São Paulo – Pita Bread, a manufacturer of the namesake bread in the state of São Paulo, is expecting to gross BRL 28 million this year (roughly USD 7 million at current exchange rates). Founded by a Lebanese family, the enterprise makes ten tons of bread a day and sells in six different Brazilian states.
Pita Bread marketing manager Suely Sayegh says the company’s product possesses the same characteristics as the one eaten by people in Middle East countries, but variations are also available in order to reach as many customers as possible.
“We offer different sizes and thicknesses, and in order to cater to a bigger number of restricted-diet customers, we also have Pita Bread Zero, which is cholesterol-free, sugar-free, saturated- and trans-fats-free, in addition to being a source of dietary fiber; and the 100% whole flour variety Pita Bread Integral,” the executive told ANBA in an interview by email.
Pita Bread founding family, the Sayeghs, relocated from Lebanon to Brazil in 1948, but the company wouldn’t open its plant until 1991 in Atibaia, São Paulo. Early on, the bread-making machinery had to be imported from Europe and the Middle East, since there was no such equipment available in Brazil.
According to Sueli, pita bread is quite popular among Brazilians today. “It’s a must-have for people of Arab descent, because it’s part of their cuisine, where pita bread complements several dishes. Non-Arab Brazilians also eat it, both as a side dish for Arab cuisine, which is quite widespread around these parts, and also because it’s a highly versatile product. It brings added practicality in the cooking of other dishes, such as pizza, wraps, sfiha and all sorts of sandwiches. The ‘Beirut’ (a typical Arab-named Brazilian sandwich) is not the be-all, end-all recipe,” she says.
The executive notes that pita bread is also good for health. “It has come to our knowledge that our breads are recommended in myriad light, calorie-restriction diets recipes, and many dietary reeducation programs advise people to consume these breads, including, for instance, Weight Watchers,” she says.
Business
The Atibaia-based manufacturer ships product to the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. It also makes pita bread-based croutons and snacks, all sold under the Pita Bread brand.
But its own branded products are not Pita Bread’s only source of revenue. It also supplies a major industry player. “We supply Wickbold with hot dog bread, canapé toast, sesame bagel bread, multi-cereal bagel and whole bagel, a type of bread that’s traditionally eaten in the United States, in addition to our daily pita bread production, which Wickbold buys and distributes,” the marketing manager explains.
In 2015, the company grossed BRL 25 million (USD ), up 5% from 2014. This year, as mentioned before, the number is expected to reach BRL 28 million (USD ). In order to fuel further growth, as of 2017, the company plans on taking its products to other parts of Brazil, including Mato Grosso, Goiás, the Federal District, Bahia and Pernambuco, and to start exporting its snacks.
Contact
Pita Bread
Website: www.pitabread.com.br
Phone: +55 11 4414-1166
Email:comercial@pitabread.com.br
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
