- Source: GPA (company)
Companhia Brasileira de Distribuição, or GPA (from its former name Grupo Pão de Açúcar), is the biggest Brazilian company engaged in business retailing of food, general merchandise, electronic goods, home appliances and other products from its supermarkets, hypermarkets and home appliance stores. Its headquarters are in São Paulo city, and it is owned by Free Float.
The company is the second biggest retail company in Latin America by revenue and the second largest online retailer in Brazil. The company operates its e-commerce through Cnova, a subsidiary of Via Varejo.
History
In 1948, the immigrant Portuguese Valentim dos Santos Diniz opened a confectionery in São Paulo, which he named Pão de Açucar ("Sugarloaf Mountain") in memory of the first landscape he saw of Brazil when he arrived by boat (the Sugarloaf Mountain is a rocky peak that dominates Rio de Janeiro).
For 2013, the company planned to open more than 150 stores, targeting northeast and mid-west regions.
In September 2013, Abílio Diniz, the son of the company's founder, stepped down as chairman of the company.
In 2024, Casino reduces its stake to 22.5%.
Business units
GPA operates through different store concepts (and different banner logos):
809 retail stores; 68 drugstores* and 74 gas station.
Pão de Açúcar (181 stores)
Minuto Pão de Açúcar (98 stores)
Pão de Açúcar Fresh (1)
Pão de Açúcar Adega
Posto Pão de Açúcar**
Extra (72 stores; being converted into Assaí wholesaling stores)
Mercado Extra (146 stores)
Mini Extra (141 stores)
Drogaria Extra*
Posto Extra**
Compre Bem (28 stores)
Posto Compre Bem**
Assaí Atacadista
Posto Assaí
Ownership structure
Currently, GPA is owned by:
Free Float: 71,8%
Grupo Casino: 22,5%
Diretores e Conselheiros: 5,6%
See also
Brazilian Development Bank
References
External links
Official website (in Portuguese)
GPA on LinkedIn