Autogrill

Autogrill S.p.A

Type	Società per azioni
Traded as	BIT: AGL
Industry	Catering
Founded	1977
Headquarters	Rozzano, Italy
Key people	Gilberto Benetton (Chairman), Gianmario Tondato da Ruos (CEO)
Products	Foodservice at service areas, airport terminals, train stations, ports
Revenue	€6.139 billion (2010)
Operating income	€255.2 million (2010)
Profit	€103.4 million (2010)
Total assets	€3.943 billion (end 2010)
Total equity	€711.4 million (end 2010)
Number of employees	62,500 (2010)
Subsidiaries	Airport Terminal Restaurant, Carestel, HMSHost
Website	www.autogrill.com

Autogrill is an Italian-based, multinational catering company, which is controlled with a 50.1% stake by the Edizione Holding investment vehicle of the Benetton family. Autogrill runs operations in 40 different countries, primarily in Europe and North America, with over 250 licensed and proprietary brands. Over 90% of the company's business derives from outlets in airport terminals and motorway service areas.

Autogrill was founded in 1977 when SME, a division of Italian state-owned conglomerate Istituto per la Ricostruzione Industriale (IRI), purchased then merged Italian restaurant groups Motta, Pavesi and Alemagna. Pavesi had begun to operate a service area on the Milan-Novara motorway in 1947, replacing it with a bridge structure accessible by travellers in both directions fifteen years later. Having grown both domestically and through foreign acquisitions, Autogrill was privatised by the Italian Government in 1995 as IRI shed its food and beverage businesses. Edizione Holding, the financial holding company of the Benetton family, acquired a controlling stake through the process.

Edizione floated the company on the Milan Stock Exchange in 1997, sparking a series of acquisitions in overseas markets: by the end of 1998, Autogrill had secured full control of French operator Sogerba (previously owned by Granada Group);AC Restaurants and Hotels of Benelux as well as 14 branches of the Wienerwald chain in Austria and Germany.