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Published by Ken Pottinger, Consulting on
Portugal since 1977.
Contact: editor@datafileportugal.com
All rights in any form
reserved © 1991 and subsequent, Ken Pottinger. |
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Weekly news: 4th week of July,
2008 |
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| Distribution is
flexible, jobs are growing |
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A report by Roland Berger consultants says retail
sector employment has risen at an average annual
rate of some 0.7% between 1996 and 2004. Based on
NIS-National Institute of Statistics figures, the
sector employed 371,000 people in 1996 rising to
392,000, 8 years later. The period covered by the
report includes two important amendments to the law.
At the time critics had warned changes introduced
would have significant impacts on retail sector jobs.
In 1996 the law was amended to end super and hypermarket
trading on Sunday afternoons and public holidays.
Subsequently new regulations governing licenses for
hypermarket outlets were introduced. The report says
there was a sharp fall in employment in the sector
immediately after the 1996 law came into force and
by 1999 the number of jobs was down 45,000 against
1996. But from 2000 the sector recovered and is now
a net consumer of labour. The recovery is mainly
because major distribution groups have switched the
focus and are opening outlets under 2000 m2 area
which allow them to trade Sunday afternoons and public
holidays. In terms of corner shops and small independent
retailers the report says small food, drink and cigarette
retailers have been losing market share but employment
has risen by almost 5% among retailers who have specialized
and upgraded operations offering quality niche services.
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| 330,000 second
homes for Alentejo |
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Market research
commissioned in Germany and the UK shows that
the Alentejo region (south and east of Lisbon)
could attract 330,000 second home tourists in
developments focused on golf and tradition while
encouraging a new tourism paradigm. Investments
in tourism projects in the Alentejo will grow,
currently 11 are classified as having potential
national interest (Potencial Interesse Nacional
(PIN) and approved by the Portuguese business agency
AICEP. Some 26 major developments are in planning
or provisional stages targeted on residential tourism
markets in northern Europe. The 26 projects are
worth €6.238 billion and will see 65-75,000
new beds and 25-55,000 new jobs in the area. Investors
include Sonae Turismo and Espírito Santo
groups and the Swiss developer Volkart. Amorim
group, in a joint venture with Aman Resorts, is
planning an €800 million development at Portel
while 6 projects around Evora worth some €800
million are designed around the anchor activity
of golf. Irene Paredes of AICEP says 48% of current
projects classified as of national interest, some €7.5
billion, are planned for the Alentejo and will
create 16,000 jobs. The 350,000 secondary residences
being developed would be worth some 2.8% of Portuguese
GDP. Developers say the Alentejo a vast, open and
under populated space is well able to absorb the
planned level of investment.
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| Distribution
shake-up in prime drinks market |
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Caves Aliança, majority owned by Bacalhôa
Vinhos (Joe Berardo, Madeira) has acquired a stake
in Viborel Distribuição following
a decision to sell its stake in PrimeDrinks, the
leading wine and spirits distributor in Portugal.
Herdade do Esporão, (José Roquette)
has strengthened its PrimeDrinks stake to 50% while
William Grant has reduced its stake to 35%. Aveleda
(Guedes family) has taken a 15% stake in PrimeDrinks
which distributes its Aveleda brand of wine. Berardo’s
entry into Viborel strengthens its position as
a distributor in various market sectors both premium
brands like Aliança Velha (matured brandy)
Aliança Bruto, red sparkling wine, as well
as table wines from the main regions of the country.
According to Aliança the operation aims
to restructure and consolidate Aliança,
Bacalhôa and Fundação Eugénio
de Almeida portfolios to improve market penetration
both domestically and abroad. Viborel expects turnover
of €45 million by end 2008.
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| Business Briefs: |
CTT-Correios
de Portugal, the state-run post office, aims to
become Portugal’s fourth mobile telephone
operator within three years. This follows launch
of its Phone-ix service whose mission is to undercut
low-cost operators in Portugal. CTT said its Mobile
Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) will launch with
14,000 customers – the size of its total
workforce The prefix for the new service is 922
and it will use the TMN network. |
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Luís
Patrão chairman of Turismo de Portugal,
the National Tourism Agency says within ten years
Portugal will be a world leader in tourism. He
said most of Portugal's hotel stock was rated on
average at some 3.3 stars. The industry’s
short term target was to raise hotel quality to
an average 4.5 stars. As a result of PENT the strategic
national tourism plan, the targeted 9% increase
in revenue for 2007 had been exceeded. |
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Executive summary of Portuguese business news by e-mail,
comprehensive website database of Portuguese business,
economic and political news, on subscription. Research
and company profiles on request.
Enquiries: editor@datafileportugal.com.
Tel: +44+(0)2071936211 |
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