Vista Alegre (company)
Vista Alegre is a Portuguese traditional company that manufactures porcelain and glass.
History
The industrialist, farmer and businessman José Ferreira Pinto Basto founded the company in 1824 in Ilhavo, motivated by the success of production of glass in Marinha Grande. He was also involved in politics, especially on the part of liberals in the Liberal revolution in Portugal. In 1812 he had acquired the manor, Quinta da Ermida near the Ria de Aveiro, and shortly afterwards to the surrounding lands. Among them was the Quinta da Vista Alegre, with the palace buildings, a chapel and a few buildings around a square. There was Basto build his factory to the later residential area and other facilities came. In 1824 he received the approval of King D. João VI, and five years later the permission to use the title Real Fábrica (English: Royal factory) to lead, in recognition of design and quality of the products by the King. The glass production has been further refined, for which foreign specialists were hired. As a result, the obtained glasses of Vista Alegre reputation.
1851 Vista Alegre was represented at the first World Exhibition, the Crystal Palace in London. 1852 visited King D.fernando II the factory and ordered a large dinner service. 1867 Vista Alegre received at the Paris World Exhibition for the first time an international award. Begun in 1832 porcelain production increased over the years, then much more important, so that in 1880 the original glass production was stopped.
Opened in 1964, the family, the Historical Museum of Vista Alegre, where since then also special pieces are shown as models of supplies to the British royal family.
After managing the growing company was focused primarily on the Portuguese market, and only selected customers abroad supplied, began the sales figures since the 1980s to stagnate. During the 1990s Vista Alegre expanded its production capacity and began to devote himself to the export. 1986, the company expanded with the creation of Vista Alegre España on Spain. Since 1987, Vista Alegre is listed on the stock exchanges ( Bolsa de Valores ) in Lisbon and Porto. After merging with the ceramic export companies Cerexport 1997, exports increased significantly.
2001 merged with Vista Alegre, which was founded in 1944 the Portuguese established company Atlantis, a crystal glass manufacturer. Since 2009, the company is majority owned by the Investment and holding company Visabeira.
Importance
Vista Alegre is one of today's most renowned and noble porcelain manufacturers, and is a reference for taste. Vista Alegre supplies the Spanish Royal House, and also in the White House and the Belgian court Vista Alegre is present. The company's products are also exhibited in museums such as the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, in Lisbon. In international exhibitions also the Vista Alegre tradition about 1983/84 was more frequently presented the traveling exhibition " Vista Alegre - Portuguese Porcelain" (Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Copenhagen), or the issue of "Portugal and Porcelain" by the New York Metropolitan Museum of Type 1984/85.
Modern designers like Filipe Alarcão or the German Carsten Gollnick ensure product lines in contemporary design to get the attention of experts. Artists such as Eduardo Nery, Sam Baron, Antonio Ole, Portinari or Stefanie Hering are more artists and designers with whom Vista Alegre last worked together.
The business of Vista Alegre at Chiado is now considered one of the main shopping areas in Lisbon. Also the factory shop in Ílhavo and in particular the Museum of Vista Alegre also among the most visited monuments in the Aveiro region.
Indicators
The company generated 2011 sales of 54 million euros, and closed with a profit of 9,000 euros, compared with a loss of over 18 million euros in 2009 .. International business accounts here now more than half of sales. The main target countries are Spain, France, USA, Germany, and Brazil, where the company expects special impetus for growth, and in the context of planning a new business residence. For this purpose, the presence in the UK was renewed, and new markets, including Belgium, Chile and the Czech Republic. Up to 20 % of its sales come from Vista Alegre also has its own outlet stores, mainly in shopping centers, and especially during the Christmas season.
The Vista Alegre Atlantis Group produces annually about 15 million units of its products, both household as well as decorative pieces.
Since 2009, the investment and holding company Visabeira holds a majority of 76.6 % of Vista Alegre Atlantis. The Investment Company ( Capital Global ) of the Foreign Trade Chamber AICEP ( 10.81% ) and the banks Caixa Geral de Depósitos ( 3,622 %) and Banco Comercial Português ( 4.476 %) are the other investors.