- Areas, the Spanish multinational leader in food&beverage and travel retail, based in Barcelona, has won a contract at San Diego International’s new Terminal 1, in the United States.
- The company will operate 5 new restaurants, with estimated sales of about 550 million dollars over the 15-year concession period.
- Areas will invest 18 million dollars into the project to transform the airport’s food&beverage offering, with a completely renewed offer, slated to open in various stages starting in late 2025.
- With this contract, Areas strengthens its position in the US, present since 2006, where Areas manages 140 points of sale in 11 airports and 13 travel plazas.
Areas, leader in travel hospitality, with global headquarters in Barcelona, has been awarded a new contract at the San Diego airport in the United States, one of the main airports in the country by number of travelers.
The company will operate 5 new restaurants. The Areas offer is focused on a proposal of brands with local flavors and very focused on satisfying the tastes of the more than 20 million travelers who pass through the airport every year. It will include the new Novecientos Grados concept, featuring a partnership between skateboarding legend Tony Hawk and award-winning Chef Claudette Zepeda; the healthy concept with a Mediterranean character Luna Grill; the beer and wine-tasting establishment SIP Wine & Beer; Carnitas’ Snack Shack space, which is inspired by the famous meat restaurant in the city center, and the pizzeria Mr. Moto’s Pizza.
The contract is expected to generate estimated revenues of $550 million over the 15-year term. The renewal of the gastronomic offer will begin next January, and the company will invest $18 million into the project. The new restaurants, slated to open in various stages starting in 2025.
7 big contracts in the last 6 months
The contract to manage the restaurants at the San Diego airport, in the United States, is the last of the big 7 awarded to Areas in the last 6 months, with contracts whose value exceeds 2,500 million euros.
“This contract awarded in San Diego airport proves the success of our commitment to international business, which already represents 80% of our revenues, and reaffirms the expansive cycle that Areas is experiencing thanks to the diversification strategy that we have carried out in recent years”, says Oscar Vela, worldwide CEO of Areas. “The United States is the key market for the company’s growth in the coming years and, the fact that 3 of the last 7 big contracts have been awarded in this country proves it”, added Vela.
In the US, the company recently won the tender to manage three travel plazas on the West Virginia highway, one of the main roads in the United States, with an expected volume of 272 million dollars, and the tender at the William P. Hobby airport in Houston, where it will operate 10 new food&beverage establishments, with an expected turnover of around 470 million dollars. In Mexico, Areas has won a contract at the Guadalajara airport worth 150 million dollars over 7 years.
In Spain, Areas been awarded the macro-contest for the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport in February of this year for a value of more than 1,000 million euros, in addition to achieving exclusivity for food&beverage at the Ifema fairgrounds, with a turnover of 121 million euros in 10 years. Also, in Europe, Areas has been awarded the contract for the food&beverage of the German Dresden station, with expected sales of 60 million euros over the 10-year concession period. Moreover, Areas has acquired in 2023 the business of the French highway restoration company Sighor, which will report an annual turnover of 65 million euros.
Solid and growing presence in the United States
Areas has been present in the United States since 2006, operating 140 restaurants and retail stores in 11 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 throughout 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.
In France, one of the core countries for Areas, the company consolidates its leading position in the food&beverage and travel retail market; with a large presence in four markets throughout the country: motorways, train stations, airports and leisure centers. Beyond Motorways, Areas also operates in nearly 39 railway stations, including the main stations in Paris (Gare du Nord, Gare de Lyon, Gare Montparnasse and Gare de l’Est), with a range of concepts adapted to the size, location and customer profile of each station.
Areas is also one of the main operators in the French airport markets with presence in landmark airports such as Charles de Gaulle, Orly, Toulouse or Lyon, where it has developed strong partnerships with successful brands and renowned chefs. Areas also manages the catering and food stores at all Center Parcs in France.
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