- Areas, the multinational leader in food&beverage and travel retail, based in Barcelona, has won a new contract at Atlanta International airport, in the United States, the busiest airport in the world.
- The company will operate 7 new locations during the 10-year concession period, in addition to the 13 it currently manages.
- With eight major contracts won in the last few months, with a value of more than 2 billion euros, the company is continuing to build on its ambitious growth plan.
Barcelona, September 21, 2023
Areas, international leader in travel hospitality with global headquarters in Barcelona, has been awarded a new contract at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the busiest airport in the world with more than 100 million passengers per year.
The company will operate 7 new locations spread over more than 10,000 sqm. Areas entered the Atlanta airport in 2013, and currently manages 13 establishments. Areas’ new offering will focus on a local-flavored brand proposition, and will include concepts such as gourmet markets Duff’s Market and Citizens Culinary Market; local concept Johnny’s Chicken and Waffles with an offering that includes chicken and waffles, Georgia’s most popular brunch; the Old Fourth Distillery; ATL Community Market and On Your Way stores; and a Starbucks.
The contract is expected to generate revenues of more than $200 million over the 10-year concession period. The renewal of the gastronomic offerings will begin late 2024.
“With this contract at Atlanta International Airport, along with the latest ones at San Diego and Houston William P. Hobby airports, we reaffirm our strong focus on international business, which already represents 80% of our revenues.” says Oscar Vela, Areas’ CEO. “Our roadmap indicates that we will continue to consolidate our leadership in Europe and grow in the United States, as is demonstrated by the last major tenders won in this country since the beginning of this year” Vela adds.
8 major contracts won in the last few months
The contract to manage catering services at Atlanta International Airport, in the United States, is the latest of eight major tenders won by Areas in recent months, with contracts worth more than 2 billion euros.
In the United States, the company has won the tender to manage three motorway travel plazas on the West Virginia highway, one of the main roads in the United States; the food&beverage tender at the William P. Hobby airport in Houston, where it will operate 10 new establishments; and the tender to manage 5 new establishments at the San Diego airport. In Mexico, in the same year, Areas won a contract at Guadalajara airport over 7 years.
In Spain, Areas won the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport macro-tender in February for more than €1 billion, as well as the exclusive catering contract at the Ifema Madrid trade fair center. Likewise, in Europe, Areas won the catering tender for the Dresden train station in Germany. In addition to other tenders, Areas has acquired the business of the French freeway catering company Sighor in 2023.
Strong and growing presence in the United States
Areas has been present in the United States since 2006 and with this tender, now manages around 145 points of sale in 10 airports and 13 travel plazas.
The US market is a strategic country for the company’s future growth and international expansion. It currently represents almost 15% of the global turnover of Areas, being the third market after France and Iberia (Spain and Portugal).
Areas began its activity in the United States more than 15 years ago at the Miami airport. The company operates restaurants and retail stores in these airports: Los Angeles International, Minneapolis-St. Paul International, Miami International, Chicago O’Hare International, Houston Hobby International, Newark Liberty International, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International, Orlando International, Detroit Metro Airport, and Indianapolis International. Areas also operates travel plazas along the turnpikes in Florida, Maryland, and West Virginia.
About Areas
International leader in food&beverage and travel retail. With presence in 10 countries, the company manages more than 2,000 restaurants and stores in Europe and America.
With a team of 20,000 people and locations in the main transport hubs in the world (airports, train stations, travel plazas in motorways), as well as leisure parks, Areas provides service to more than 350 million customers every year.
Founded in 1968 in Barcelona, Areas is committed to offering high quality services to travelers. Since then, Areas has become a global benchmark operator in the industry, with a deep knowledge of the travelers’ needs and the widest range of restaurant concepts in the market.