São Paulo – With over 20 years operating in the domestic market and on the international market for six, Rivelli Alimentos – which started as a small mill in Barbacena, in the interior of the state of Minas Gerais, now exports to several markets like China, Russia, Africa and the Middle East. In the Arab market, considered strategic for the company, Rivelli chickens are already sold in the Emirates and Oman.
"Sales to the United Arab Emirates began in 2004 and to Oman in 2008. We were visited by representatives of local importers," explained Marcelo Assunção, export manager at Rivelli. "The Rivelli plans are always in the sense of expanding the market share. Evidently, the foreign market is a great alternative for that, especially when considering the Arab market," said the manager.
The Arab countries are great consumers of chicken produced in Brazil. From January to November 2008, Brazilian exports of chicken to the Arab market generated US$ 1.86 billion, representing growth of 63.48% over the same period in 2007. In terms of volume, sales to the region were over 1 million tonnes.
According to information supplied by the Market Development Department at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, the main Arab importers of Brazilian chicken in the period were Saudi Arabia, with 370,000 tonnes, the United Arab Emirates, with 193,000 tonnes, Kuwait, with 150,000 tonnes, Qatar, with 58,000 tonnes, Yemen, with 48,000 tonnes and Oman, which purchases 46,000 tonnes.
According to Assunção, the main destinations for Rivelli sales are China and some countries in Africa. Sales are made through trading companies, however, as the company was recently approved for sales of its products on the Arab market, the process should now be negotiated directly with the end user.
The beginning
Rivelli was established in 1985 by brothers Carlos and Márcio Nogueira Rivelli, and started operating in the family house, where they had a little flock of hens that were sold at the farmer’s market in the city. Soon the business started generating results. Sales rose and the partners decided to set up their first shop, with financed equipment.
Later, another two shops were opened in Barbacena. Frangobom was born. The demand did not stop growing and in 1986 they built their first areas for chicken breeding on a larger scale, on João Rivelli Farm, in Ressaquinha, in the state of Minas Gerais. Nowadays the company trades under brand Rivelli, employs 1,300 people and produces around 26 million birds a year.
The company works in an integrated system with another 80 small producers who set up the breeding areas and raise chickens up to the moment of slaughter, with the technical support of Rivelli, which also supplies the chicken feed and the medication necessary. Since December 2005, the company has also had an incubator for eggs and a flock of hens for breeding.
Contact
Site: www.rivellialimentos.com.br
Telephone: (+55 32) 3339-0155
*Translated by Mark Ament
