UK/SPAIN. Leading travel food & beverage player Areas has swooped to acquire The Restaurant Group’s Concessions division, which manages an extensive airport portfolio in the UK.
The transaction represents a milestone in Areas’ international growth strategy and marks the company’s entry into the UK, the second-largest travel retail and hospitality market in Europe.
“The move strengthens Areas’ leadership across every market it serves, adding scale, a new Business Unit and a highly strategic geographic footprint,” said an Areas statement.
The TRGC estate includes concepts such as Wagamama and Giraffe, alongside in-house concepts including The Curator (London Heathrow), Sonoma (Gatwick) and Smithfield (London Luton).
As part of the acquisition, Areas will assume responsibility for 38 hospitality locations across ten UK airports, supported by a team of approximately 2,200 colleagues and generating annual revenues in excess of €240 million.
TRG Concessions will continue to manage the Wagamama franchise at UK airports, and seek to expand the brand to other European locations, a TRG statement said.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to complete by 26 July 2026, the TRG statement added.
Recent key openings by TRG Concessions include Forth & Main, a new Scottish-American diner concept developed exclusively for Edinburgh Airport; The Indian Brewery Company at Birmingham Airport; and American-style diner Sanfords at London Luton and Glasgow airports.
With the Giraffe brand, TRGC won a key regional award for Airport Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year at the 2026 Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Awards (organised by The Moodie Davitt Report) last week in Bengaluru. Click here for more.
The addition of TRGC establishes the UK as a dedicated Business Unit within Areas and positions it amongst the group’s five largest operations worldwide.
Areas’ statement continued: “By combining TRGC’s proven operational expertise and strong airport partnerships with Areas’ global scale and capabilities, the Group is well positioned to accelerate growth, enhance customer experiences and further expand its leadership position across the UK travel sector.”
“This acquisition represents a transformational step forward in Areas’ European growth strategy,” said Areas Global CEO Óscar Vela.
“By entering the UK through a leading platform with a strong presence in the country’s top airports and an outstanding portfolio of brands, we are further consolidating our leadership in travel hospitality. We are also delighted to welcome the TRGC teams to Areas, who share our commitment to operational excellence and delivering the best experience to travellers worldwide.”
As reported last month, Areas shared record financial results for 2025 and outlined plans to surpass €3 billion in revenue in the coming years.
A key development during the past year was the acquisition of Travel Hospitality Services (THS) from Delaware North, completed at the end of 2025.
That transaction made the USA Areas’ largest market, accounting for 28% of group revenue, and strengthened its position as the second-largest travel hospitality operator in the country.
Upon closing of the TRGC deal, Areas will operate around 2,200 points of sale with more than 26,000 employees across 12 countries.
TRG has been owned for the past three years by private equity group Apollo Global Management. 
