São Paulo – Hypermarket Uno, opened six months ago, in Algiers, the Algerian capital, wants to expand its import basket from Brazil. Belonging to the Algerian Cevital group, which already imports Brazilian products like fruit, coffee, sugar and orange juice, the company now plans to buy meats and dairy from the country.
"They are greatly interested in Brazilian products as Cevital group plans to open another two hypermarkets by 2012. The target is to grow and become the main distributor in Algeria," said Fábio Ottaiano, Market Development analyst at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, who is in Algiers as a member of the trade delegation to three countries, promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply.
According to Ottaiano, some Brazilian companies in the delegation, including slaughterhouse Mafripar, from Paraná, made contacts that may generate new business in future. "Algeria has a significant plan for growth and modernisation. Local retail is greatly fragmented and made up of small traders. Now, with the birth of the first hypermarkets, the tendency is to grow in coming years," said the analyst.
On Monday (29), the group participated in business roundtables promoted in partnership with the Brazilian embassy in Algiers. Some 25 Algerian businessmen participated. “Most of the businessmen are interested in establishing partnerships with Brazil, not only in importing products," pointed out Ottaiano.
According to him, there was interest in products like coffee and milk. In the case of coffee, an Algerian businessman is prepared to establish a local roasting unit in partnership with a Brazilian group. The same could take place in the dairy sector, processed milk in the Arab country, using Brazilian technology, in partnership with another local businessman. "They want Brazilian know-how," added the analyst.
The delegation, which visited Egypt last week, ends on December 4th. On Wednesday (1), the group should travel to Ras Al Khaimah. Apart from members of the ministry, the delegation includes representatives of companies and cooperatives in the sectors of beef, pork, poultry, rice and soy.
*Translated by Mark Ament
