The 10 largest supermarket chains in Brazil
According to the latest research made by the Brazilian Supermarket Association (Abras), the supermarket sector revenue was BRL 258.7 billion in 2014. About 65% of the total amount went to the ten largest supermarket chains in Brazil. This article will give an overview of the top players in this segment.
1 – Companhia Brasileira de Distribuição
Grupo Pão de Açúcar was founded in 1948 by Valentim dos Santos Diniz. The company is currently controlled by the French Grupo Casino, one of the world’s leader in the food retail business.
Grupo Pão de Açúcar is composed of:
- Hypermarket: Extra
- Supermarket: Extra and Pão de Açúcar
- Cash-and-Carry stores: Assaí Atacadista
- Household appliance stores: Casas Bahia, Ponto Frio
- E-commerce stores: Casas Bahia, Extra.com.br, Pontofrio.com, Partiu Viagens, Barateiro.com, eHub.com.br and Cdiscount
- Malls: Conviva
Brands by Grupo Pão de Açúcar
Qualitá, Casino, Taeq, Club des Sommeliers and Finlandek.
Key figures
- Gross Revenue in 2014: BRL 72.8 billion
- Stores: 2159
2 – Carrefour Comércio e Indústria Ltda.
The French group came to Brazil in 1975, bringing the concept of hypermarkets to the country. Carrefour had at some point more than 500 stores, but downsized their operations significantly over the past few years.
Carrefour in Brazil is composed of:
- Hypermarket: Carrefour
- Supermarkets: Carrefour Bairro
- Convenience stores: Carrefour Express
- Cash-and-Carry stores: Atacadão and Supeco
- Pharmacies: Carrefour Drogarias
- Gas stations: Carrefour Postos
- Benefit cards: Carrefour Empresarial with benefit cards for food and meals, fuel and bonus cards to be distributed among employees
- Photo printing services: Carrefour Serviços Digitais
- PC and TV technical support: Carrefour Connect
Brands by Carrefour
Carrefour, Carrefour Selection, Viver, Carrefour Kids, Carrefour Baby, Carrefour Discount and Tex.
Key figures
- Gross Revenue in 2014: BRL 37.9 billion
- Stores: 258
3 – Wal-Mart Brasil Ltda.
This US giant came to Brazil in 1995. The group operates in 18 Brazilian states in the Northeast, Southeast, South and Central-Western regions.
Wal-Mart operations in Brazil are composed of:
- Hypermarkets: Wal-Mart, BIG and Hiper Bom Preço
- Supermarkets: Bom Preço, Mercadorama, Nacional, Todo Dia and Sam’s Club
- Wholesale supermarkets: Maxxi Atacado
- Pharmacies: Farmácia Walmart
- Gas stations: Posto Walmart
- Photo printing services: Fotocenters
- Restaurants: Big Sabor
- Cafeterias
Brands by Wal-Mart
Sentir Bem, Bom Preço, Great Value, Equate, Ekonomico, Top Chef, Member's Mark, Bakers&Chefs, Confiare, Select Edition, Simply Basic, George, 725, Athletic Works, Supertech, Ozark and Pro Works.
Key figures
- Gross Revenue in 2014: BRL 29.6 billion
- Stores: 550
4 – Cencosud Brasil Comercial Ltda.
Cencosud is originally from Chile and expanded to Brazil through acquisition of several Brazilian supermarket chains. In Brazil since 2007, the company has been showing an aggressive growth strategy throughout South America.
Supermarket chains that belong to Cencosud:
- Bretas, supermarket chain from Minas Gerais
- G. Barbosa, supermarket chain from Pernambuco
- Mercantil Rodrigues, supermarket chain from Minas Gerais
- Prezunic, supermarket chain from Rio de Janeiro
- Perini, a delicatessen from Pernambuco
Key figures
- Gross Revenue in 2014: BRL 9.7 billion
- Stores: 360
5 - Companhia Zaffari Comércio e Indústria
Zaffari is a Brazilian group that was founded in 1935, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The business remains under the command of its founders, the Zaffari family.
Companhia Zaffari operations in Brazil are composed of:
- Supermarkets: Zaffari Supermercados and Bourbon Supermercados
- Malls: Bourbon Shopping
Key figures
- Gross Revenue in 2014: BRL 4.2 billion
- Stores: 37
6 – Irmãos Muffato e Cia Ltda.
This Brazilian chain was founded in the early 1970s by José Carlos Muffato. Based in the state of Paraná, this group is currently focused on the state of Paraná and countryside of São Paulo state.
The Grupo Muffato is composed of:
- Supermarket: Super Muffato
- Cash and Carry stores: Muffato Max Atacado and Muffato Max Auto Serviço
- Malls: Shopping Total Ponta Grossa
- Ecommerce stores: Shopfato and Suppermuffato.com
- Gas station: Super Muffato Autoposto
In addition to these operations, Muffato also owns a university, Uniffato; a TV station, TV Tarobá; and a radio station, Rádio Tarobá FM.
Brands exclusively sold by Muffato
Practic Casa, Sunsit, Splendore, Di Fatto, Vida Pet and Exeway.
Key Figures
- Gross Revenue in 2014: BRL 3.7 billion
- Stores: 50
7 – Condor Super Center Ltda.
This Brazilian company was founded in 1974, by the young entrepreneur Joanir Zonta who commands the business to date. Dominating the market in Paraná, the chain is present in 13 cities in the Southern state.
Condor Super Center operations are composed of:
- Hypermarket: Hipermercado Condor
- Supermarket: Condor Supermercados
Key Figures
- Gross Revenue in 2014: BRL 3.6 billion
- Stores: 40
8 – Supermercados BH Comércio de Alimentos Ltda.
This Brazilian chain was inaugurated in 1996 by its current owner and director Pedro Lourenço de Oliveira. BH Supermercados operates in several cities in the state of Minas Gerais, being the second largest supermarket chain in this state.
Key Figures
- Gross revenue in 2014: BRL 3.4 billion
- Stores: 127
9 – Sonda Supermercados Exportação e Importação S/A
Sonda is a family owned business originally from the South of Brazil. In 1970 the family moved to São Paulo and opened their first supermarket in the city ten years later. Sonda acquired the supermarket chain Cobal in 2008.
Currently Grupo Sonda is composed of:
- Supermarkets: Sonda and Cobal Supermercados
Key Figures
- Gross Revenue in 2014: BRL 2.9 billion
- Stores: 36
10 – SDB Comércio de Alimentos Ltda.
Known as Rede de Supermercados Comper, this chain was created in 1972 by Ignácio Pereira and Hiltrudes Pereira. The group operates in the states of São Paulo, Santa Catarina, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás and Distrito Federal.
SDB is composed of the following businesses:
- Supermarket: Supermercados Comper
- Cash-and-carry store: Fort Atacadista
- Wholesale: Atacado Bate Forte, Ponto Choc and BF Cosméticos
Key Figures
- Gross Revenue 2014: BRL 2.9 billion
- Stores: 36