São Paulo – Brazilian participation at the Food and Beverage Trade Fair (Anuga) generated business of US$ 970 million. This is the estimated sales volume to be generated from contacts made at the fair for the coming 12 months, according to figures disclosed by the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil). Seven thousand contacts were made with importers from several parts of the world, among them the Arab nations.
Ruette Spices, one of the Brazilian companies participating in the fair, which exports fruit and spices, signed 68 contracts with clients in countries in the Middle East and Europe at the Anuga. "We sold 3,100 tonnes of pepper and 290 tonnes of cloves to deliver between March and November," said the vice president at the company, José Ruette Filho, according to Apex figures.
The fair took place from the 10th to the 14th and Brazilian participation was organized by the Apex. Oderich, which exports canned products, should expand sales between 5% and 10% this year when compared to 2008 due to business open at the fair. The company also recently started producing packages and tins and managed, at the Anuga, to place an order for 500,000 cans a month in Lebanon.
A total of 120 Brazilian companies participated in the fair with Apex support. "We were surprised with the level of negotiations reached, as businessmen were careful with regard to expectations and apprehensive with regard to the international crisis," evaluated the Business Director at the Apex-Brasil, Maurício Borges. According to him, the buyers who visited the fair were truly prepared to close deals.
*Translated by Mark Ament
