Tailwind Hospitality, trading as Tailwind Concessions or Tailwind, has completed the strategic acquisition of Oakwells, an airport and train station concessionaire, alongside four food and beverage (F&B) concessions from Kind Hospitality.  

The move marks a significant expansion for Tailwind, enhancing its portfolio of retail and dining offerings across a range of transportation hubs. 

Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Winter Park, Florida, Oakwells operates in 12 airports and one train station, providing a mix of retail, grab 'n' go outlets and full-service bars and restaurants.  

The latest acquisition by Tailwind integrates Oakwells' strong market presence into its growing network of concessions. 

The four F&B concessions acquired from Kind Hospitality, under the leadership of founder Nava Thursaisingam, are situated at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa, Arizona.  

They include partnerships with local breweries and restaurants, further diversifying Tailwind's culinary concepts and enhancing the passenger experience. 

Tailwind CEO Jeff Switzer said: “We welcome Oakwells, along with its impressive team and operations, to the Tailwind family. 

“We are excited to partner with Mike Reilly, founder and CEO of Oakwells, who will also join the Tailwind team post-closure along with his over 100 employees, to ensure a successful combination of the businesses and continue to provide best-in-class service and responsiveness to our airport partners.” 

Tailwind Hospitality, established in 2004 and based in Wilmington, North Carolina, specialises in managing a variety of airport concessions, including full-service restaurants, bars, retail and gift shops. 

In November 2021, Palladin Consumer Retail Partners joined forces with Tailwind and its management team to recapitalise the company and facilitate the acquisition of Air Host, a smaller competitor.  

Since then, Tailwind has more than doubled its operational footprint, now featuring 160 concessions in 60 airports across the continental US and Alaska. 

Oakwells founder and CEO Mike Reilly said: “We have long competed with Tailwind in the airport market, and it was great working with the Tailwind team to get this transaction done. We're confident that our employees and airport partners will mesh with Tailwind's strong customer-first culture to ensure the continued growth of the combined business.”