Interações espaciais: o caso da empresa Glória/Parmalat em Itaperuna (RJ)

Abstract

The objective of this work is to reveal the corporative geographical network of the milk industry Gloria/Parmalat besides its spatial interactions. The contact between spatial points and their movements shows a determinate spatial type, in this case, a dendritic one influenced by the direction, where determined central locations controls areas designated for milk production. For this we made a periodization since the beginning of Gloria: 1) (1960-2000)Gloria industry controlled by the north-american corporation Fleischmann & Royal/Nabisco. The principal points of the production network of Gloria/Fleischmann & Royal were in Itaperuna (RJ), Italva (RJ), Cambuci (RJ), Porciúncula (RJ), Muriae (MG), Carangola (MG)and Alegre (ES). 2) (2000-01) Gloria controlled by the north-american corporation Kraft Foods International. In this small period (two years) didn t occurred big changes, just an intensification of the processes of elevation of the production volume and benefits of milk quality. The production network of Gloria/Kraft remains the same as once. The distribution network was concentrated in the cities of Jundiai (SP) and Recife (PE). 3) (2001-05) Gloria industry controlled by the Italian corporation Parmalat. The Gloria/Parmalat industry, located in the city of Itaperuna, makes products like milk in dust, desserts, milk cream and condensed milk. The production network of Gloria/Parmalat is mainly concentrated in the cities of Itaperuna, Alegre (ES), Ibiraçu (ES), Muriae (MG) and Baependi (MG), that is, in the principal milk areas of the respective states. Parmalat Brazil (divided into Parmalat Foods, Bakery Division, Batavia and Parmalat Participations) controls seven industries and eight distribution centers all around the country. We studied the Gloria/Parmalat industry before and after the financial problems in the center of the corporation in Parma, Italy. The Parmalat industry in Brazil, one of the most important of the group, since the year 2000 was in restructuring process when, in 2004 was affected by the financial problems. This one revealed the vulnerability of Brazil s milk production, extremely concentrated in the hands of Nestle and Parmalat, and the necessity of an permanent looking. Beyond that, on the contrary of the expectations, the financial problems fortified regional brands and proved the strength of the cooperatives in the state of Rio de Janeiro.