Groupe Bénéteau completes its industrial pole in Portugal, by buying the Rodman Lusitania factory.

Just a few months after buying the Starfisher shipyard in Cerveira, the Bénéteau Group is further strengthening its Portuguese industrial base with the acquisition of the Rodman Lusitania factory, a 60,000m2 site, including 20,000m2 of covered space, located in Gandra, 8kms from Starfisher.

Unlike Starfisher, which was in full operation at the time of its acquisition by the French company, the Rodman Lusitania shipyard is an empty factory, which was used by Rodman, before the Spanish shipyard refocused its production facilities in Spain.

As a result of this acquisition, Groupe Bénéteau will merge Starfisher and Rodman Lusitania into a single structure, GB Portugal. 

GB Portugal will be dedicated to the production of powerboats under 40 feet, and is expected to employ 700 people, for an annual production of 1000 units, mainly sold under the Bénéteau and Jeanneau brands.

Jérôme de Metz, CEO of the Bénéteau Group, explains this acquisition on Yachting Art Magazine: "As announced in the Let's Go Beyond! strategic plan, the Beneteau Group is continuing to organize its industrial activity by type and size of boat. This acquisition will enable us to consolidate our presence in Portugal to serve the very dynamic market for small motorboats (under 40 feet) intended for local sailing, or dayboating. This acquisition will replace the Polish and American sites dedicated to these markets, which were lacking production capacity. Medium-sized boats, up to 60 feet, are produced in France, while large units from 60 to 80 feet are built in France and Italy.