Autogrill files suit against Compass

Compass Group is being sued by Italian motorway restaurant chain Autogrill for g150m (£100m) in damages over allegations of unfair competition. A press officer for the Italian catering firm confirmed that Autogrill had filed a suit against Compass for unlawfully obtaining and using reserved company information, partly by poaching its former executives.

Compass declined to comment on the case, which has yet to go to court. However, the British-based caterer had won over one of Autogrill's top executives. Paolo Prota, the former head of Autogrill, is now running Compass's Italian business.

Anti-monopoly regulations have forced Autogrill to put its motorway service areas out to tender, four of which have been taken over by Compass. Autogrill itself was also up for sale, but majority owner Edizone Holding called off the sale of its 57% stake on 30 April, the day before the suit was announced.