Lojas Renner
Brazilian fashion-focused department-store chain offering apparel, accessories, beauty products, home goods, financial services, and digital commerce.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Lojas Renner is a Brazilian retail group centered on fashion-oriented department stores and related consumer businesses. The company began in 1922 as a point of sale for textile goods connected with the A.J. Renner industrial group in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. Its merchandise offer expanded in 1940, when the operation adopted a department-store format. In 1965, the business was separated from the A.J. Renner group and Lojas Renner S.A. was established as an independent company; it also became publicly traded in that year. The retailer underwent a significant restructuring in the early 1990s. It moved toward a more focused fashion-department-store model and developed a customer proposition built around coordinated collections, accessible pricing, and a service philosophy known as the Philosophy of Enchantment. The concept emphasized exceeding customer expectations rather than merely satisfying them. Renner subsequently expanded beyond Rio Grande do Sul into other parts of southern, southeastern, central-western, northeastern, and northern Brazil. In December 1998, J.C. Penney Brazil acquired control of Lojas Renner. The relationship provided access to international suppliers, retail-location expertise, and additional management and control practices. Under that ownership, Renner accelerated its Brazilian expansion and added more than 30 stores. J.C. Penney and Renner management later sold control through a 2005 public share offering. Renner joined the Novo Mercado segment of the São Paulo Stock Exchange, becoming a notable Brazilian example of a company with broadly dispersed share ownership and approximately all outstanding shares traded publicly. The company broadened its commercial and corporate footprint during the following decade. It entered home and decoration retail through the acquisition of Camicado in 2011, created the youth-oriented Youcom format in 2013, and introduced the plus-size Ashua brand in 2016. Its financial-services activities were organized through Realize CFI in 2017. These businesses complemented the core Renner stores while allowing the group to address different customer profiles and spending occasions. The group also established Lojas Renner Institute in 2008 to manage private social investment, with a stated focus on women's workforce participation, entrepreneurship, community development, and support for civil-society initiatives. Renner added digital commerce in 2010 and continued to develop an integrated store-and-online retail model. Its store network includes Renner fashion stores, Camicado home stores, Youcom youth-fashion stores, and Ashua plus-size stores. International expansion began with Uruguay in 2017 and continued with Argentina in 2019. The group is listed in Brazil under the ticker LREN3 and is associated with the Novo Mercado corporate-governance segment. Its competitive set in Brazil includes Lojas Riachuelo, C&A, and Hering. The brand's overall positioning is mass-market to mid-market fashion retail, combining proprietary labels, coordinated lifestyle merchandising, physical stores, e-commerce, and ancillary financial products.
History
Lojas Renner traces its origins to the A.J. Renner group, a manufacturing business established in Porto Alegre. In 1922, a retail point was opened to sell textile goods. The operation broadened its assortment in 1940 and began functioning as a department store. As the business grew, the leadership of the A.J. Renner group reorganized it in 1965, creating Lojas Renner S.A. as an independent company. The company was also listed on the stock exchange that year. For several decades Renner developed primarily in southern Brazil. A major restructuring in the early 1990s changed the company's direction. Rather than operating as a general department store, it increasingly emphasized fashion, lifestyle merchandising, and coordinated collections. The company introduced the Philosophy of Enchantment, a service principle intended to make the customer experience exceed basic expectations. It also used collections organized around customer lifestyles, bringing apparel, footwear, and accessories together to simplify shopping and create a more coherent brand presentation. The early 1990s restructuring supported expansion outside Rio Grande do Sul. Renner entered Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and the Federal District, positioning itself as a fashion-oriented department-store chain with quality products at competitive prices. In 1998, J.C. Penney Brazil acquired control. The new ownership gave Renner access to international suppliers, location-selection advice, and additional management systems. More than 30 stores were added during the subsequent expansion period across southern, southeastern, and central-western Brazil. In 2005, J.C. Penney and Renner management sold control through a public offering. The company entered the Novo Mercado segment of the São Paulo Stock Exchange and became recognized as the first Brazilian corporation to have essentially all of its shares publicly traded with widely dispersed ownership. The change in ownership structure supported a further growth phase. In 2006, Renner moved into northeastern states including Pernambuco, Ceará, and Bahia. It expanded into Amazonas in 2007, marking its arrival in Brazil's North. Renner progressively added services and formats around its core fashion stores. Financial products introduced in 2006 included personal loans and quick withdrawals, with insurance added later. In 2010, the company launched Meu Cartão Renner, a co-branded card accepted on Visa and Mastercard networks, and also began e-commerce operations. In 2011, it acquired Camicado, extending the group into home and decoration. Youcom followed in 2013 as a specialized youth-fashion format, while the Sustainable Renner store project began in 2014. Ashua, a plus-size fashion brand, was launched in 2016, and Realize CFI was established in 2017 to operate as a financial institution. Internationalization began in 2017 with stores in Uruguay and continued in Argentina in 2019. The group consequently developed a regional operating presence while retaining Brazil as its principal market. Its broader retail house includes the Renner, Camicado, Youcom, and Ashua concepts, alongside online sales and financial products. Lojas Renner Institute, created in 2008, manages private social investment focused on women's economic inclusion, entrepreneurship, and community development. The company has also faced reputational scrutiny. In 2020, an incident at Ilha Plaza Shopping involving customer Matheus Fernandes led to racism allegations against men who identified themselves as police officers. Renner and the shopping center condemned the reported behavior and said the individuals were not employees. The episode became widely discussed on social media and in Brazilian media. Lojas Renner remains a publicly listed Brazilian fashion retailer competing with chains such as Riachuelo, C&A, and Hering.
- 2019
Argentina expansion
[1]The group opens four stores in Argentina.
- 2017
Realize CFI and Uruguay expansion
[1]Renner creates Realize CFI and opens its first international stores in Uruguay.
- 2016
Ashua is launched
[1]The company introduces Ashua as a plus-size fashion brand.
- 2013
Youcom is launched
[1]Renner introduces a specialized youth-fashion store concept.
- 2011
Camicado acquisition
[1]The group acquires Camicado and enters the home and decoration retail segment.
- 2010
E-commerce and co-branded card launch
[1]Renner launches online sales and the Meu Cartão Renner financial product.
- 2008
Lojas Renner Institute is created
[1]The company establishes an institute to manage private social investment, particularly initiatives supporting women and local communities.
- 2005
Entry into Novo Mercado
[1]Following a public offering, Renner joins the Novo Mercado segment with broadly dispersed share ownership.
- 1998
J.C. Penney Brazil acquires control
[1]J.C. Penney's Brazilian subsidiary purchases the controlling interest in Lojas Renner.
- 1990
Fashion-focused restructuring
[1]During the early 1990s, Renner restructures around fashion department stores and expands beyond Rio Grande do Sul.
Products and positioning
Accessible, lifestyle-oriented fashion retail for the Brazilian mass and mid-market consumer, supported by coordinated private-label collections, department-store convenience, digital commerce, and complementary retail formats.
Fashion department stores · 1922
Renner
The core Renner format sells women's, men's, and children's apparel together with footwear, accessories, beauty items, and related lifestyle merchandise. Its merchandising model organizes products into coordinated collections and private labels associated with different customer lifestyles. The format combines physical department stores, shopping-mall locations, central-city stores, and online retail, and is positioned around accessible fashion, convenience, and a service philosophy intended to exceed basic customer expectations.
Home and decoration retail · 2011
Camicado
Camicado is the group's home and decoration business, acquired by Lojas Renner in 2011. Its assortment extends the group beyond apparel into household products, home accessories, furnishings, and decorative merchandise. The format gives Lojas Renner exposure to home-related purchasing occasions and complements the fashion business within the broader retail group.
Youth fashion · 2013
Youcom
Youcom is a specialized fashion format created for younger consumers. It operates with a more focused store environment than the general Renner department-store model and concentrates on youth-oriented clothing and accessories. The concept enables the group to address a distinct demographic and shopping mission while maintaining its wider fashion-retail capabilities.
Plus-size fashion · 2016
Ashua
Ashua is a plus-size fashion brand launched by Lojas Renner in 2016. It was designed to provide a dedicated assortment and retail proposition for plus-size customers rather than treating extended sizing solely as an adjunct to the core range. The brand operates within the group's broader fashion portfolio.
Financial services · 2010
Meu Cartão Renner
Meu Cartão Renner is a co-branded credit-card offering introduced in 2010. It uses Visa and Mastercard network acceptance and forms part of the group's financial-products business. The card extends the relationship between the retailer and its customers beyond individual purchases and sits alongside other financial offerings such as personal loans, quick withdrawals, and insurance.
Controversies
2020
Racism allegations connected with Ilha Plaza Shopping incident
Matheus Fernandes, aged 18, suffered injuries in an incident at Ilha Plaza Shopping involving men who identified themselves as police officers. Allegations circulated that the conduct was racially motivated. The matter gained international attention through social media and Brazilian news coverage. Renner and the shopping center condemned the reported acts and stated that the men were not their employees.
Marketing campaigns
- 2014Sustainable Renner
Brazil
Renner introduced a store project associated with sustainability, opening its first location at RioMar Shopping Fortaleza.
Outcome. Established a sustainability-oriented retail format and contributed to the company's broader sustainability positioning.
- 2002You have your style. Renner has them all.
Brazil
Renner organized collections around customer lifestyles and promoted the idea that customers could express their own style through the brand's range. Clothing, footwear, and accessories were displayed in coordinated groups to facilitate selection.
Outcome. Strengthened lifestyle merchandising and differentiated the in-store shopping experience.
- 1990Philosophy of Enchantment
Brazil
Renner developed a customer-service philosophy centered on exceeding expectations rather than merely satisfying shoppers. The approach accompanied the company's early-1990s restructuring and expansion as a fashion-focused department-store chain.
Outcome. Used as a central service and customer-experience principle during national expansion.
Brand decisions
2017
Begin international expansionStrategyBackground
After building a broad Brazilian store network, the group pursued regional growth outside its home market.
Action taken
Renner opened its first international stores in Uruguay and later expanded into Argentina.
Aftermath
The group established operations in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina.
2016
Launch AshuaProduct launchBackground
Renner expanded its fashion segmentation to address plus-size consumers through a dedicated brand.
Action taken
The company launched Ashua as a plus-size fashion label and retail concept.
Aftermath
Ashua added a specialized sizing and customer proposition to the group.
2013
Launch YoucomProduct launchBackground
The group identified an opportunity for a more specialized format aimed at younger fashion consumers.
Action taken
Renner created Youcom as a youth-fashion store concept.
Aftermath
Youcom became a separate format within the group's multi-brand retail portfolio.
2011
Acquire CamicadoM&ABackground
Renner sought to diversify beyond apparel and participate in the home and decoration market.
Action taken
Lojas Renner acquired Camicado and incorporated the home-focused retail business into its group.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened the group's retail portfolio and customer occasions.
1990
Adopt a fashion-focused department-store modelStrategyBackground
After decades of operation, Renner undertook a major restructuring to improve its competitive position and support geographic growth.
Action taken
The company concentrated on fashion, introduced lifestyle-based merchandising, and expanded beyond Rio Grande do Sul.
Aftermath
Renner developed into a national fashion department-store chain.
1965
Separate the retail business from the A.J. Renner groupStrategyBackground
The retail operation had grown within the A.J. Renner manufacturing group and required a structure suited to an independent chain.
Action taken
The leadership created Lojas Renner S.A. as an independent company and made it publicly traded.
Aftermath
The restructuring established the corporate entity that became the modern Lojas Renner chain.
Recent events
- 2019
Renner expands into Argentina[1]
Other
The group opened four stores in Argentina, extending its regional presence beyond Brazil and Uruguay.
- 2017
Realize CFI is established[1]
Product launch
The group created Realize CFI as a financial institution, formalizing its financial-products activities.
- 2017
Renner begins international retail operations in Uruguay[1]
Other
Lojas Renner opened its first foreign operation in Uruguay, beginning the group's international retail expansion.
- 2016
Ashua plus-size fashion brand launches[1]
Product launch
Renner introduced Ashua as a dedicated plus-size fashion brand and store concept.
- 2014
Renner opens its first Sustainable Renner store[1]
Product launch · Other
The first store associated with the Sustainable Renner project opened at RioMar Shopping Fortaleza.
- 2013
Youcom launches as a youth-fashion format[1]
Product launch
The company created Youcom as a specialized store concept aimed at younger consumers and focused on youth fashion.
- 2011
Renner acquires Camicado[1]
M&A
Lojas Renner acquired Camicado, expanding the group into home furnishings and decoration retail.
- 2010
Lojas Renner introduces e-commerce[1]
Product launch
The company launched its online retail operation, extending the Renner fashion proposition beyond its physical-store network.
- 2010
Lojas Renner launches Meu Cartão Renner[1]
Product launch
Renner introduced its co-branded credit card, issued with Visa and Mastercard network acceptance, as part of the group's expansion into financial products.
- 2005
Lojas Renner returns to widely dispersed public ownership[1]
M&A · Other
J.C. Penney and Renner management sold control through a public offering of shares. Lojas Renner entered the Novo Mercado segment of the São Paulo Stock Exchange with broadly dispersed ownership.
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