São Paulo – Averama, a meat packing company based in Paraná, wants to double exports to the Middle East. The company, which began selling in the region about six years ago, now sends between 70% and 75% of exports to the Arab countries. In March, the company opened an office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and has already identified increased sales.
"The goal is to grow in volume, and that is already happening," says Ivan Morales, general manager of the Dubai office." Averama already has four plants, we have production capacity and have already seen an increase in volume due to the direct relationship with customers. Until the middle of next year, the idea is to double the volume," says the executive.
When Averama started selling to the Middle East, exports were through trading companies. Currently, the meat packing plant from Paraná exports to Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, Tunisia, Lebanon, Egypt and Libya. Saudi Arabia takes in half the company’s sales to the region.
Nowadays, Averama slaughters some 350,000 birds a day, of which 35% are sent to the foreign market. To the Middle East, the animals most sold are griller type chickens and also parts, such as legs, thighs and breasts, as well as boneless chicken, popular in the region for preparation of the shawarma dish."
According to Morales, Averama has no plans to build a distribution centre in the Middle East, but the company already makes some shipments for sale in Dubai. "We import some merchandise and stocked it here. We bring a sealed container and sell it sealed, but the volume is small," he said.
The executive also pointed out that, apart from the office in the Emirates, the company also develops other actions to promote international trade, including participation in fairs like Gulfood, in Dubai, and Anuga, in Germany. "There are many opportunities to get new customers in the Middle East and North Africa," added Morales.
Established in 1994, Averama is headquartered in Umuarama. The company currently has 2,300 employees and expects to end 2013 with revenues of US$ 500 million.
Contact
Averama
Office in Dubai
Tel: (+971) 44273681
E-mail: exportacao1@agroparati.com.br
Site: www.averama.com.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
