São Paulo – With the proposal of trading only fish bred in captivity, Mar & Terra has been winning clients within and outside Brazil. Headquartered in the city of Itaporã, in Mato Grosso do Sul, the company exports to Canada, the United States, Chile, Japan, England, Germany, Switzerland and Portugal. Now, in the search for new markets, the company is seeking a distributor in the Middle East.
"What is most important is finding the right partner, somebody who already works with the product and that has experience in the market," said Juliana Lucena, the Marketing and Export manager. With two areas where fish are bred, one in Mato Grosso do Sul and another in Rondônia, Mar & Terra produces pintado, pacu, tilapia, arapaima and tambaqui. With production of 1,000 tonnes of fish a month, the company exports 40% of production, generating 5 million Brazilian reals (US$ 2.9 million) a year.
Growth targets are ambitious, boosting sales on the foreign market by 60% to 70%, with the same percentages of growth on the domestic market, in 2011. “We are investing in new partnerships and marketing activities, as well as analysing market demand," explained Juliana. “The Arab market interests us," she finished off.
In Brazil, Mar & Terra fish is already sold in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paulo, Goiás, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Bahia, and the company is starting to trade in Brasília and in the state of Paraná.
According to Juliana, despite the global preference for saltwater fish, the company’s products have been winning foreign clients. “When Mar & Terra sends samples, they (the clients) like the flavour and the quality of the product," reveals the manager. "When we prove that our flavour is good, we are well received."
According to the executive, the quality of the fish is one of the main attractions of Mar & Terra products. “We have careful control of all processes within the company to guarantee greatly valued products," she said.
In Brazil, company products may be found at restaurants of renowned chefs like Alex Atala, Emanuel Bassoleil and Ana Luiza Trajano. Established in 2003, Mar & Terra has 140 employees and, in 2009, had revenues of 12 million reals (US$ 7 million).
Contact
Mar & Terra
Tel: (+55 11) 5501-7786
E-mail: juliana.lucena@mareterra.com.br
Site: www.mareterra.com.br
*Translated by Mark Ament