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MILAN – Rhea, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of coffee machines, illycaffè, a global leader in sustainable high-quality coffee, and Arbitrade, the market leader in Spain, have launched new hospitality areas at Barcelona Airport, offering travellers a coffee break experience defined by quality, variety and sustainability.
As a result of this collaboration, the free-standing rhFS2 and rhFS1 induction machines have been positioned at strategic points in Barcelona Airport, which welcomes more than 55 million passengers each year.
Designed to meet the needs of travelers on the move, these solutions stand out for their ability to combine the excellence of Italian coffee with a wide range of beverage options to suit international preferences.
In partnership with illy and Arbitrade, Rhea has drawn on its signature customization expertise to design hospitality areas that offer fast, intuitive service, perfect for the hectic pace of airport spaces, without compromising the quality of the coffee experience.
Thanks to the collaboration with illycaffè, synonymous with Italian coffee excellence, travelers can enjoy a selection of premium beverages prepared with high-quality blends, enhanced by Rhea’s advanced technology.
The choice of energy-efficient Rhea machines, equipped with patented induction technology, translates into significant energy savings and enhances the overall sustainability of the project. This concept is particularly important for the three players involved, who are all strongly committed to sustainability issues.
“Travel is made up of waiting, pauses, and encounters that we strive to turn into moments of well-being and pleasure: for us, a cup of coffee is a ritual that accompanies the traveler on his journey. With this project, we once again bring our vision of hospitality to places of mobility, creating spaces where design, technology and creative recipes come together to offer an experience of taste and comfort, making each stop a special moment before resuming the journey”, says Andrea Pozzolini, CEO of Rhea.
“We’re excited to bring the combined experience of Rhea, illy and Arbitrade to Barcelona Airport. This synergy allows us to offer travelers a superior level of service, with solutions that combine innovation, efficiency and environmental awareness, helping to raise the standard of café service within the airport”, adds César Ouro, CEO of Rheavendors Apliven.
“At illycaffè, we have always been committed to bringing our unique coffee experience to consumers wherever they are, even in busy and dynamic environments like airports. This project with Rhea and Arbitrade at Barcelona El Prat airport represents a significant step in expanding our presence in the travel retail and vending channel, while remaining true to our values of excellence and premium brand positioning”, says Francesco Bosso, Chief Commercial Officer of illycaffè.
Thea presence at Barcelona Airport, which follows the Linate Lounge initiative in Milan, reaffirms Rhea’s vocation to innovate the coffee break experience in places of international mobility. Rhea’s solutions offer a perfect combination of advanced technology, sustainability, and personalization, delivering value for both travelers and operators seeking to elevate their hospitality offering.
About Rhea
Rhea, founded by Aldo Doglioni Majer in 1960, is one of the largest producers of automatic machines for coffee breaks in the world. For over sixty years, Rhea has stood out for its wide international reach, high-level design, state-of-the-art technology, and ‘Made in Italy’ excellence. With headquarters and manufacturing based in the province of Varese and foreign branches in 10 countries, Rhea is proud of having spread coffee break culture to over 100 countries around the world.
From a global player in vending to a pioneer in the introduction of vending to the new retail, hospitality and out-of-home sectors, Rhea confirms its mission to interpret and often anticipate a constantly evolving market. Rhea’s new proposals revolutionize the very concept of hospitality, both in business and domestic contexts, with a value proposition that improves the coffee break moment.
About illycaffè
illycaffè is an Italian family-owned company, founded in Trieste in 1933 which has always set itself the mission of offering the best coffee to the world. It produces a unique 100% Arabica blend composed of 9 different ingredients. The company selects only 1% of the best Arabica beans. Every day more than 10 million cups of illy coffee are served in over 140 countries around the globe, in the cafés, restaurants and hotels, in single-brand cafés and shops, at home and in the office, in which the company is present through subsidiaries and distributors.
Since its foundation, illycaffè has oriented its strategies towards a sustainable business model, commitment that it strengthened in 2019 by adopting the status of Benefit Company and in 2021 becoming the first Italian coffee company to obtain the international B Corp certification. Everything that is “made in illy” is about beauty and art, the founding principles of the brand, starting from its logo, designed by artist James Rosenquist, up to illy Art Collection cups, decorated by over 130 international artists, or coffee machines designed by internationally renowned designers.
With the aim of spreading the culture of quality to growers, baristas and coffee lovers, the company has developed its Università del Caffè which today holds courses in 24 countries around the world. In 2024, the company had a turnover of €630 million. The illy single-brand network has 157 points of sale in 28 countries.
About Arbitrade
Arbitrade, formerly Alliance Vending, is the leading provider of vending machines, coffee corners, and smart shops in Spain. With over 15,000 machines installed and nearly 5,000 points of sale across all strategic sectors—including hospitals, universities, offices, government centers, travel stations, care facilities, large corporations, and SMEs—Arbitrade operates across nearly the entire Spanish territory through its own branches and a network of strategic alliances.
