ITALY. Travel foodservice leader Autogrill, part of Avolta, has raised €150,000 for PizzAut Onlus. The donation will support the purchase of an apartment as part of a programme that helps young people with autism build skills for independent living.
The GourmAut Sandwich initiative ran from 15 July to 15 October across all Autogrill outlets across Italy. Proceeds from sales of the sandwich – described by Autogrill as “a symbol of sharing and inclusion” – will fund the purchase of a fourth apartment for the CasaAutentica project, the first to be secured through Autogrill’s support.
Set within a traditional Lombard courtyard, the apartment will serve as a key part of the non-profit group’s independent living project, a few hundred metres from its restaurant in Cassina de’ Pecchi.
In partnership with PizzAut Founder Nico Acampora, the Palestre di Autonomia Abitativa project reinforces Autogrill’s commitment to promoting more inclusive hiring practices for people with autism across institutions and civil society.
It also follows the success of the 2024 GourmAut sandwich campaign, which generated €200,000 for PizzAut to fund a food truck for its PizzAutobus project.
Avolta CEO Italy Massimiliano Santoro said, “We are proud of what we have built over the years and of the work we are continuing to do in synergy with PizzAut, with whom we are not only committed to an increasingly inclusive society, but also share the values of acceptance and the promotion of diversity.
“In line with Avolta’s sustainability strategy, we act to promote inclusion at all levels and, through concrete projects and actions, the employment of the most vulnerable, always putting people at the centre.”
PizzAut Founder Nico Acampora added: “Autogrill is now a well-established partner of PizzAut. Over the years, the company has become a point of reference in our journey. The GourmAut sandwich project, which has delighted all travellers on Italian motorways since the summer, has translated into generous support.
“This is another concrete step towards realising our Palestre di Autonomia Abitativa and offering young people real opportunities for growth and independence. Autogrill’s collaboration confirms that only by joining forces can we build a more inclusive society.”
The initiative also strengthens Autogrill’s wider inclusion strategy and its ongoing collaboration with PizzAut, launched in 2023 with the hiring of Edoardo.
Edoardo secured his first permanent contract with Autogrill and worked on secondment at the PizzAut outlet in Monza.
His development within the company has equipped him with new skills and awareness, preparing him for his move to the Autogrill outlet in Mercato del Duomo in 2026.
Expanding its commitment to workplace inclusion, Autogrill will hire another young person with autism on a permanent contract to be seconded to PizzAut in Monza, following Edoardo and continuing the virtuous “work relay”.
Autogrill’s work with PizzAut earned the 2024 Highly Recommended – People & Planet Award: Diversity & Inclusion Champion at the Frontier Awards for advancing the inclusion of people with autism. 
