Sao Paulo, May 19, 2009 - The wholesale distributor segment had revenues of $ 120.8 billion in 2008, real growth of 8.5% nominal and 14.2% compared to 2007. The data contained in the Ranking ABAD / Nielsen 2009, annual survey of the segment with companies throughout Brazil. Revenues means 53.4% ​​of the retail consumer market food, which totaled R $ 226 billion in 2008 from a share of 53.3% in 2007, in a market of $ 180.5 billion, according to the survey conducted by Nielsen.

The president of ABAD (Brazilian Association of Wholesalers and Distributors), Carlos Eduardo Severini, "these results further solidify the growth trajectory of activity wholesale distributor and reflect the work we have done with the two ends of the supply chain, industry and retail, in order to adapt the assortment to customer needs, leading products from major industrial areas to small towns in the interior, especially for small and medium retail that caters to the classes C, D and E, thus contributing to the economy country ".

The results consolidate an upward trend started in 2000, when the segment was 38.7% share in the consumer retail food to reach the current level of 53.4%. In terms of revenue, the amount jumped from $ 41.3 billion to $ 120.8 billion in 2008. Targeting the provision of services to small and medium retail was a determining factor for the gain in revenue. "After the economic stability, the small and medium retail and it gained importance because he is serving consumers from classes C, D and E," added Severini. Thus, the result of the segment follows the changes in the consumption needs of the population.

According to Nielsen, 95% of small supermarkets (one to four checkouts) and 40% of the average supermarket (five to 19 checkouts) are supplied by companies that wholesalers distributors. Investment in specialized care by sales channel, category and region, in addition to expanding and diversifying the mix of business, strengthened the numbers achieved by the sector in 2008.

One of the highlights of the 2009 edition of Ranking ABAD / Nielsen is the finding of increased number of employees and direct sales companies in the segment. The increases were 25.1% and 23.4% respectively in 2008 compared with the previous year, which demonstrates that the wholesale sector contributed to the growth of employment opportunities in Brazil. Currently, the sector employs about 204,000 people directly. "People have employed income, consume, move the retail, which moves the attack, moving the industry, and all generate more employment opportunities, thus closing the virtuous circle of economy," says consultant and professor of economics at the FIA ​​(Foundation Institute of Management - University of São Paulo) Barrizzelli Nelson, responsible for examining the rank ABAD.

The search for the Ranking ABAD also reveals a new consumer profile, identified by the institute Nielsen. "There is a new behavior to be considered in purchasing decisions of end consumers," says John Carlos Lazzarini, director of Retail Services at Nielsen. To understand what motivates the consumer must consider your lifestyle and what are the attributes valued by him in a brand or company. "The economic factor continues to weigh, but now meets your view of the world," says Lazzarini. With economic stability and increasing the income level of the population, especially in classes C and D, the consumer now has a higher level of life. With that, he developed new interests as the search for a healthier lifestyle and came to value environmentally friendly products.

Participation

The Ranking ABAD / Nielsen 2009 with the participation of 364 companies, against 337 last year. All listed companies reached the sum of $ 39.5 billion in 2008, against a revenue of $ 32.3 billion in 2007, a real growth of 11.8%. The 250 companies common to both rankings reached the sum of $ 33.7 billion in 2008, against a revenue of $ 29.6 billion in 2007, a real growth of 14.1%. "Every year we seek to expand the participation of companies to draw an X ray of the segment numbers and comparisons that will guide the determination of business and decision making," said Severini.