Sonae

History

Sonae was founded in 1959, in Maia, Portugal in the engineered wood business and more specifically the production of high-pressure decorative laminates, by the businessman, banker and patron from Arouca, Afonso Pinto de Magalhães.

During its first two decades of existence, Sonae stayed as a small to medium-size business, focused on the wood derivatives market.

Afonso Pinto de Magalhães, also the founder of Banco Pinto Magalhães, left Fábio Lemos in control of Sonae during the tumultuous years after the Carnation Revolution. At some stage during that period, the company was even nationalized, and then, privatized again.

In 1982, Afonso Pinto de Magalhães gave 16% of Sonae to Belmiro de Azevedo and, after his death, Belmiro de Azevedo achieved the majority of capital, gaining control over the company. During the 1980s, the company began a period of rapid growth, which coincided with Portugal's entry in the European Economic Community (before it has changed into the European Union). It was also during the 80s that Sonae began its fast growth and, in 1985, Sonae Investimentos SGPS, S.A was created and entered the Lisbon Stock Exchange. Furthermore, Sonae began its strategy to diversify its business, through the acquisition and creation of new enterprises: the opening of the first hypermarket in Portugal (Continente), the inauguration of Porto Sheraton Hotel, the purchase of Star (a travel company) and the opening of the two first shopping centres (in Portimão and Albufeira).

Hand in hand with these new business ventures, that also included the expansion to the ICT, Entertainment, ant Tourism areas, came the territorial enlargement, creating a presence that is now global in many areas.

In 2007, Paulo Azevedo became Sonae's CEO, taking the group leadership and succeeding his father, Belmiro de Azevedo.

In March 2015, Belmiro de Azevedo resigned as chairman. Paulo de Azevedo was chosen to become chairman and CEO of the group, sharing the executive committee presidency with Ângelo Paupério, former vice president of Sonae. This same year, the company Sonae IM was started.

Organization

From 2009, Sonae (Sonae SGPS, S.A.) holds a portfolio of businesses grouped into different business areas, where its subholdings are included:

Core Businesses

Core Partnerships

Related Business

Active Investments

With autonomy since 2007, there is Sonae Capital, presided by Cláudia Azevedo, daughter of Belmiro de Azevedo, with three main business areas:

Innovation

In 2012, Sonae invested more than 70 million Euros in research in the retail sector, in a programme that involved around 3,200 employees. In 2014, Sonae compiled a book with more than 80 innovations developed during 2013, in areas like Health or Technology, many of them with national and international prizes.

Sustainability

In 2013, Sonae gave back to the community 10.6 million Euros of which 5 million were in foodstuffs donations, impacting more than 2,000 institutions. The main intervention areas are: Environmental Awareness, Culture, Education, Health and Sports, Science and Innovation (R&D) and Social Solidarity.

Recognition

Sonae has received awards and distinctions in a number of areas, having been recognised as one of the Most Ethical Companies in the world, as Human Capital Master and with the ICSC Solal Marketing Awards. According to the latest edition of the Global Powers of Retailing report, carried out by Deloitte and the American magazine Stores, Sonae is one of the 250 largest retailers in the world, positioning itself at 155 place, which is equivalent to an increase of 10 places from the previous ranking. In 2015, Sonae’s major retail brands were distinguished as "Trusted Brands", according to the international study carried out for the 15th consecutive year by the Reader's Digest Selections. It is the second most desired company to work by Portuguese university students, according to a survey conducted by Spark Agency and Economics and Management School at Minho University. The company was recognized by Kaizen Institute for its continuous improvement. Continente was honoured with the title “Kaizen Ambassador”, for its work carried out in store operations, and Worten was the winner in the “Excellence in Quality” category, for its sales force management project.

Sonae brands (Continente, Worten, Sport Zone, Wells and Zippy) were the most valued by consumers, in the fourth edition of Consumer Choice Awards.

Portugal

8.ª Avenida | AlbufeiraShopping | AlgarveShopping | Arrabidashopping | Cascaishopping | CC Continente de Portimão | Centro Colombo | Centro Vasco da Gama | CoimbraShopping | Gaiashopping | Estação Viana Shopping | GaiaShopping | Guimarães Shopping | LeiriaShopping | LoureShopping | Madeira Shopping | MaiaShopping | Norteshopping | Parque Atlântico | RioSul Shopping | Serra Shopping | Via Catarina

Brazil

Boavista Shopping | Boulevard Londrina Shopping | Franca Shopping | Manauara Shopping | Parque D. Pedro | Passeio das Águas Shopping | Shopping Campo Limpo | Shopping Metrópole | Shopping Plaza Sul | Uberlândia Shopping

Spain

Dos mares | GranCasa | La Farga | Luz del Tajo | Max Center | Plaza Mayor | Valle Real | Zubiarte

Italy

Freccia Rossa | Gli Orsi | Le Terrazze

Germany

Alexa | Hofgarten Solingen | Loop5 | Münster Arkaden

Greece

Pantheon Plaza

Romania

River Plaza Mall (Râmnicu Vâlcea), Park Lake Plaza (Titan - Bucharest),

In development: Adora Park Lake (Craiova), Shopping Plaza (Ploiești).

India

BDA Colony, Happy Ghara