42 years of Supermercados Apolónia

Paulo and Eduardo Apolónia, brothers and new managers of Supermercados Apolónia promise to continue to do their best for the company.

From a small grocery store to a supermarket chain

As Paulo Apolónia told The Portugal News, “Supermercados Apolónia arose from the desire of our parents, Avelino and Célia Apolónia, to bring a personalised service to the Algarve”, offering “distinctive products”, most of which were imported. The products were sought after above all by “foreigners living or holidaying in the region”, who visited Supermercados Apolónia because of the high quality of the products on offer. Paulo Apolónia says that his parents, the company’s founders, “were visionaries in realising that there was a business opportunity, aimed at a growing public in the region, that was not being exploited.” Avelino Apolónia lived in Canada for 20 years, bringing back “a lot of knowledge in terms of quality food products” and wanting to bring them to Portugal. This brought the foundation of Supermercados Apolónia, which started as a small grocery store in Almancil, opened in 1983, and has grown into the current supermarket chain.

Eduardo Apolónia admits that the success of the small grocery store began by “focusing on the satisfaction” of customers, who would become accustomed to “an unrivalled level of service and product quality.” Ensuring that customers who enter the shop feel that “they can find exclusive and different products that they cannot find in other shops” can also guarantee the success of the shops. Eduardo Apolónia also says that by maintaining “standards of quality, service and variety of products”, the company can grow sustainably.

Paulo Apolónia describes Supermercados Apolónia’s services as “distinctive and unparalleled”, offering customers a personalised service, “shaped to their consumption needs and focused on meeting their expectations.” Those who visit the shop will be able to deal with a specialised team “able to suggest the products that will fit what they are looking for”.

New management

Eduardo Apolónia was studying in Lisbon and, contrary to what he had idealised, chose to pursue his professional life in the company his parents founded, perpetuating the family business. During his school holidays, Eduardo Apolónia already established professional links with Supermercados Apolónia and later felt that “there was a chance to contribute to the growth of this supermarket, which despite being small at the time, was a successful and differentiating.”

In Paulo Apolónia’s case, he already had a professional career, but in the field of telecommunications. But family spoke louder, and he decided to leave his professional life in Lisbon and help his father grow the family business. Paulo Apolónia told The Portugal News that the first changes began with “the introduction of new sections such as sushi or fish”, as well as a change in the shop’s design. In addition to the infrastructure changes, Paulo Apolónia mentions that both he and his brother brought “the professionalisation of the company and the investments made in information systems.”

Eduardo Apolónia, adding to what his brother had already said, reinforces that “professionalisation was carried out without losing the family feeling that has always existed among all the company’s employees, and that we invested more in human resources and their satisfaction.”

Plans for the future

After 42 years, Eduardo Apolónia says that it is still possible to surprise everyone who visits Supermercados Apolónia. If they make a constant commitment to customer service or continue to offer different products than usual, they can “continue to make a difference.”

Paulo Apolónia describes that over 42 years the company’s evolution has been “positive, sustainable and prosperous”. With the help of “visionary” parents who conveyed “the essence of the Apolónia brand”, the management’s efforts have prevailed in the quality of the service offered to customers and in the wholesome working environment of its employees. Evolution, according to Paulo Apolónia, has been natural, using “actions and decisions taken at the right times.”

In terms of immediate plans, Eduardo Apolónia mentions that the aim is to improve the services and products to offer. However, there are new features to be introduced, such as the “Apolónia customer card”, which will give Apolónia’s customers various benefits, rewarding them for choosing to visit Apolónia shops.

In terms of expansion, Eduardo Apolónia told The Portugal News that there are plans to open new shops not only in the Algarve but also in Lisbon, Porto and Spain. To accompany this expansion of physical spaces, the company intends to extend its delivery services, for orders placed in the shop, to the whole of Portugal, particularly concerning fresh products.

Where can you find Supermercados Apolónia?

There are currently only Supermercados Apolónia in the Algarve, and you can find them in Almancil, where the first shop was opened, but also, in Galé, in the municipality of Albufeira and Lagoa (Carvoeiro).

Deeply in love with music and with a guilty pleasure in criminal cases, Bruno G. Santos decided to study Journalism and Communication, hoping to combine both passions into writing. The journalist is also a passionate traveller who likes to write about other cultures and discover the various hidden gems from Portugal and the world. Press card: 8463. 

Bruno G. Santos