Autogrill… more than just a rest stop.
AutoGrill is much more than a roadside rest stop. It all started in 1947 when Mario Pavesi, the father of the Pavesini biscuits, created a small food stop, more of a kiosk, along the highway between Turin and Milan near the Novara toll station. Rumor states that after Mario Pavesi traveled to the US in the early 50’s, he wanted to turn his small food stop into a more modern restaurant that would focus on mimicking the American rest stop of snacks, drinks and fast meals but with the Italian design and sensibility for good food.
Pavesi had competition. Angelo Motto was the owner of food company who had a similar idea to open several food stops near service stations along the highway. Motto offered a very sophisticated cuisine. There was also Alemagna who had another food company in Italy who had the same idea to capitalize on travelers looking to grab a quick bite. The Motta-grill and the Alemagna bars started aggressively competing with the Autogrill restaurants.
The motorway began growing exponentially in the 1950s and 1960s. Pavesi hired Angelo Bianchetti to design an architectural masterpiece made of steel and often bridging over the highway. Travelers can see the Autogrills from a distance and bask in their innovation during each visit. Each restaurant has been inspired by local traditions combined with overseas trends. By the 70s there were over 200 rest areas through the motorway system. Then came the oil crisis and a state holding company stepped in. In 1977 the Istituto per la Ricostruzione Industriale (IRI) took over all three family brands and merged the businesses into one entity, Autogrill S.p.A. The timing was perfect as the 80’s proved good for Italians with over 3 million people traveling daily on the motorway system.
In the early 90’s Autogrill decided to expand to other countries mostly through acquisitions. In 1995 the Benetton family acquired a controlling interest and then took the company public in 1977. Expansion continued a rapid rate. Acquiring HMSHost, the leader of motorway and airport catering in the US, made Autogrill a market leader. Today Autogrill is the world’s leading provider of food and beverages services for travelers. The Group is present in 30 countries on 4 continents and operates in 139 airports. Autogrills offer free Wi-Fi at all locations with no password required.
The next time you are in Italy be sure to choose your rest stop wisely. Autogrill is sure to please by serving you a great espresso and brioche in the morning hours or a yummy panini in the afternoon. The Italians do not seem to be capable of serving a bad meal even next to a gas station along the autostrada.
By Tonya Clement










