Without partners, Ahmad reaches r $ 1.3 billion

One of the largest drugstore chains in the country, Minas Gerais Drugstore Araujo, want to keep as an exception in the industry. Unlike rivals, which in recent years have gone through acquisition and merger operations, Modesto Carvalho Araujo Neto, President of the company, says he does not want to talk with investors, banks or other networks about selling your business.
"I think the company is the most desired bride of this market," he said, Ahmad's headquarters in Belo Horizonte. And complete, with good humor: "As the company is Virgin, does not accept those conversations."
With 120 stores and Bill r $ 1.3 billion forecast this year (high of 20% on 2012), the Drugstore Ahmad is a family business that began to be played by the entrepreneur's grandfather in 1913.
"In all IPOs, mergers and acquisitions whenever someone enters decapitalisation and needing to take an attitude not to disappear. Has no one that was good [and you for one of these paths], "he said. "I thank God I have profitability, I capitalized, I'm fine. Sell for what? Don't want to have, for example, 400 stores by 2015. I would not be able to maintain quality of the service nor my quality of life. "
Since 2010, the sector goes through an accommodation. The streak joined Drogasil and Sao Paulo drugstore joined the P. BR Pharma bought a number of companies over the past two years and in early 2013 American CVS acquired control of Onofre.
With its own resources, according to the businessman, Ahmad prepares an expansion. Want to get to 150 stores by 2015 and a turnover of r $ 1.6 billion. In addition, the distribution center (DC) of 12 thousand square meters in Count will be replaced.
The Agu should start the construction of the new CD, with 50 thousand m2, also counting, until July. The businessman says that, for this work, is studying a possible financing of Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (BNDES). Even so, says delay. "Until today, we came here with nothing. The more we work with own resources, the better. " Even more, he continues, at a time of uncertainty as the current. "When you're young, you can risk it. But a century-old company and with 7 thousand employees do not have the right to make mistakes ".
Modesto Ahmad entered the family business in 1984. Came from the financial market, where worked for 15 years. In 2004, on the death of his middle brother, Eduardo Veloso Araujo, he took charge of the network. The fourth generation also acts in the company: two daughters and two nephews.
The Drugstore Ahmad has strong presence in Belo Horizonte, where it enjoys a leading position. The network spreads by municipalities around the State capital. A dash of business is the variety of products-that makes it seem like a great convenience store that also sells medicines and cosmetics.
This model began to be drawn in the years 90. The businessman took 51 officers to meet the "drugstores" of the United States. There, heard that the traffic in large cities would be so unbearable that families would prefer pharmacies where they could buy everything you need before returning home. "Bet on it: in one stop and you solve your life," said Ahmad.
The drugstores of family have cosmetics and jam, bread and feed, and revelation. And medicines-these represent 60% of the revenue. According to the Brazilian Association of Pharmacies and Drugstores (Abrafarma), the national average is 70%.
The businessman claims that his network is the fourth largest of Brazil in terms of revenue. The earnings before interest, investment, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda, in the expression in English) revolves around the 10% of the turnover, he said.
And if is not interested in having a partner, Ahmad says nor have plans to acquire other networks. "It's hard because they want to put all the incompetence that have been in the business as something that the values. In addition I work with more than 400 square meters and has no supply of places ".