British Airways is adding Longbottom & Co. tomato juice to all short-haul flights departing from London Gatwick Airport from November.
This decision doubles the airline’s stock of the premium tomato juice following strong sales on Heathrow and Manchester routes.
Passengers on more than 50 BA destinations from Gatwick will have access to fresh-pressed tomato juice.
Longbottom & Co.’s canary and pear tomatoes from southern Spain are pressed within two hours of their harvest and seasoned with spices and sea salt.
BA isn’t the only airline that is replacing reconstituted tomato paste because fresh ingredients sell more drinks.
Norwegian Airlines recorded a 38% increase in premium vodka sales after switching to Longbottom & Co. and a 45% uplift in tomato juice sales.
Lower cabin pressure, ambient noise and dry air reduce passengers’ ability to taste sweet and salty flavours while flying. But they experience increased sensitivity to umami.
Fresh tomatoes deliver umami intensity that reconstituted paste does not match.
The expansion reflects changing passenger expectations: 50% of consumers prioritise natural products and 35% read ingredient lists before ordering.
BA is one of 11 airlines stocking Longbottom & Co. tomato juice, including Singapore Airlines, Qantas and Cathay Pacific. On average, a can is opened every 30 seconds.
Ed Bathgate, Founder of Longbottom & Co., said: “When an airline doubles their order, that tells you everything about passenger response. BA recognised their customers wanted something better than the industry standard, and the sales data proved them right.
“This Gatwick expansion means thousands more travellers will experience what fresh tomatoes taste like at 35,000 feet,” he continued.
