São Paulo – You may not know it, but the fries you make in your air fryer may come from Egypt. In addition to fries produced in Brazil and imported from countries such as Belgium and Argentina, Egyptian fries have entered the Brazilian market. The Brazilian company 52W, which already imports frozen oranges and strawberries from the Arab country, has begun facilitating sales of ready-to-cook fries. “At a time of food hyperinflation, Egyptian fries enter the Brazilian market as a cheaper option,” said Gustavo Fávero, one of 52W’s partners. This is despite high import costs, including freight.
One of the brands imported is Frizzles, but the company also imports frozen fries for Brazilian manufacturers that simply package them under their own brands. Fávero currently works with three Egyptian companies and sees further potential for growth in the Brazilian market as demand for frozen food products increases. Potato exports have been growing in the Arab country, as have agricultural exports overall. In 2025, Egypt’s agricultural exports totaled 9.5 million metric tons, an increase of 800,000 metric tons from the previous year, generating a record USD 11.5 billion in revenue. Citrus fruits topped the list, followed by potatoes, reflecting the growing importance of agricultural products in Egypt’s export portfolio.
In December, Fávero was invited to attend the Food Africa trade show in Egypt and took the opportunity to visit potato and orange farms, as well as potato processing facilities operated by companies he already worked with and others he was considering working with. “Food safety is a very serious issue, so being able to visit the places where the food we import is produced is important to ensure they actually meet the standards required in Brazil,” he said. “I was able to see firsthand what was good and what was not and make more informed selections.”
When selecting high-quality frozen fries, Fávero notes that his products are not among the cheapest. On the other hand, what he imports helps position Egypt as a country capable of supplying high-quality food products. The same applies to the frozen strawberries he has been importing from Egypt for longer, in the form of purée, made with 100% fruit, and pulp, which contains added water.
According to the importer, consumption of French fries has been increasing among Brazilians. “In my opinion, this may be related to the product’s convenience—since it is pre-fried, it can simply be put in the oven, but it is also widely used in air fryers, which are becoming increasingly common in Brazilian homes—as well as the high cost of eating out. French fries were something people used to eat a lot when dining out,” he said. “These are trends we observe closely because they drive us to look for good, more affordable opportunities abroad.”
52W was founded four years ago. Its name reflects the company’s slogan of serving customers 52 weeks (W stands for “week”) a year with the same products. Since a year has 52 weeks, the company sources fresh and frozen products from around the world so that when production in the Southern Hemisphere ends, it begins importing from the Northern Hemisphere.
One-day tour
During the 35 days he spent in Egypt, he only managed to see the famous pyramids on his last day. He also visited the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo. “It had just opened, so everything was brand new, and it was certainly one of the most beautiful museums I’ve ever visited,” he said. “I’m already looking forward to going back at the end of this year.”
Learn more about 52W.
Report by Débora Rubin, in collaboration with ANBA.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
