Introduction of the company, in occasion of its centenary

F. Rodrigues (Successors) Limited was founded in Macao, by Fernando de Senna Fernandes Rodrigues, in 1916. Initially, it was an import-export company, with its headquarters in Building 5 of Almeida Ribeiro Avenue. Formally, the company started operating on September 1st of that same year. Curiously, the address in the company’s first letter, from July 26th, 1916, is Number 2, Calçada do Bom Parto. The company remained in that address until 1936, when it moved to Praia Grande Street, 71, where the Rodrigues Commercial Building still remains today.

Following the death of its founder, Fernando de Senna Fernandes Rodrigues, on July 15th, 1945, his four sons and two daughters decided to continue with the company’s commercial activity and F. Rodrigues (Successors) Limited society was founded on December 26th, 1947.

His second son, Humberto Fernando Rodrigues, an engineer, was directly involved in leading the company’s business, followed by his daughter, Maria de Lourdes Leitão Rodrigues, from 1996 until 2000, and his son, Humberto Carlos Leitão Rodrigues, from 2001 until now, who respectively took over management, thus continuing the company’s activities. Overall, the company has now been in operation for over a century.

In the beginning, F. Rodrigues (Successors) Limited was almost exclusively and import-export company. The first diversification included a travel agency, which was soon followed by, both locally and internationally, a branching out to ship building, insurance and garment factories, among others. From the beginning, all of the company’s operations have been successful. Still, throughout the years, the area that has distinguished itself the most has been the import business, especially of food products and high quality wine from Portugal. Trading in these products has not only transformed the company into a household name in Macau’s commercial world, when it comes to quality food products, but it also allowed the company to expand to Mainland China, which has significantly increased the number of consumers with access to these products, while promoting trade between Portuguese-speaking countries and China. This is a prime example of how Macao plays the role of commercial platform between Portuguese-speaking countries and China, to which F. Rodrigues (Successors) Limited and the Rodrigues Family proudly contributes.

In times of instability, all businesses are subjected to fluctuations. Regardless of any adversities, F. Rodrigues (Successors) Limited has kept its fighting spirit, facing many historical challenges in the past 100 years: the nationalist period; the resistance against Japan; the liberation of China; the commercial embargo; the oil crisis; the financial crisis and epidemics, among others.

Before and after the handover of sovereignty from Portugal to China, F. Rodrigues (Successors) Limited has always insisted on remaining in the territory, contributing to social stability and promoting economic prosperity. Since its first day, the company’s motto is to maintain operations, create jobs and provide quality services and products – goals that have been achieved throughout the years, while serving as a trusted development agent between the markets of China, Portugal and Macao. F. Rodrigues (Successors) Limited contributes towards Macao’s economic diversification under the “One platform, three centers” structure, between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, fulfilling its vocation to serve the region and the country.