São Paulo – The Minas Gerais-based food company Clap Alimentos wants to enter the Arab market with the products of its Maricota brand. For such, it obtained Halal certification for 37 products in a list that includes lasagnes, pizzas, cod cakes, meat and chicken safihas, cornbread, pancakes, cheese bread and mini kibbehs.
“We go to fairs and international missions with the Apex (Brazilian Export Promotion Agency). In these events, we have met Middle Eastern buyers who have shown interest in our products, but we were not certified, therefore we could not export,” said Camila Ozório, the company’s international assistant, regarding the company’s interest in the Muslim market. “We have also engaged in business matchmaking rounds here in Brazil with companies from the region that are interested in importing,” she added.
Next year, for the first time, Clap is going to the Gulfood, the leading trade show for the food industry in the Middle East, held in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. “We are going to showcase our products and seek new clients,” stated Camila. Product certification was issued by the Brazilian Halal Food Centre (Cibal, in the Portuguese acronym), the operational arm of the Federation of Muslim Associations in Brazil (Fambras).
At present, Clap sells to the United States, Angola, Spain, France, Argentina and Chile. Out of the 800 monthly tonnes of food that the company produces, 15% to 20% are exported. According to Camila, large-scale manufacturing of Halal items should start in September, and may represent up to 25% of the company’s output. She explains that currently, products are undergoing testing by some clients interested in importing.
The executive underscores, however, that not all of its Halal output should be shipped abroad, because Clap is also willing to sell the foodstuffs domestically. “There is a strong demand for Halal products from the Brazilian Muslim community for Halal,” she claimed.
According to Camila, the changes made in the composition of certain foods in order to earn the certification were good for the company. “We do not use preservatives or aromas in these products, but the flavour remains the same [as the original]. Thus, we have reached not only a public that seeks Halal foods, but also quality natural products,” she explained.
The packaging will also be modified to attest to the certification. “We are producing packaging bearing the Halal stamp and written in English and Arabic,” she finished off.
Based in the city of Luz, in the interior of the state of Minas Gerais, Clap was established in 1991, has offices in the cities of Belo Horizonte and São Paulo and employs 600 people.
Contact
Clap Alimentos
Tel.: +55 11 2631-4900
E-mail: comex@clapalimentos.com.br
Site: www.maricotaalimentos.com.br
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
