Ambev Invests in B2B Supply Marketplace

Ambev and Souza Cruz are investing R$ 10 million to create a joint marketplace for indirect materials procurement. Together, both companies purchase R$ 1 billion annually in indirect supplies.

Magim Rodrigues Júnior, general director of Ambev, stated that this volume represents more than 1% of the total indirect procurement in Brazil, which reaches R$ 97 billion. He noted that the initiative will democratize relationships with suppliers by allowing companies that previously did not take part in bidding processes to offer their goods and services.

The founding partners plan to attract three additional partners and open the platform to external companies. Flávio de Andrade, president of Souza Cruz, explained that the primary goal is to increase operational efficiency and cut costs rather than generate profit from third-party transactions. The platform is scheduled to launch in the first half of 2001, open to other companies starting in 2002, and is currently undergoing review by antitrust authority Cade.