HEBRON, Ky. — Travelers passing through Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport at odd hours are getting new food options, as CVG adds around-the-clock automated dining near Gate B21 in Concourse B.
The airport is partnering with Evolvending on the new lineup, which is built to serve both passengers and airport employees when traditional restaurants are closed. The automated concepts offer hot meals, breakfast items, snacks and quick bites at any hour of the day or night.
The brands in the new Concourse B lineup include White Castle, Wow Bao, Evolve CAFE and The Amish Pretzel Co. CVG is the first airport to offer the Amish Pretzel Co. menu through Evolvending’s smart retail network; the concept comes from the bakers behind Ben’s Soft Pretzels and sells sweet and savory pretzel products.
Airport CEO Larry Krauter said providing 24/7 access to trusted food brands enhances convenience for customers while strengthening both the passenger experience and the airport’s long-term business performance.
The selection is not fixed. Evolvending’s platform lets the airport introduce, rotate and adjust concepts based on traveler preferences, demand at individual locations and changing food trends, so the mix near Gate B21 can evolve as passengers respond to it.
For Southwest Ohio travelers, the change addresses a familiar frustration: early-morning departures and late-night arrivals often leave concourses with shuttered kitchens and only vending machines. Automated hot food gives those passengers, and the employees who work overnight shifts, a real meal option.
Evolvending operates nearly 50 automated dining kiosks across eight airports and has more than 60 additional locations planned in the coming months, according to the announcement. Its wider brand portfolio includes names such as TGI Fridays, The Cheesecake Factory and California Pizza Kitchen.
CVG’s addition puts the Cincinnati airport among the early adopters of the format. Evolvending CEO Valentina Ellison called Cincinnati another milestone in the company’s national expansion, saying the model works because it brings together well-known brands that reflect how travelers want to eat today. Airport officials said the strong early response to automated dining supports the strategy of giving travelers more flexibility in how and when they eat during a trip, while giving the airport a dining offer that does not depend on a restaurant’s staffing hours.
