Category: News

Company consolidates its leadership in Santa Catarina’s shopping center sector with increases in profit, sales, and foot traffic.

Almeida Junior, the largest shopping center company in Santa Catarina, released its 2024 results this week. The Group closed the year with R$4.1 billion in total sales across the company’s six shopping centers, an 11% growth compared to 2023.

In addition to the sales increase, net profit grew 34.6% and reached R$177.5 million. EBITDA totaled R$416.3 million (+8.6%) and adjusted NOI reached R$271.8 million (+12.1%). The fair value of the properties also registered an increase, reaching R$5.6 billion, up 4%.

The positive performance is reinforced by the 22.2% growth in foot traffic throughout the year, resulting from successful strategies to improve the tenant mix, focus on experiences – especially culinary – and initiatives that strengthen relationships with consumers.

The year also closed with excellent numbers for AJRealty, the Group’s real estate development arm, with a GDV of R$3.5 billion, which achieved 100% sales of The Spot One units, a residential building integrated with Balneário Shopping. This same concept of combining housing and shopping center in a single structure will be expanded to the company’s other shopping centers.

2025 with High Performance and New Developments

First quarter 2025 data has already been consolidated and shows that sales grew 29% over the same period in 2024. Other indicators also increased by double digits.

As a strategy to maintain positive indicators, the company is investing in attracting major international brands, many of them new to Santa Catarina. For this year, the company’s CEO, Jaimes Almeida Junior, announces the launch of AJ Mídia, the Group’s out-of-home advertising operation. Twenty-one-inch screens will be installed in over 500 buildings in the regions where the company operates its six shopping centers, becoming an extension of the media already established in the Group’s properties.

The Almeida Junior Group, a benchmark in Santa Catarina with six shopping centers in the state’s key regions, celebrates today (January 10th) its 45th anniversary

The company, a leader in the segment, marks the occasion with impressive results achieved in 2024, including a 21% average increase in sales compared to the previous year and a record of 32 million visitors.

To kick off 2025 with new developments, the group announces the arrival of the Uruguayan restaurant Narbona to Continente Shopping in the first quarter, launching the new Continente Boulevard.

This space, designed for dining and leisure experiences, will also feature the Italian restaurant Forneria Carbone and the Japanese restaurant Arquipélago.

Meanwhile, Balneário Shopping has unveiled a new premium dining area, with highlights including three flagship establishments: Duladu, specializing in Italian cuisine led by Chef Dudu Poerner; Manteigaria do Porto, offering authentic Portuguese flavors; and Unizushi, showcasing contemporary Japanese gastronomy.

In 2024, 16 new restaurants were incorporated into the company’s shopping center network, reinforcing its commitment to delivering diverse and high-quality dining experiences.

INNOVATION AND EXPANSION

As part of its strategy to enhance customer experience, the Almeida Junior Group plans to expand entertainment and communal areas while investing in advanced media solutions across its shopping centers.

Currently, the network boasts 136 digital screens, reaching 2.3 million people monthly.

Maintaining its innovative spirit, the company continues to invest in technology, including new features for the AJ FANS app. This platform connects customers and retailers, aiming to further personalize user experiences and solidify the group’s competitive edge in the market.

Over the next five years, the group plans to invest R$ 800 million in expanding its operations, beginning with the second expansion of Balneário Shopping. This development will add 140 new stores, six restaurants, and a gourmet market, reinforcing its position as the company’s iconic mall.

The expansion plan also includes new real estate projects integrated into the network’s shopping centers, following the model of the luxurious The Spot One residential development already connected to Balneário Shopping.

The group intends to develop high-end residential and commercial towers in other ventures.

Jaimes Almeida Junior, CEO and founder of the group, highlights:

“We will remain focused on attracting premium dining establishments, international brands, and high-quality operations, enhancing our distinctive tenant mix and customer experience within our shopping centers.”

“Celebrating 45 years is a milestone that reflects our commitment to innovation, quality, and strategic vision.”

“We are ready for the next steps, combining technology, real estate expansion, and delivering the very best to our customers and partners.”

SC’s largest shopping center chain promotes ‘Tree of Dreams’ initiative benefiting 18 institutions in 2024

The magic of Christmas has already taken over the Almeida Junior Group’s shopping centers, with festive decorations illuminating the spaces and initiatives awakening the public’s spirit of solidarity. This year, the traditional charitable initiative ‘Tree of Dreams’ invites visitors to bring joy to children and animals in vulnerable situations. Available until the second half of December at Continente Shopping, Balneário Shopping, Garten Shopping, Neumarkt and Norte Shopping — and until January 5 at Nações Shopping — the campaign is an opportunity to transform Christmas into an even more special moment for those in need.

Eighteen partner institutions will be benefited by the campaign. Each property’s ‘Tree of Dreams,’ decorated with informational cards containing the child’s name, age, and institution, can be selected to choose a gift. The back of the card will have a blank space reserved for a message from the gift giver. The card and gift must be delivered to the concierge desk.

In Balneário Camboriú, four institutions will benefit from the initiative at Balneário Shopping: Lar da Criança Feliz, Instituto Vivaz, Asilo Dom Bosco, and Afadefi. In Greater Florianópolis, Continente Shopping chose the Creche Vinde a Mim As Criancinhas project, a philanthropic early childhood education institution for children ages 3 to 5, to receive the gifts. In Joinville, at Garten Shopping, the initiative will benefit ten institutions, including the Resgate Project in Joinville, which will receive book donations for school-age children.

At Nações Shopping in Criciúma, the project is carried out in partnership with the Animal Protection Association SOS Vira-Lata, a non-governmental and non-profit organization recognized for its work promoting animal welfare since 2009.

In Blumenau, donations made at Neumarkt Shopping will be allocated to house 1 of the Casa de Acolhida São Felipe Néri institution, which serves over 110 children between 5 and 10 years old in after-school programs. Donations made at Norte Shopping will be allocated to the Association of Friends, Parents and People with Myelomeningocele (AAPPM), which serves 80 children in the city.

“The Christmas season makes people even more charitable and reminds them how important it is to help those most in need. Each donated gift brings more than joy, it brings hope and affection to children and institutions that need it so much,” says Rogério Alves, Marketing and Relationship Director at Almeida Junior.