Aquariums the core business

The experienced aquarist José Pereira established Aquatlantis in 1996, after having gained experience in the business in France and in Portugal with another partner. David and Cristina, two of his three children, now run the firm. He created a reliable basis that permits the company, which offers high quality products and an appealing design, to focus more strongly than before on exports. Accounting for 94 per cent of sales, exports are the most important aspect of the company. In 2009 the company also experienced growth of 40 per cent in the Portuguese pet market compared with the previous year. Aquatlantis has customers all over Europe as well as in several international markets, for example Malaysia and Hong Kong. France is the key export destination, accounting for 35 per cent of sales and with growth at present of 12 per cent, but Aquatlantis is currently also enjoying a dynamic sales trend in smaller countries such as Israel, Belgium and Holland. The company is now targeting expansion above all in the German market, where it is to set up its own sales office plus delivery warehouse. David Pereira rates the German market as difficult, with strong competition, but believes: “Our products will have a genuine chance in the market, on account of their quality and variety of ranges and colours.” Aquatlantis considers itself a partner of the speciality trade. Its subsidiary Perlea not only supplies Portuguese pet retailers with the products of its big parent company, but also distributes well-known aquatics brands such as JBL (Germany) and Hydor (Italy), along with technical products it manufactures itself under the “Tecatlantis” brand. Everything under one roof The company currently offers around 100 different aquarium and terrarium sets, and this figure is steadily increasing. 173 employees manufacture on average 700 aquariums per day, working round the clock in three shifts in some of the sections. The Pereira family has never questioned Portugal as the production location, in spite of the adverse economic conditions, ensuring that quality assurance takes top priority. Only electrical items and accessory components are bought in from partner businesses in the Far East. Glass for the aquariums comes from Spain, while the wood and all other raw materials come from Portugal. The production site was expanded further in 2007, permitting an increase in the production capacity and optimising the offer of Aquatlantis products. 4000 m² of space is reserved for…