages and snacks to aircraft for domestic and international flights. In addition the company also provides extended services on all other aspects of in-flight service, including the design and sourcing of in-flight equipment, in-flight logistics, in-flight management, onboard retail management and the management of airport lounges to name but a few.

The company's world headquarters is located in Neu-Isenburg near Frankfurt, Germany. Its North American headquarters is located in Irving, Texas, USA, where a part of the company was founded in 1942.

LSG Sky Chefs partners with more than 300 airlines worldwide and operates almost 200 customer service centers in 50 countries, producing around 460 million meals a year.

The airline carriers served by LSG Sky Chefs can vary from airport to airport, but some major customers are Lufthansa, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Asiana Airlines, Swiss International Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Korean Air, Finnair, and Aeroflot. LSG Sky Chefs reports it has about 30% of the airline catering market worldwide.

An ongoing slump in the airline industry, largely attributed to rising jet fuel costs, has created many challenges for the firm. Its global revenue has been in decline since a peak of €3.1 billion in 2002.

The company also operates three deep-frozen manufacturing/distribution facilities supplying to different regions of the world in:

• Alzey (Europe, Africa, Middle East),
• Pittsburgh (North America, Caribbean, South America)
• Qingdao (Asia, Australia)

with each location employing over 100 staff with capacities to manufacture 25 million meals each for its customers.

In addition, the company runs non-food retail operations at several airport locations and provides traditional event planning and catering. (source: company site)

An example of a non-airline product it produces is sandwiches and salads at 7-Eleven convenience stores in North America, supplied by its Pittsburgh as well as other facilities in the US. They say ‘Prepared by LSG Sky Chefs’ on the back label.

The name ‘LSG’ derives from ‘Lufthansa Service GmbH’, the original name of the company that acquired the Sky Chefs brand. The company plans to merge its operations in the UK with Alpha Flight Group Ltd.