Gato Preto will close all the stores it maintains in Spain at the beginning of 2026, in a decision that marks a clear setback in its internationalization strategy and whose main objective is to ensure the continuity of operations in Portugal. The company seeks, in this way, to concentrate resources at a critical moment, after several negative years and a formal process of financial restructuring.
According to NiT, a website specializing in current affairs and lifestyle, the plan presented in court foresees the closure of the eight Spanish stores as a way of saving costs and protecting the core of the business in the national territory, allowing “to safeguard a significant part of the jobs” in Portugal. The company argues that this option is essential to ensure the continuity of the activity and preserve its economic and social value.
Years of losses and a plan to avoid bankruptcy
The last few years have been particularly difficult for the Portuguese furniture and decoration chain. In 2024, Gato Preto recorded losses of around 15 million euros, the result of an adverse economic context, marked by a drop in consumption, increased operating costs and pressure on margins in specialized retail.
In September 2025, the company moved forward with a Special Revitalization Process, a legal mechanism designed to avoid insolvency and allow the renegotiation of debt with creditors.
At that time, it was revealed that Gato Preto had accumulated more than 300 creditors, with credits exceeding 50 million euros, a weight that became difficult to sustain with the existing structure.
The closure of the operation in Spain thus appears as a direct consequence of this process. The company assumes that geographic dispersion, in a context of financial fragility, made recovery difficult and made the management of available resources less effective.
Betting on the national and non-digital market
The plan now underway involves reinforcing the brand’s presence in Portugal, maintaining the network of physical stores in the North, Center and South regions, and investing more consistently in the online channel. The administration considers that e-commerce offers greater efficiency and profitability, being more aligned with current consumer habits.
This strategic reorientation aims to guarantee a more focused operation adjusted to the real size of the business, without giving up the national presence that has characterized the brand since its foundation. The company believes that this combination between physical stores and digital channels could be decisive for its stabilization.
The decision is also presented as advantageous for creditors, since, according to the company, it increases the probability of paying higher amounts than those that would result from a total liquidation scenario, simultaneously preserving the value of the brand and the continuity of the activity.
Founded in Portugal and acquired by the Aquin Group in 2020, Gato Preto currently has 39 stores, of which 31 remain in the national territory.
The closure of the units in Spain represents a step back in international expansion, but is seen internally as a necessary move to guarantee the company’s survival. According to , management believes that this retreat could pave the way for a more stable and sustainable phase of the business.
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