Areas has selected one Spanish and two international projects to address global sustainability, gastronomy, and digitization challenges in the sector.

Areas is a premier enterprise that specializes in managing restaurants and retail stores located in airports, train stations, and service areas across 10 countries. As part of its global ESG strategy, “Areas for Change,” which centers around promoting the welfare of people, preserving the planet, and advancing mobility for the future, the company has partnered with Eatable Adventures, a major foodtech accelerator, to launch the “Areas for Change” project. After a thorough selection process, Areas has identified the top startups that will participate in this initiative.

The ‘Areas for Change Challenge‘ project, launched by Areas at the beginning of the year for the international entrepreneurial community, aims to find feasible solutions that respond to the company’s own challenges for the coming years as well as those of the Food & Agriculture, Beverage, and Travel Retail sectors, with a focus on three categories: sustainability, gastronomy, and digitization.

Eatable Adventures, a renowned foodtech accelerator, reviewed over 70 applications from startups in the United States, Europe, and Asia and selected 37 exceptional projects as finalists. After rigorous evaluation, only 9 of these top-notch startups made the cut, and ultimately, three winners were chosen, each representing a distinct category: sustainability, gastronomy, and digitization. 

• Flax&Kale, a Spanish healthy, innovative, and sustainable food company, originally from Lleida, which offers flexitarian gastronomic experiences, has been selected in the gastronomy category, as a partner to develop new foodtech (plant-based) products to meet the expectations of most demanding travelers.

• Alberts, a Belgian company that develops robotic solutions for fruit and vegetable shakes, smoothies, and creams. has been selected in the digitization category, for offering a healthy and sustainable proposal that involves optimization, digital transformation, and robotic food technology.

• And Cupffee, a foodtech company that creates edible and biodegradable coffee cups that do not alter the taste of the drink, has been selected in the sustainability category, for its circular proposal.

These companies will have the opportunity to work with Areas, access its international network, develop a pilot program in one of the points of sale, and participate in the company’s commercialization strategy.

The chosen startups were welcomed by Areas at a special event hosted at the company’s global headquarters in Barcelona. During this event, the entrepreneurs were given the opportunity to present their proposals in great detail, showcase their products, and engage in one-on-one meetings with both the project’s promoting team and Areas’ global management team. This face-to-face interaction enabled the startups to demonstrate their capabilities and build a rapport with the decision-makers at Areas, fostering a collaborative and mutually beneficial relationship.