São Paulo – After becoming famous on the coast of São Paulo state, Rochinha Ice Cream wants to win new markets within Brazil and abroad. The growth plans for the coming five years include investment of 8 million reals in the construction of a new ice cream factory in São José dos Campos, in the interior of São Paulo. The unit should be inaugurated next July and should triple brand production, currently at 70,000 ice creams. Abroad, invitations have already been made to export to the United Arab Emirates, United States and Portugal. All are in the list of company priorities for the next three years.
"First we are going to invest in Brazil, where we already sell in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, with the entrance into markets like Brasília and Santa Catarina," explained the Rochinha marketing director, Juliana Lopes. "We are then going to work the foreign market, with participation in fairs and making contacts abroad," she explained.
According to Juliana, the Arabs are potential clients. "We were sought by a businessman in Dubai who was introduced to our product in São Paulo and showed great interest," she says. "We know that the countries of the Middle East represent good opportunities for us," she explained.
Rochinha Ice Cream is present in 700 points of sale in São Paulo, of which 13 are brand franchises. That is not to mention the 200 ice-cream carts offering the product on the beaches of the state. In Rio, the plan is to strengthen participation after Carnival, but starting during the event. "We are going to participate in the Brahma Box at the Sapucaí," explained Juliana.
The company currently has 25 employees, a total that should rise to 45 with the opening of the new factory, to be installed in an area of 8,500 square metres. Currently, the entire production is in São Sebastião, on the North Shore of São Paulo.
On the menu are 28 flavours of ice lollies and 30 flavours of ice cream. The cash cow? “White coconut, the first recipe developed by my father, José Lopes, on taking over the company," explained Juliana. Before taking over Rochinha Ice Cream, purchased from a friend, José Lopes worked for a butcher and a chemist, as well as delivering gas and helping his father at building sites.
Currently, the business is managed by the entrepreneur, with the support of his wife and his six children. At work and at home, of course, ice cream was never lacking. "We consume it every day," said Juliana, pleased with taking the brand’s cold delicacies to the largest possible number of aficionados, like herself.
Contact:
Rochinha Ice Cream:
Tel.: (+ 55 12) 3892-4752
http://www.sorvetesrochinha.com.br/
*Translated by Mark Ament
