São Paulo – Espírito Cacau is expanding its business in the Gulf. The Brazilian premium chocolate brand has already exported to the United Arab Emirates and recently struck a deal with an importing and distributing partner. “Now, Golden Falcon will be responsible for the brand in the Gulf region. They are from Ras Al Khaimah and present in several countries in the region, such as Saudi Arabia and even Egypt,” said Paulo Gonçalves, CEO of Espírito Cacau, in an interview with ANBA.
The entire brand line is tree-to-bar, which refers to chocolate produced and processed by the same company, from the planting to the bars. Two years ago, they obtained halal certification; hence, the company’s bars were shipped to the Emirati market shelves. “This is a growing market. In Ramadan, for instance, they consume a lot of sweets at night, when the fasting period ends,” said the businessman.
Sweetness profile
To delve into the Arab market, the Espírito Cacau team studied chocolate consumption trends in the region. What they found were consumers with a taste for sweetened products. The primary demand is milk chocolate or with ingredients such as cashew nuts and peanuts. Another favorite is white chocolate, also mixed with strawberries or cranberries.
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With data in hand, the brand went to the field and, in late 2022, launched new flavors directly in the UAE. Some products were launched first for the Arab public, like 70% cocoa chocolate with coffee, natural strawberry, cranberry, and gluten-free white chocolate with cookies. “It suited their taste; our representatives did a great job,” said the CEO.
In addition to natives, the brand also found a place in expatriates’ liking. “There are also people from outside [the country] looking for healthy foods; they prefer high-cocoa content,” said the CEO. For this audience, Gonçalves highlights options such as sugar-free chocolate.
Halal demand
The brand started exporting 900 kilos and now ships a 20-foot container every two months. “There is a sizeable demand for halal. This week, I was at Anufood, and my ‘neighbor’ [at the show] was selling ingredients and reported a significant demand for halal products. I explained to him I only buy from suppliers with this certification,” Gonçalves pointed out. Anufood is a food and beverage show.
The businessman explained he also plans to launch new products. However, firstly, he will seek more suppliers. “We are asking suppliers to become certified, as we sell as halal, we need all ingredients to be halal as well,” Gonçalves said. Among the products mentioned by Gonçalves as essential for his lines are nuts, sweeteners, and butter.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
