Dnata buys Italian in-flight caterer company

Dubai-based airport services company Dnata finalised its acquisition of Italian in-flight catering company Alpha Flight Group Ltd on Friday, according to the latest list of mergers and takeovers issued by the European Commission.

Alpha, which is being acquired from Milan-based Autogrill, is an international in-flight catering business with a turnover of around AED2.3bn ($626m) and employs over 5,800 staff in eleven countries. It produces over 120,000 meals per day at 58 airports globally and the deal will be Dnata’s largest acquisition to date.

"This acquisition reflects Dnata’s long term strategy to expand and develop our international network,” Gary Chapman, president of Dnata, said of the deal when it was first announced earlier this year.

"Alpha will complement our existing ground handling and catering operations in Dubai and internationally. The company has a very strong and dynamic management team and I am confident that together we can further develop the business, in line with the outstanding service and quality that Dnata is renowned for.”

Dnata currently employs around 12,000 people and manages around 200 retail outlets.

In its latest financial report, Dnata’s operating profit increased 19.7 percent to AED559m ($152m) during the 2009-2010 financial year.