Autogrill

What Autogrill does

Autogrill is an Italian-headquartered food and beverage services provider specializing in travel venues. Founded in 1947 (with one source citing 1950) and headquartered in Novara, Italy, the company operates approximately 3,300 points of sale across 774 locations in 30 countries on four continents, including 139 airports as well as motorways, railway stations, cities, and shopping centers. It serves travelers directly through owned and operated retail formats and serves venue operators through managed services and concession management. The portfolio includes proprietary brands such as Alemagna (cafés and pastry shops), the international subsidiary HMSHost for North American F&B operations, and additional travel retail and food service brands including Carestel, Alpha Group, and Aldeasa.

The core business operates a direct-to-consumer and managed-services model: revenue is generated through point-of-sale transactions at travel venues (food, beverage, convenience retail, and duty-free) and through concession management fees paid by airport and venue operators. The company has invested in operational technology through managed IT partnerships (notably with Diebold Nixdorf for self-service checkout and multivendor IT support in Italy), an internal intranet platform called Aconnect serving more than 18,000 European employees, and an Academy e-learning platform developed with 2.0 & Partners for frontline training. Sustainability initiatives, including LEED-certified Green Store Guidelines (first implemented at Alemagna Milano Linate in 2022), the WASCOFFEE® recycled-material product line, and food waste reduction programs with Too Good To Go and Banco Alimentare, are positioned as both operational and brand-level differentiators.

Following the November 2023 merger, Autogrill S.p.A. was incorporated into World Duty Free S.p.A. and now operates as part of Avolta AG, the Swiss-listed parent formed through the $7bn combination of Dufry and Autogrill. Avolta is described as the world's largest airport duty-free and convenience store operator, reporting SFr10.6bn of turnover for the first nine months of 2025, SFr503mn of equity free cash flow, and 5.4% organic sales growth over that period. Autogrill's Italian business continues to operate under Autogrill Italia S.p.A. while being subject to the direction and coordination of Dufry AG.

Name

Autogrill

Legal name

Autogrill S.p.A.

Website

https://autogrill.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Autogrill is an Italian F&B services provider for travelers, operating approximately 3,300 points of sale across 139 airports and 774 locations in 30 countries. Now part of Avolta (Dufry AG), it serves travelers directly through travel retail formats and venue operators through managed concessions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel Hospitality and Food Services

NAICS

Grocery and Convenience Retailers (4451), Gasoline Stations and Fuel Dealers (457), Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores (457110)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Auto Dealers & Gasoline Stations (5500)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Concept / Global QSR Chains (Mixed Menus) (THAFAAAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Foodservice-Led Convenience Stores (QSR/Hot Food Focus) (CRAHABAH), Convenience Store QSR / Foodservice (Prepared Foods) (THAFAAAM)

Keywords

• Airport food services
• Travel hospitality catering
• Motorway restaurant operations
• Duty-free retail operations
• Concession management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Rozzano

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct Food & Beverage Sales: Revenue generated from direct operation of food and beverage points of sale across airports, motorways, railway stations, cities, and shopping centers. The company manages approximately 3,300 points of sale globally.
2. Airport Concession Management: Management fees and concession revenues from operating food and beverage services at airports, including duty-free and convenience store operations under the Avolta parent company.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Autogrill operates food and beverage and travel retail points of sale — including restaurants, cafés, quick-service outlets, convenience stores and duty-free shops — across airports, motorways, railway stations, cities and shopping centers. The company directly manages approximately 3,300 points of sale in 774 locations across 30 countries on 4 continents (including 139 airports) and also provides managed food-service operations and concession management to airport authorities and venue operators.

Product overview

Autogrill is the world's leading provider of food & beverage services for travelers, operating approximately 3,300 points of sale across 774 locations in 30 countries on 4 continents, primarily in airports (139), motorways, railway stations, cities, and shopping centers. The company operates under the Avolta group following the 2023 merger with Dufry, and encompasses subsidiaries including HMSHost internationally. The product portfolio includes proprietary brands (Alemagna café/pastry shops), licensed brands (Starbucks, and chef partnerships like Spazio Niko Romito), sustainable store concepts following Green Store Guidelines (with LEED Silver certification for flagship locations), internal platforms like the Aconnect intranet portal for 18,000+ European employees, and sustainability initiatives including WASCOFFEE® recycled coffee grounds furniture and comprehensive food waste reduction programs through partnerships with Too Good To Go and food banks. The company has approximately 46,000 employees and continues expanding through strategic partnerships and sustainable innovation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HMSHost: Food and beverage services for travelers in North America and internationally

Products and services

• Food & Beverage Travel Retail Worldwide operation of directly managed food and beverage points of sale (quick-service restaurants, casual dining, specialty food concepts and convenience retail) at airports, motorways, railway stations, cities and shopping centers for travelers on the move.
• HMSHost Food and beverage operations for travelers in airports, railway stations and other travel venues internationally, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary brand of Autogrill.
• Alemagna Autogrill's Italian café and pastry concept operating at airports, known for traditional Italian pastries and coffee; flagship location at Milano Linate obtained LEED Silver certification.
• Managed Food Service and Concession Operations End-to-end managed food-service and concession operations — including multivendor IT ecosystem management, helpdesk support, equipment maintenance and self-service checkout solutions — delivered to airport authorities, motorway operators and other venue operators in Italy.
• WASCOFFEE® Eco-design Furnishings Sustainable furnishing material made from recycled coffee grounds, used in the design and build-out of Autogrill points of sale as part of the company's open-innovation and circular-economy projects.
• Green Store Design Service Design and construction guidelines for green stores — including energy-efficient LED lighting, Energy Star-certified equipment, water-flow restrictors and waste-management optimisation — used to build and renovate F&B points of sale and pursue LEED-style certification.
• Duty-Free Travel Retail Duty-free and convenience store retail operations at airports, operated through wholly-owned subsidiary World Duty Free S.p.A. following the 2023 Dufry–Autogrill merger that created Avolta.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5.4% organic sales growth in first nine months of 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 2.0 & PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2026Partnership between Avolta Italy and 2.0 & Partners to enhance frontline training through dedicated e-learning platform called Academy. Autogrill staff at Italy hub gain access to onboarding training programme designed specifically for travel retail environment with practical strategies and interactive exercises. Supports 2.0 & Partners' expansion of Customer Experience Management (CXM) and training offer while reinforcing Avolta's focus on investing in people.
• Diebold NixdorfcoreTechnology or Integration · 16 December 2025Expanded partnership in Italy where Diebold Nixdorf acts as single point of contact for Autogrill's entire multivendor IT ecosystem. Provides managed services and retail technology solutions aimed at delivering frictionless restaurant experiences for travelers. Services include IT equipment maintenance, helpdesk support, implementation for new outlets and remodeling, with focus on flexible self-service checkout solutions.
• Too Good To GominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood waste reduction partnership in Europe enabling sale of unsold products at end of day at cut prices through mobile application. Active in France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany.
• Banco AlimentareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian food recovery partnership for donating surplus food from central stocks to people in need. In 2022, over 129,000 products weighing around 130 tonnes were recovered and distributed through this partnership.
• AuticonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIT consulting firm partnership in Italy where all employees are autistic. Auticon consultants work with Autogrill's IT team on applications testing and data platform development, complementing neurotypical team members with specific skills.
• KipsterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch zero-impact organic farming partnership for cage-free eggs with highest animal welfare standards. Enabled Autogrill to obtain Better Life Label Three Stars and Planet Proof certification.
• Fondazione AdeccominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 'Riparto da me' initiative enabling employment of ten detainees from Bollate Prison in Milan on daily work permit basis.
• CoordownminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with organization safeguarding rights of people affected by Down syndrome for employing differently-abled people in Autogrill points of sale in Italy.
• CometaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian organization specializing in supporting and training young people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. Employs Ukrainian refugees at Milan Stazione Centrale and collaborated on sustainable design projects for Autogrill locations.
• Tata STRIVEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndian organization bridging gap between professional training and industry needs. Supports Autogrill's training and recruitment program for young people in India.
• Valore DminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian association for diversity in the workplace. Autogrill joined in 2012 and partners for unconscious bias training and diversity programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Delaware North: Privately-held US hospitality and F&B company operating in airports, sports venues, and travel hubs. Comparable to Autogrill in concession-based F&B operations at high-traffic venues.
• Areas: Spanish-headquartered travel hospitality F&B operator (part of Elior Group) operating in airports, motorways, and train stations across Europe and the Americas. Closely comparable multi-concept travel venue operator.
• SSP Group: UK-listed operator of food and beverage outlets in airports and train stations worldwide. Closest direct competitor to Autogrill with a similar concession-based F&B model at travel venues.
• Centerplate: US-based hospitality and food service provider to sports and entertainment venues, now part of Sodexo Live!. Comparable to Autogrill in operating concession F&B at high-traffic venues.
• Lagardère Travel Retail: Division of Lagardère Group operating duty-free, convenience, and F&B concepts in airports and transit hubs globally. Directly comparable to Autogrill's combined F&B + duty-free travel retail model within Avolta.

Broad incumbents

• Elior Group: French contract foodservice group operating in multiple segments including travel (Areas subsidiary). Broader foodservice incumbent with direct travel F&B overlap through Areas.
• Sodexo: Global food services and facilities management giant with travel/leisure and concession segments. Broader incumbent operating in adjacent foodservice markets with overlapping travel hospitality exposure.
• Compass Group: UK-listed global contract foodservice provider with exposure to travel venues and concessions. Comparable in foodservice delivery model though with broader industry exposure.

Others

• Dufry: Swiss-based global duty-free operator that merged with Autogrill in 2023 to form Avolta. Indirectly comparable through the merged Avolta entity; relevant for understanding the duty-free side of the combined business.
• HMSHost: US-based travel hospitality F&B operator that became a wholly-owned Autogrill subsidiary. Comparable concept and model, now part of the same corporate structure following the Avolta merger.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Autogrillcareers
• Xx.com/autogrill_it
• Facebookfacebook.com/autogrillofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/autogrill

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Autogrill