Constitution of Portuguese industrial pole with the acquisition of Rodman Lusitania
Following the recent acquisition of the STARFISHER shipyard, Groupe Beneteau today announced the purchase of the RODMAN LUSITANIA shipyard, thus creating a Portuguese production center dedicated to powerboats under 40 feet.
"As announced in the Let's Go Beyond! strategic plan, Groupe Beneteau is pursuing the organization of its industrial activity by type and size of boat. This acquisition will enable us to consolidate our presence in Portugal to serve the very dynamic market for small powerboats (under 40 feet) for dayboating. It will support the Polish and American sites dedicated to these markets, which lacked production capacity. Mid-sized boats, up to 60ft, are produced in France, while large units from 60 to 80ft are built in France and Italy," explains Jérôme de Metz, Chairman and CEO of Groupe Beneteau.
Located in Gandra, in northern Portugal, the RODMAN LUSITANIA shipyard covers nearly 60,000 square meters, including 20,000 square meters of plant and warehouse space. At a standstill for some years, the site will resume its activity in 2022, producing small motor boats.
The two shipyards, STARFISHER and RODMAN LUSITANIA, are located about ten kilometers apart and will be grouped together in GB Portugal Lda, the Portuguese subsidiary of Groupe Beneteau. In the future, this company will produce around 1,000 boats per year and employ around 700 people.
Management & experts linked
Jean-Paul Chapeleau
Adviser
Jean-Paul Chapeleau is adviser to the CEO and Chairman of the French Federation of Nautical Industries.
Previously he was Deputy CEO in charge of industrial operatio...
About Groupe Beneteau
Founded in Vendée 139 years ago by Benjamin Bénéteau, Groupe Beneteau today has international industrial capabilities, with 22 production sites, and a global sales network. In 2022, Groupe Beneteau recorded €1.5bn of revenues, employing around 8,000 people, primarily in France, the United States, Poland, Italy and Portugal.
A global market leader, Groupe Beneteau, thanks to its Boat division’s nine brands, offers more than 150 recreational boat models serving its customers’ diverse navigational needs and uses, from sailing to motorboating, monohulls and catamarans.
Through its Boating Solutions division, the Group is also present in the daily or weekly rental services, marina, digital and financing sectors.
Its Housing division is a major European player for leisure homes, lodges and pods, with its 3 brands (IRM, O'HARA, COCO SWEET) offering a wide range of products. It has 900 employees across six production sites in France and one in Italy, and generated €257.2m of revenues in 2022.
Boat brands: BENETEAU, JEANNEAU, LAGOON, PRESTIGE, DELPHIA, EXCESS, FOUR WINNS, WELLCRAFT, SCARAB and GLASTRON.
