• Areas, the Spanish multinational leader in food&beverage and travel retail, based in Barcelona, has won the tender of the Houston Hobby airport, in the United States.
• It will operate 10 new restaurants at this airport, with estimated sales of about 470 million dollars over the next 10 years of the concession agreement.
• Areas will invest 19 million dollars to implement a completely renewed offer, based on well-established international brands, and local concepts designed exclusively for this airport.
• With this award, Areas is now present in 10 airports in the United States, a key market in the company’s strategic plan, where Areas manages more than 130 points of sale between airports and highways.
Barcelona, 9th March 2023,
Areas, leader in travel hospitality, with global headquarters in Barcelona, has won a new contract in the United States, specifically at the William P. Hobby airport in Houston, Texas, where it will operate 10 new catering establishments, with an expected turnover of about 470 million dollars in the next 10 years.
Throughout this concession, the company foresees an investment of $19M with the aim of completely revitalizing the gastronomic offer in the east and west areas in which the establishments are located.
William P. Hobby is Houston’s oldest commercial port. It serves nearly 15 million passengers annually between domestic and international flights, and offers direct or nonstop service to nearly 60 destinations throughout the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, making it one of Southwest Airlines’ largest and busiest hub airports.
Recognition of the transformative offer of Areas
The City of Houston, which manages the airport, has chosen the Areas offer for its proven ability to implement innovative concepts in the airport’s food&beverage offer, which integrates local concepts, together with international proposals of international prestige.
Some of the brands being introduced include Throughgood Coffee Bistro & Bar, Starbucks, Yard House, SpindleTap Brewery, Killen’s Barbecue, and The Spot.
Consolidation in the fastest growing airport market in the world
In recent years, Areas has exponentially extended its presence in infrastructures and communication hubs in the different countries in which it operates, among which its penetration in United States airports stands out.
According to Óscar Vela, global CEO of Areas “We continue to grow and diversify our business. Just after the victory at Madrid-Barajas airport in Spain, and the acquisition of our competitor Sighor on French motorways, this award at Houston airport now consolidates us as a referent player in the United States. With this concession, we are now present in 10 North American airports and 3 of the main highways in the country, and our goal is to continue winning more tenders in the largest road catering market in the world.”
Strong presence in the United States
Areas has been present in the United States since 2006 and currently manages more than 130 points of sale in 10 airports and 13 service areas.
The company points to the U.S. market as a strategic country for its future growth and international expansion. Around 80% of the company’s sales come from outside Spain, and the US market currently represents almost 15% of Areas’ global turnover, being the third market after France and Iberia (Spain and Portugal).
Areas began its activity in the United States 15 years ago at the Miami airport. It currently operates establishments at William P. Hobby, Los Angeles International, Minneapolis-St. Paul International, Miami International, Chicago O’Hare International, Newark Liberty International, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International, Orlando International, Detroit Metro Airport and Indianapolis International. The company also manages service areas along highways on the Florida Turnpike, Maryland and West Viriginia.
About Areas
International leader in food&beverage and travel retail, with global headquarters in Barcelona and 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 highways), 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.
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