Isaura Daniel*
São Paulo – The nougats produced by a company from the city of São Paulo are on the shelves of supermarkets in Libya and Algeria. Sweet factory Montevérgine is selling cashew nut and peanut nougats to the Arab countries. "These are very different tastes to them, especially the cashew," stated the company export manager, Luciana Proença. Montevérgine also exports alcohol free cherry bonbons to the Arabs.
Exports to both nations in North Africa started around one year ago, after contacts made during the International Sweet and Biscuit Fair (ISM), which takes place in Cologne, Germany. At the show, Montevérgine met Arab importers who later became product distributors in Algeria and Libya. Both countries now answer to around 5% of company exports.
In São Paulo, the industry has a factory where 230 employees work, and between 15% and 20% of production (volume not informed) is exported. The list of main importers includes South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Holland, Argentina and Uruguay. In all, round 15 countries buy the company products. Entry into the foreign market took place around four years ago. "But two years ago we started focussing more on export," stated Luciana.
At the factory, they produce, apart from the nougats and bonbons, chocolate Easter eggs, sandwich biscuits, Panetone, confectioned almonds, coated biscuits and cereal bars. At the pre-Easter and pre-Christmas periods, production doubles due to the high demand. The company normally increases work shifts so as to produce more. The packages for the products exported are in three languages, English, French and Spanish.
The company export manager forecasts a 20% increase in foreign sales for this year. The company should participate in four fairs, two in Germany, one in the United States and one in Recife, capital of the Northeastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco. Export contacts normally take place at fairs. Last year, Montevérgine also participated in business roundtables with importers from Chile and South Korea.
Montevérgine is a family company that was established 40 years ago. The company factory is in the suburbs of São Paulo.
Contact
Montevérgine
Telephone: (+55 11) 5564-2000
Site: www.montevergine.com.br
E-mail: export@montevergine.com.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
