Grupo Casas Bahia
Grupo Casas Bahia is a Brazilian omnichannel retail group operating the Casas Bahia and Ponto Frio consumer brands.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Grupo Casas Bahia is a Brazilian retail group whose principal consumer-facing brands are Casas Bahia and Ponto Frio. The company sells furniture, household appliances, consumer electronics, mobile phones, personal technology and other general merchandise through physical stores and digital channels. Its business model combines retail sales with services such as consumer financing, marketplace activity and logistics connected to e-commerce. The group was created in 2010 after the combination of the Casas Bahia retail operation, associated with the Klein family, and Ponto Frio, which belonged to Grupo Pão de Açúcar. The corporate vehicle used for the combination was Globex Utilidades, the former parent of Ponto Frio. The transaction brought together two of Brazil's best-known specialty retailers and created a large national platform focused on durable consumer goods. The Casas Bahia chain had particular strength among consumers purchasing furniture and appliances through installment payments, while Ponto Frio had a long-established presence in electronics and home goods. Before the creation of the group, Grupo Pão de Açúcar had acquired Casas Bahia and transferred its retail assets to Globex. The combined company also developed an important online operation. In 2010, the internet businesses of Casas Bahia, Ponto Frio and Grupo Pão de Açúcar's Extra hypermarket chain were consolidated in Nova Pontocom. That operation later became associated with Cnova Brasil, an e-commerce venture involving Casino, Grupo Pão de Açúcar, Via Varejo and other shareholders. The digital businesses operated websites including Casasbahia.com.br, Pontofrio.com and Extra.com.br. In early 2012, Globex Utilidades changed its corporate name to Via Varejo, reflecting the broader retail platform assembled through the combination. The company subsequently accessed Brazil's public equity market. In December 2013, shares connected to the Klein family's stake began trading in a public offering that raised approximately R$2.845 billion, with proceeds distributed between the selling shareholders and Grupo Pão de Açúcar. The transaction left Grupo Pão de Açúcar, the Klein family and minority investors as the principal shareholder groups at that time. The group expanded its control over Móveis Bartira, a furniture manufacturer and longstanding exclusive supplier to Casas Bahia and Ponto Frio. In 2013, Via Varejo announced an agreement to acquire the remaining interest in Bartira, strengthening its connection between retail distribution and furniture manufacturing. The company also continued to adapt its store network and digital channels as Brazilian retail shifted toward omnichannel shopping. Ownership changed materially in 2019 when Grupo Pão de Açúcar sold its entire interest in Via Varejo. The Klein family subsequently became the largest shareholder, although the company remained publicly traded. On September 20, 2023, Via Varejo adopted the name Grupo Casas Bahia, bringing the corporate identity into closer alignment with its most prominent retail brand. Grupo Casas Bahia serves the Brazilian market through a network of Casas Bahia and Ponto Frio stores alongside e-commerce operations. The Casas Bahia brand is particularly associated with accessible household consumption, installment purchasing and furniture and appliance retailing. Ponto Frio is positioned around consumer electronics, appliances and related merchandise. The group's competitive environment includes Brazilian department stores, appliance and electronics chains, marketplaces and large generalist e-commerce platforms. Its performance is therefore influenced by household income, credit availability, interest rates, consumer confidence, logistics costs and the migration of sales from stores to digital channels.
History
The origins of Grupo Casas Bahia lie in the combination of two major Brazilian retail operations. Casas Bahia was built as a furniture and appliance retailer associated with the Klein family, while Ponto Frio was part of Grupo Pão de Açúcar. In June 2009, Grupo Pão de Açúcar acquired Ponto Frio and its corporate parent, Globex Utilidades. In December of the same year, it acquired Casas Bahia and transferred the Casas Bahia retail assets to Globex. The resulting structure formed the basis of the group that began operating as a combined retail company in 2010. The new group also pursued an integrated digital strategy. In 2010, the online retail activities of Casas Bahia, Ponto Frio and Extra were combined in Nova Pontocom. This platform operated the three brands' online stores and gave the group a substantial position in Brazil's growing e-commerce market. Nova Pontocom later became part of the Cnova Brasil structure, an e-commerce venture connected with Casino, Grupo Pão de Açúcar, Via Varejo and other shareholders. In early 2012, Globex Utilidades changed its corporate name to Via Varejo. The new name represented the company-wide retail platform rather than a single store banner, while Casas Bahia and Ponto Frio remained important customer-facing brands. The company subsequently became publicly traded. In 2013, the Klein family announced plans to sell part of its holding through an initial public offering. The offering began trading in December and raised approximately R$2.845 billion, with most of the proceeds going to the Klein family and the remainder to Grupo Pão de Açúcar. At that stage, ownership was divided among Grupo Pão de Açúcar, the Klein family and minority shareholders. Vertical integration was another feature of the group's development. In October 2013, Via Varejo announced that it would acquire the remaining 75 percent of Móveis Bartira, a furniture producer founded by Samuel Klein in 1962 and an exclusive supplier to Casas Bahia and Ponto Frio. Acquiring full control of Bartira strengthened the group's furniture supply chain and linked manufacturing more closely with its retail network. The ownership structure changed again in 2019. Grupo Pão de Açúcar sold its entire interest in Via Varejo, and the Klein family became the largest shareholder with a holding of approximately 27 percent. The company continued operating as a listed retailer, with Casas Bahia and Ponto Frio as its principal store brands and with online channels serving customers throughout Brazil. On September 20, 2023, Via Varejo rebranded itself as Grupo Casas Bahia. The change emphasized the value of the Casas Bahia name while preserving the group's multi-brand operating model. The business continues to combine stores, websites, marketplace activity, delivery capabilities and financial services. Its principal commercial challenges include maintaining competitiveness in electronics and appliances, managing credit-sensitive demand, improving digital profitability and balancing the cost of its physical-store network with the reach and convenience of e-commerce.
- 2023
Via Varejo rebrands as Grupo Casas Bahia
[1]The company changed its corporate name to Grupo Casas Bahia.
- 2019
Klein family becomes largest shareholder
[1]Grupo Pão de Açúcar sold its entire stake in Via Varejo, after which the Klein family held the largest individual position.
- 2014
Cnova Brasil is created
[1]Casino, Grupo Pão de Açúcar, Via Varejo and other shareholders established Cnova Brasil as an e-commerce structure.
- 2013
Via Varejo completes public offering
[1]The public offering of shares raised approximately R$2.845 billion and changed the company's ownership distribution.
- 2013
Móveis Bartira acquisition announced
[1]Via Varejo announced the acquisition of the remaining stake in Móveis Bartira, its exclusive furniture supplier.
- 2012
Globex becomes Via Varejo
[1]Globex Utilidades officially adopted the Via Varejo corporate name.
- 2010
Combined retail group begins operations
[1]The combination of the Casas Bahia and Ponto Frio retail operations formed the group that later became Via Varejo and then Grupo Casas Bahia.
- 2010
Nova Pontocom is formed
[1]The online operations of Casas Bahia, Ponto Frio and Extra were consolidated in Nova Pontocom.
- 2009
Grupo Pão de Açúcar acquires Casas Bahia
[1]Grupo Pão de Açúcar acquired Casas Bahia and transferred its retail assets to Globex Utilidades, the corporate vehicle associated with Ponto Frio.
Products and positioning
A mass-market Brazilian omnichannel retailer focused on household durables, electronics, furniture and installment-based consumer purchasing.
Furniture, appliances and general merchandise retail
Casas Bahia
Casas Bahia is the group's principal retail banner and is associated with furniture, household appliances, consumer electronics, mobile phones and other durable goods. The brand has historically emphasized broad physical distribution, accessible pricing and installment-based purchasing, serving Brazilian households through stores and digital commerce.
Electronics, appliances and general merchandise retail
Ponto Frio
Ponto Frio is a Brazilian retail banner focused on electronics, appliances, home products and related consumer goods. It operates as part of the Grupo Casas Bahia retail portfolio and reaches customers through physical stores and online channels.
Furniture manufacturing · 1962
Móveis Bartira
Móveis Bartira is a furniture manufacturer founded by Samuel Klein in 1962. It became an exclusive supplier to Casas Bahia and Ponto Frio, and Via Varejo announced the acquisition of its remaining stake in 2013, strengthening the group's vertical integration in furniture.
E-commerce · 2010
Nova Pontocom
Nova Pontocom was the group's consolidated online retail operation, combining the digital businesses of Casas Bahia, Ponto Frio and Extra. Its websites included Casasbahia.com.br, Pontofrio.com and Extra.com.br before the online activities became associated with Cnova Brasil.
Brand decisions
2023
Rebrand as Grupo Casas BahiaStrategyBackground
The company sought to align its corporate identity with its best-known Brazilian consumer brand.
Action taken
Via Varejo changed its name to Grupo Casas Bahia on September 20, 2023.
Aftermath
The group retained its multi-brand structure, including the Casas Bahia and Ponto Frio banners.
2013
Acquire the remaining interest in Móveis BartiraM&ABackground
Bartira was an exclusive furniture supplier to Casas Bahia and Ponto Frio, making ownership relevant to the group's supply chain.
Action taken
Via Varejo announced the acquisition of the remaining 75 percent stake in Móveis Bartira.
Aftermath
The transaction increased the group's control over furniture production and sourcing.
2012
Adopt the Via Varejo corporate identityStrategyBackground
The combined retail operation needed a corporate identity distinct from the individual Casas Bahia and Ponto Frio store banners.
Action taken
Globex Utilidades formally changed its corporate name to Via Varejo.
Aftermath
Casas Bahia and Ponto Frio continued as customer-facing brands within the broader retail group.
Recent events
AirFox and Via Varejo launch banQi mobile banking app[2]
Reported:
AirFox and Via Varejo launched banQi, a free-to-use mobile banking app that supports transactions at Via Varejo retail locations.
Via Varejo to acquire Airfox[3]
Reported:
The Boston Globe reported that Brazilian retailer Via Varejo was purchasing Boston-based fintech startup Airfox. The article said the financial details were not disclosed and Airfox would continue to operate in Boston.
Sources3 sources
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