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The CBI group is awaiting the approval of Portugal 2020 to proceed with an investment of 1.5 million euro on improvements at Amma 1981, in Arganil, namely on a new line of custom-made industrial tailoring.
Francisco Batista, CBI’s leader, took the helm of Amma in 2017, following an agreement with the biggest creditors, salvaging the employment of 160 workers and guaranteeing ownership of the facilities, equipment and brand (Carlo Visconti) of this company, now rechristened Amma 1981.
“We’re preparing a new cycle, consolidating structures and markets”, explains Francisco Batista, administrator and founder of this manufacturing group based in Mangualde, which closed 2018 with a turnover of nearly 30 million euro.
The CBI group also holds the brand AfroPants, in São Vicente, Cape Verde, which aside from putting out 500 trousers every day, is now producing women’s jackets as well.
“We are restructuring to become multipurpose and to go up in the value chain, in order to supply to customers from higher segments, who are able to pay to produce in Portugal”, says the CEO of the CBI, which supplies to brands such as Massimo Dutti, Polo Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein or Sacoor.