Guararapes Group is the largest fashion company in Brazil. In addition, it is the largest business group in the textile and clothing manufacturing sector in Latin America.
Currently, Guararapes Group owns Lojas Riachuelo, Shopping Midway Mall, Casa Verde, Midway Financeira, and Teatro Riachuelo.
The Group also owns the brands Pool Original and Wolens. Additionally, Guararapes Group has three manufacturing units in Fortaleza and five factories in Natal.
Lojas Riachuelo: Riachuelo is considered the third largest department store chain in Brazil, behind only C&A and Lojas Renner.
Midway Financeira: It was created in 2008 to carry out financing operations for consumers of Lojas Riachuelo products.
The company was born with considerable numbers, as it is responsible for managing a portfolio of 33.7 million Riachuelo cardholders. Today, it is the largest issuer of private label cards in Brazil.
Through the cards, the group offers sales operations with interest, easy withdrawal, personal loans, unemployment insurance, home insurance, personal accident insurance, card protection, and three types of assistance: residential, vehicle, and dental.
Transportadora Casa Verde: It is the company responsible for all logistics of Guararapes Group. It is worth noting that significant investments have been made in this company in recent years, especially in technology.
Midway Shopping Center: Opened in 2005, the shopping center is considered the largest shopping center in the state of Rio Grande do Norte and one of the largest in the Northeast.
Midway Shopping Center has 231,000 m² of constructed area divided into three floors dedicated to various stores and services. It was within this shopping center that Teatro Riachuelo was inaugurated in 2010, with a capacity for 3,500 people.
The history of Guararapes Group began in 1947 when brothers Nevaldo and Newton Rocha opened a clothing store called A Capital, in Natal (RN). In 1951, a manufacturing facility was established in Recife.
The company also purchased various points of sale just as the clothing market in the Northeast was beginning to develop.
In 1956, Guararapes was founded by the Rocha brothers in Recife (PE). However, two years later they decided to move the headquarters to Natal (RN). Subsequently, in 1970, the company went public. In 1976, the factories in Fortaleza (CE) were built, and the Super G store chain was created.
The Riachuelo and Wolens store chains were purchased by Guararapes Group in 1979. With the acquisition, the Group was able to expand its operations into retail. Three years later, in 1982, the Pool brand was created, envisioned by Flávio Rocha.
Pool is a brand that remains connected with young consumers and was the main sponsor of driver Ayrton Senna at the beginning of his career. In 1983, the Seta and Wolens stores were incorporated by Riachuelo.
In 1997, the transfer and expansion of the Natal manufacturing unit to the industrial district of Extremoz (RN) took place. Currently, this unit has a constructed area of 150,000 m².
In 2000, the Extremoz/Natal Distribution Center was inaugurated, and in 2002, the Guarulhos (SP) Distribution Center was opened. Subsequently, in 2005, Shopping Midway Mall was inaugurated in Natal.
In 2008, 100% of Guararapes' production began to be directed to Riachuelo. Still in 2008, the operations of Midway Financeira began. Two years later, Teatro Riachuelo was inaugurated at Shopping Midway Mall. In 2020, the Casa Riachuelo and Carter’s formats were launched.
Lojas Riachuelo
Riachuelo was founded in 1947. In the beginning, it operated with small street stores and sold fabrics at low prices.
When it was purchased by Guararapes Group in 1979, the company underwent a restructuring and strategic change aimed at selling ready-made clothing.
Thus, the company's focus shifted to fashion starting in 1993. Currently, Riachuelo has 340 stores and is present in all geographic regions of Brazil.
