A new cafe at Slovakia’s busiest airport was supposed to mark a simple improvement for travellers: longer opening hours, more food options and a service available around the clock.
The opening has drawn attention because of the group behind the new operator’s business history.
The Craft Coffee Factory cafe began operating this summer at state-owned M. R. Stefanik Airport in Bratislava, occupying one of the terminal’s largest commercial spaces. The 320-square-metre outlet offers more than 100 seats and operates 24 hours a day.
The move comes as the airport is experiencing rapid growth. In June, it handled 510,152 passengers, 81% more than a year earlier.
The company behind the new cafe is Terminal 14, a firm established earlier this year and linked to entrepreneurs Miriam and Andrej Sabovcik through their drinks group, Craft Drinks. Terminal 14 is formally represented by Alex Sabovcik, who was listed as the company’s managing director at the age of 19, according to Index.
The connection has garnered attention due to the financial history of some companies previously connected with the group.
From brewery ambitions to airport retail
One of their best-known projects was the Karpat brewery, which received several million euros in public support before later entering bankruptcy proceedings, according to Index. According to bankruptcy documents, creditors registered claims worth about EUR 13.4 million.
Among the creditors were private companies and state institutions seeking repayment of funds linked to the brewery project.
Moreover, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office investigated allegations of irregularities in a procurement process for brewery renovation and innovative beer production involving European funding.
Bratislava Airport said that the operator was selected following the receipt of two offers.
“We received two offers for the operation of the cafe,” airport spokeswoman Veronika Demovicova said, adding that Craft Coffee Factory was chosen because it offered services that had been missing, including 24-hour operation, hot food at night and breakfast menus.
She added that the airport regularly checked whether tenants met their contractual obligations, including payment discipline and service quality.
The entrepreneurs, whose other firms also owe money to the state, refused to answer questions regarding their prior business disputes. (The Slovak Spectator)