HMSHost reports encouraging US results

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According to preliminary estimates on performance for the year to 31 December 2001, Autogrill Group reported that its HMSHost subsidiary experienced just a 2% decline in airport retail and food-beverage sales last year. During December, the company reported the same sales revenue figure as in 2000, despite a 10% to 15% slowdown in traffic.

Autogrill Group's consolidated sales revenues for 2001 were Eur3,258m ($2,809m), up 7.1% from 2000. Revenues from the US motorway restaurant operations of HMSHost improved by 6% in 2001. In US airports, the revenue slowdown was significantly smaller than the 8% decline reported in traffic, at not more than 2%.
 
Autogrill ceo Livio Buttignol commented: "These preliminary figures confirm the strength of the Group, which has mobilised successfully to respond to the unforeseeable and severe difficulties in the US as a result of the tragic events of 11 September."

• Autogrill, one of the world's largest travel-retail and food service companies,  is controlled by Edizione Holding, the Benetton family's financial holding, which owns 57.09% of equity. Autogrill operates in 16 countries in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. The Group operates through five main channels: restaurants in motorway service stops and in airports, rail stations and shopping malls and quick-service city restaurants.