SSA Group, an award-winning provider of visitor amenities, has expanded its partnership with Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, Minnesota. This AZA-accredited zoo dates back to 1978 and it is on a mission to connect people, animals, and the natural world to save wildlife. In December 2022, SSA Group began operating the zoo’s food service, in addition to retail operations which SSA has been operating since 2003.
Revamped menu & more sustainable options
SSA Group reprogrammed the menus throughout the campus’ food and beverage locations. This includes the addition of healthy options and the firm’s signature hand-breaded chicken tenders. The main cafe now offers a range of gluten-free and vegan options as well, and guests will soon be able to choose to use mobile ordering and self-order kiosks.
As part of this revamp, the zoo has also transitioned away from disposables in the main cafe and is now using reusable service ware instead. Plus, SSA Group is working towards removing all plastic soft drink bottles campus-wide, changing them to aluminium in an effort to be more sustainable.
Guests can now enjoy coffee beverages made using products from Caribou Coffee, a local Minnesota company. They can also choose from a wider range of menu options at the main coffee locations, such as hot breakfast options. In addition to Caribou Coffee, SSA Group is using several vendors that are local, or minority-owned including The Konery gourmet ice cream cones and Sebastian Joe’s ice cream.
The company has worked to integrate food and retail products throughout the campus to expand the reach and provide more options to guests.
Earlier this month, SSA Group announced a new partnership with Attractions.io. The two firms have a shared goal of advancing the attractions industry from the inside out, and a shared objective of making the future a better place using combined values, resources, and expertise. Together, they will bring a fully digital experience to cultural attraction guests in 2023.
