wholesale operation

[ˈhoʊlseɪl ˌɑːpəˈreɪʃən]
nounpl: wholesale operations
operação de atacado
1. A business activity involving the buying and selling of goods in large quantities, typically at lower prices, to be resold by retailers or other businesses rather than to end consumers
The company's wholesale operation supplies products to hundreds of retail stores across the country.
A operação de atacado da empresa fornece produtos para centenas de lojas de varejo em todo o país.
2. The division or department of a business that handles bulk sales and distribution to other businesses
Our wholesale operation generates more revenue than our retail division.
Nossa operação de atacado gera mais receita do que nossa divisão de varejo.
3. Large-scale, rapid, or indiscriminate activity performed without careful consideration (figurative use)
The government's wholesale operation to reform the system was controversial.
A operação em massa do governo para reformar o sistema foi controversa.
In Brazil, wholesale operations (atacado) are central to the economic structure, with major wholesale markets like CEAGESP in São Paulo serving as vital distribution hubs. The term is used both literally in commerce and figuratively in everyday language to describe large-scale actions. In the USA, wholesale operations are fundamental to the supply chain, with companies often separating wholesale and retail divisions for tax and operational efficiency purposes.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
bulk sellingwholesale tradebulk distributionwholesale businessdistributor operation
Antonyms / Antônimos
retail operationretail saledirect-to-consumer sale

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
operação de atacado
Standard term used in commerce and business contexts
São Paulo
operação atacadista
Common in commercial districts; more formal usage
Rio de Janeiro
operação de compra e venda no atacado
More descriptive phrasing used in local business
Portugal
operação de comércio por grosso
Portuguese uses 'por grosso' instead of 'atacado'

Related Words

distributorbulk buyerwholesale pricesupply chaininventory managementB2B commerce

Related Idioms & Phrases

wholesale slaughter (figurative: large-scale destruction or termination)
wholesale changes (figurative: extensive, broad-based modifications)
go wholesale (to shift to bulk/large-scale operations)
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