A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to mark the official opening of the new space, attended by Massimiliano Santoro, CEO Italy F&B, Avolta, Marco Troncone, CEO, Aeroporti di Roma, Marilena Blasi, Chief Commercial Officer, Aeroporti di Roma, Tommaso Mazzanti, Founder All’Antico Vinaio, Stan Monheim, CEO, EXKI, Francesco Arnesano, Founder, Lievito. Designed in line with Avolta’s strategy to make the traveler’s journey happier, the new Food Court includes three new concepts that are collaborating with Avolta in Italy for the first time: All’Antico Vinaio, a viral Florentine sandwich shop that has conquered the entire world, EXKI, a health bar with an international vibe, and Lievito di Francesco Arnesano, specialists in traditional Roman pizza by the slice. 

“Over the last few years, we have focused great attention on the innovation and diversification of our brand portfolio”, commented Massimiliano Santoro, CEO Italy F&B, Avolta. “We are very happy with this new inauguration at one of the most important national airports in terms of connections and passenger numbers, that further consolidates our strategic development in Italian airports. The innovation and diversification of our portfolio is key to our global Destination 2027 strategy; putting the traveler at the center of everything we do, to offer guests an experience that is on-trend, while meeting their needs in the frenetic airport environment. I thank our partners for their excellent collaboration and the exciting propositions that they bring, entering the Italian airport channel for the first time and with whom we share values of innovation, research and gastronomic excellence”. 

“This initiative reaffirms the importance of catering in the passenger experience, a key touchpoint in an evolutionary strategy that increasingly places the customer “at the center”, commented Marilena Blasi, Chief BU Commercial of ADR. “In this context, the expansion of the brand portfolio, developed in a space with full visibility of runways and aircraft stands, creates an additional option, capable of satisfying the needs of passengers from a food point of view but not only”. 

"I am really excited to embark on this new adventure inside Fiumicino Airport with the Avolta group, a prestigious and strategic reality that represents an important crossroads of cultures and travelers", commented Tommaso Mazzanti, founder of All’Antico Vinaio. “This opening is a source of great pride for us: it is in fact our first presence in an Italian airport and the second at an international level, after the experience started in Dubai. This second opening also represents a further strengthening of our bond with the Avolta group, a strategic collaboration based on shared values and a common vision of growth and innovation. Bringing our schiacciate to such an iconic place is a significant step in our growth path and in the diffusion of the quality and flavors that represent us."

“On behalf of EXKI, I thank Avolta for making the opening of our new store at Fiumicino Airport possible. This partnership represents a milestone in our journey to offer healthy, tasty and sustainable food options to travelers around the world”, commented Stan Monheim, CEO of EXKI. “We are thrilled to be present in such a dynamic and innovative space and we can’t wait to welcome people to enjoy our fresh and genuine dishes. We thank our partner Avolta for their support and collaboration in bringing EXKI to this vibrant location”.

“The partnership with a large group, like Avolta, is a source of great pride for us and gives us the opportunity to bring the Lievito format to one of the most important airports in Europe”, commented Francesco Arnesano, founder of Lievito. “From today, we will have the opportunity to make our vision and our idea of pizza known to millions of people, who will pass through Fiumicino airport. It is an extremely exciting challenge and we will do our best to meet it”.