
It can be said that Grupo Entreposto was born on February 2,
1926, with the establishment of the Sociedade Agrícola do Sena
(Sena Agricultural Company), Lda in Mozambique, which became a
limited company in 1938 named Companhia Nacional Algodoeira
(National Cotton Company), S.A.R.L.
The territory of Manica and Sofala were then still being
administered by the Companhia de Moçambique, with its
semi-sovereign authority which, having been converted into a
commercial company, began in 1942 to contribute to the birth of the
first agricultural, industrial and commercial companies of what is
now Grupo Entreposto.
That is how the Grupo Entreposto was really born in 1943, as a
financial group, a growing cluster of companies with clear
objectives, following shared policies:
- In 1943 the Companhia Nacional Algodoeira was restructured,
incorporating the activities undertaken by the Companhia de
Moçambique;
- In 1946 Moçambique Industrial was set up, to manufacture soaps
and food oils;
- In 1947 the Entreposto Comercial de Moçambique was created to
represent Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot and Massey-Ferguson;
- In 1955, Companhia Industrial do Monapo was launched, also to
manufacture food oils and soaps;
- In 1964 the logging activities hitherto undertaken by the
Companhia de Moçambique and Entreposto Comercial de Moçambique were
grouped together under Moçambique Florestal;
- In 1969 the Companhia do Cajú do Monapo (Monapo Cashew Company)
was set up, to shell cashew nuts.
In 1967 the Group decided to expand its operations to Portugal,
creating the Entreposto Comercial - Veículos e Máquinas, dedicated
to importing, assembling, distributing and retailing Nissan
vehicles (then Datsun.)
The development of this company extended the Group's presence to
other businesses in Portugal, namely importing and distributing
agricultural and industrial machinery and induced investment in a
new assembly line and associated metalwork, adding to Entreposto
Industrial - Metalotécnica's asset base.
In 1973, the core of major shareholders would lead a movement that
converted the Companhia de Moçambique into a holding company
concentrating its shareholdings in Mozambican companies.
In 1974 and 1975, the Group's activities were diversified to Brazil
and Spain based on the same group of shareholders.
In Brazil, in the state of Maranhão, after an initial industrial
experience, Alpha -Máquinas e Veículos do Nordeste was created, a
company that started by engaging in distribution and repairing
Massey Ferguson agricultural machinery, and in time came to
constitute a hub around which new businesses were formed.
In Spain, a controlling share was acquired in two food distribution
companies operating in Madrid, Jumbo Comercial and Expresso
Comercial.
In 1979, Entreposto - Gestão e Participações (SGPS) was
constituted, at the time under the name Finantécnica - Gestão e
Participações, which marked the beginning of the process of
structuring the Group's entire business, via the gradual
concentration of shareholdings by the common core of shareholders.
Adopting the role of a holding company for several companies
operating in Portugal, it has since then acted to strategically
determine and coordinate the various businesses.
In 1984 the Group's activity in Portugal was refocused, leading it
to reduce its industrial area and restructure and downsize
Entreposto Comercial, giving rise to new companies specialized in
importing and distributing agricultural and industrial machines -
Entreposto Máquinas, in assembling and retail sales (the various
companies in the automotive retail sector were created at this
time). It was also in 1984 that imports and distribution of Subaru
brand cars began.
In 1987, in Mozambique, the Group participated jointly with the
Mozambican State in establishing Toyota de Moçambique (Toyota
Mozambique), with equal participating interests (50%).
In 1989, Entreposto - Gestão Imobiliária (Real Estate Management)
was formed, a company dedicated to better exploiting this business
sector, initially confined to managing the Group's real estate
assets.
In 1992, Grupo Entreposto expanded its activities to Portugal in
the food distribution sector, acquiring a 41% share in Supa (Pão de
Açucar), later increased to a majority share.
In 1996, a new strategic reorientation process began for
traditional business areas, reflected in the sale of all shares in
Pão de Açucar and in two companies that operated in close liaison
with vehicle and machinery distribution businesses, Cargeste and
Carloga. During this time, in 1996, the Group started importing and
distributing Hyundai brand vehicles to Portugal, for which
Entreposto VH was built.
Since 2000, Mozambique has been the scene of a profound
restructuring of the local businesses, with the sale or cessation
of most activities related to the industrial sector, and a greater
emphasis placed on developing import and retail sales, private
security (Alfa Segurança) and hunting tourism businesses.
Still in Mozambique, and in 2003, the Group acquired all the shares
in the capital of Toyota Mozambique, a company asserting itself as
a market leader.
In 2005, in Portugal, with Nissan vehicle imports moving to the
Renault-Nissan alliance, the group began the systematic process of
expanding its automotive retail business, with increased marketing
of several brands in an integrated and multi-brand business
perspective.
Grupo Entreposto now has a presence on three continents, in
Portugal, Brazil and Mozambique, in sectors ranging from trade to
industry, services and real estate.