MC picks Gravitee for API overhaul and hybrid multi-cloud push

By AI, Created 2:36 PM UTC, May 28, 2026, /AGP/ – MC, the retail division of Sonae and Portugal’s largest private employer, has chosen Gravitee to replace Google Apigee and unify API governance across its business. The deal supports MC’s tech transformation program as it prepares for hybrid multi-cloud, event-driven, and IoT-driven retail services.

Why it matters: - MC is using the platform shift to build the API foundation for newer retail services, including personalized experiences, IoT-enabled store operations, and event-driven systems. - The move gives MC a path to standardize governance across its retail platforms while supporting a hybrid multi-cloud setup. - The change is part of MC’s broader technology overhaul for a business that runs 1,560+ stores and generates nearly €9 billion in annual revenue.

What happened: - Gravitee announced that MC selected Gravitee as its strategic API management platform. - MC will replace Google Apigee with Gravitee. - The rollout is tied to MC’s company-wide Tech Transformation program. - The announcement was made June 1, 2026.

The details: - MC will use Gravitee to unify API governance across the organization. - The platform is intended to support both synchronous and asynchronous APIs. - MC cited architectural flexibility and native event-driven capabilities as key reasons for the selection. - Centralized governance will cover e-commerce, loyalty, and partner ecosystems. - Deployment flexibility is designed to support SaaS, hybrid, on-premise, and multi-cloud environments. - Gravitee’s gateway-based pricing is positioned as more predictable than consumption-based licensing models. - Native support for asynchronous APIs and protocol mediation aligns with MC’s Solace-based event infrastructure. - Rory Blundell, CEO of Gravitee, said the partnership is meant to help organizations manage APIs across any environment without being locked into a single cloud vendor. - Luís Monteiro, Head of EA, Platform Engineering, Infrastructures at MC, said the platform will power the next generation of digital services at MC and that the shift is an investment in how MC delivers value to customers.

Between the lines: - MC is treating API management as core infrastructure, not just a back-end tooling decision. - The emphasis on event-driven architecture suggests MC wants faster integration between digital channels, store operations, and connected devices. - Gravitee’s multi-environment support fits a retailer that needs flexibility across legacy systems and cloud-based services. - The deal also signals continued pressure on large retailers to modernize architecture while controlling licensing costs.

What’s next: - Gravitee’s platform will support MC’s move toward IoT-enabled store operations. - MC will continue building real-time event-driven architectures for customer-facing services. - The company is positioning its technology stack to scale across hybrid and multi-cloud environments as the transformation program advances. - MC expects the new API foundation to support future digital services and product-team autonomy.