São Paulo – Typical flavors of Mediterranean ice cream, such as dates and apricots, are now available for Brazilians at Bachir in Moema, in the capital city of São Paulo. The brand, which has 80 years of history in Lebanon, opened its first branch in Brazil. Bachir already has two units in Paris, France, adding up to over 50 stores.
This is the company’s first undertaking in Latin America, carried out by the brothers Maurice and Edward Bachir, born in the city of Bikfaya in Lebanon. “We opened the store here to try out how the market would work six months ago, and it worked out really well,” revealed the businessman to ANBA.
The Lebanese explained that besides being the family name, Bachir means ‘smiling people.’ For him, it is a good definition of the company’s history, which is often mixed with that of the family. “It all started with my grandparents, then my parents and uncles, then me and my brother. We are in the third generation, and everyone has always worked with ice cream. That’s why we have this experience,” he said.
To take care of all the stores, the entrepreneur uses a management system, but in the case of the Brazilian unit, he decided to get closer. “Brazil is great. For me, it’s the best country in the world. All countries are good, but this is the best,” said the businessman, who has lived for ten years coming and going to the South American country where his wife, a Brazilian of Lebanese descent, comes from.
Lebanese and Brazilian flavors
Even the ingredients from his homeland, Bachir manages to buy from suppliers in Brazil. “They are Mediterranean flavors, like almonds, apricots, roses, dates. I think Brazilians enjoy these flavors. At first, it was a little weird, but it soon worked out just fine. Many people who come to the store are of Lebanese descent, but we also receive other Brazilians. It’s ice cream for everyone. The [traditional] recipes are the same ones my grandparents created,” he said.
Even though most products follow the format and options created in Lebanon, there is room for originalities from each country. “Here in Brazil, we have flavors like dulce de leche, passion fruit, and red berries, which we do not have in Lebanon,” revealed Bachir.
As an observer, the businessman has already managed to assess the pace of consumption of products in different seasons. “In this period, we noticed they [Brazilians] continue to have ice cream in the winter. It’s not the same as summer, but it’s still good,” he explained.
The company’s plans are first to consolidate the first store in the country, then plan an expansion. There are also possibilities to take the flavors created in Brazil to the other units, but there is still no target date. “We may take some, like passion fruit [to Paris or Lebanon], but the preferences of each country are different from others. Each flavor is specific to the place,” concluded the businessman.
Bachir ice cream
Rua Diogo Jacome, 686, Moema, São Paulo – SP
+55 11 97301-7070 / Instagram @bachirbrasil
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
