The Lisbon Connection

Conserveira de Lisboa has been covered in many many newspapers, tv-programs and on the internet, never paid for any promotion but is listed by many touristic guides. Why? Because this is a wonderful preserved-fish store with hundreds of colourful tins of the Portuguese favorite fish. It’s been open for 80 years and well worth a visit, even if you don’t like fish! 

Maria de Jesus Silva. The shop opened in 1930 under the name ‘Mercearia do Minho’and changed it’s name to Conserveira de Lisboa in 1942. In the beginning days the company sold all kinds of alimentation, concentrating on canned foods.

Luís Vieira. In 1942 the company applied for the registration of the first two brands of conserves: TRICANA and PRATO DO MAR. Tricana was registered in 1948 and Prata do Mar in 1956.

Macquerel (filetes de cavala), tunny (atum), squid (polvo) and cod (bacalhau).

During the second world war the industry of conserved fish products developed rapidly and it helped the company to evolve quickly, reaching it’s peak with the colonial war in ‘74. After this period, the conserves market shrinked steadily, frozen food became a more common way of conservation.

Confronted with this perspective of a further declining market, the Conserveira chose to remain operating on this niche market and offer only quality products. This way the shop also survived the agressive low prices by the supermarkets.

 

 Two nice ladies in the shop are wrapping the various preserves: Manuela Pereira….

…..and Maria Manuela Henriques Nunes

I bought 4 cans: 2 fillets macquerel (€ 4,54) and 2 tummy fillets (€ 3,63). Happily no plastic bags! If you like you can write a nice note in the guestbook.

In June 2004 Armando Jose Cabral Ferreira and Regina Maria da Silva Monteiro Baptista Cabral Ferreira became the owners of the shop.

Conserveira de Lisboa,  Rua dos Bacalhoeiros, 34 (’street of the cod fish sellers’……). More…

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