SATS acquires majority stake in Nanjing Weizhou Airline Food
SATS increases its stake in Nanjing Weizhou Airline Food
SATS Ltd. has acquired an additional 40 percent stake in Nanjing Weizhou Airline Food Corp., Ltd. (NWA), increasing its ownership to 90 percent as it expands its food solutions platform in China.
Announced May 6, the transaction gives SATS operational control of NWA, a leading producer of frozen aviation meals in China, and strengthens the company’s position in the country’s growing airline catering sector.
SATS first invested in NWA in 2019 through a 50 percent stake, targeting expertise in frozen aviation meals and product innovation. Since then, NWA has more than doubled its revenue as Chinese carriers increasingly adopt frozen meal solutions for domestic operations.
The acquisition supports three strategic priorities for SATS’ China Food Solutions business: capitalizing on demand for high-quality frozen aviation meals, creating operational synergies between NWA and SATS China, and leveraging NWA’s local market knowledge and network.
Headquartered in Nanjing, NWA supplies frozen meals, snacks and related food products to airline customers across China. Its operations include a central catering hub and a network of on- and off-airport assembly kitchens designed to optimize production efficiency and nationwide distribution.
Samuel Koh, Chief Executive Officer of SATS Food Solutions, said the acquisition strengthens SATS’ ability to grow in the Chinese aviation market while expanding its innovation capabilities.
“NWA has built something exceptional in China’s aviation food sector: a proven frozen meals platform with the operational capability, customer relationships, and production know-how to grow at scale,” Koh said in a statement.
He added that NWA’s expertise in combining culinary knowledge with advanced food technology has helped it deliver authentic Chinese flavors onboard aircraft.
SATS says consolidating ownership will allow NWA and SATS China to operate as a more integrated unit, improving production efficiencies and strengthening service capabilities for airline customers.
Luo Bo, founder and general manager of NWA, said the expanded partnership marks the beginning of a new growth phase for the business.
“Over the past seven years, SATS and NWA have built a strong foundation together, and I am proud of what the team has achieved,” Luo said.
The acquisition reflects SATS’ continued focus on expanding its aviation food solutions network globally while strengthening its footprint in key regional markets.
