Rome, 7 September 2023 – The “ALT Stazione del Gusto” project, a partnership between Enilive, an Eni Sustainable Mobility brand, and Accademia Niko Romito, was unveiled today. The first restaurant resulting from the partnership will open on 20 September in Rome inside the historic Eni service station in Viale America, EUR district. The goal is to open another 100 restaurants over four years, starting from the largest Italian cities.
Stefano Ballista, CEO of Eni Sustainable Mobility, said: “This is the first taste of Enilive, the new brand that was launched a week ago, and shows how we are transforming our company – focused on bio-refining, biomethane production, smart mobility solutions, and the marketing of services and of all mobility energy carriers - also through the over 5,000 Enilive Stations across Europe. Enilive and Accademia Niko Romito share the values of constant research, innovation, and focus on the customer. The "ALT Stazione del Gusto" project represents an evolution of the services available to people on the move and solidifies our commitment to meet the needs of those who visit our points of sale - more than just refuelling. After consolidating the main Italian bar chain, Eni Café, the opening of the new restaurant is taking place at a station of historical and symbolic value – that of Viale America – where we have been operating since the 1960s and which now provides a taste of what’s to come for many other Enilive Stations and beyond.”
Niko Romito said: “I envisioned a street catering model for ALT because streets belong to everyone. I wanted to offer popular cuisine, with dishes that are easy to understand, that have an almost home-like feel and a creative, quality approach. I have created what I myself would like to find when I travel for work: a menu, from breakfast to dinner, that caters for the traveller, the motorcyclist, the family passing through, those who stop for a business lunch in an informal atmosphere or those who want to take away a snack, good bread or fried chicken. ALT Stazione del Gusto has always been a more democratic and cross-cutting interpretation of my research. Today, the first opening in collaboration with Enilive is the accomplishment of an idea that will give ALT Stazione del Gusto many “homes”. ALT is a project I strongly believe in, which will provide new business opportunities for young entrepreneurs and cooks at the beginning of their careers. Creating new jobs, providing thorough, in-depth training, sharing values and vision, are for me and for Accademia Niko Romito important cultural and growth opportunities.”
ALT Stazione del Gusto is based on a unique catering model. Established in 2018 by 3-star Michelin chef Niko Romito, it applies the creativity and technical prowess of an Italian chef who is a symbol of culinary research and sensitivity to the popular Italian street food restaurant format. In an informal and cosy atmosphere, the menu of ALT Stazione del Gusto proposes treats from breakfast to dinner to be enjoyed either seated at the table or take-away, for a tasty quality stop at the Enilive service stations.
For Enilive, the collaboration with Accademia Niko Romito is part of a process of renewing and expanding the range of services it offers through its network of over 5,000 points of sale across Europe, of which more than 4,000 are in Italy. Eni stations have now become ‘mobility points’ that can meet an ever-growing number of needs for people on the move by providing services that transform a stopover for traditional or electric refuelling from necessary to useful. The Viale America point of sale features an area dedicated to recharging electric vehicles through three Plenitude charging points, where e-charging can be started and paid inside the ALT Stazione del Gusto restaurant. The space that was previously occupied by a shelter and fuel dispensers has been converted into a large and convenient parking area for the customers of the new restaurant, with stalls dedicated to Enjoy car sharing vehicles.
The partnership between Accademia Niko Romito and Enilive includes a plan to develop a franchise network. In addition to the points of sale that Niko Romito will directly manage, ALT Stazione del Gusto will develop a franchising plan offering strategic and innovative management and training models. The development project is aimed at a segment of young entrepreneurs who are interested in becoming managers of a popular “on the road” quality cuisine format. Enilive will find suitable locations in strategic areas for the opening of new restaurants. The franchising plan includes training at Accademia Niko Romito, a School of Advanced Training and Professional Specialisation dedicated to the catering and cuisine sector. The course will provide all franchisees with thorough training in cooking (techniques, ingredients, procedures), service, marketing, and communications.
