São Paulo – A food company from state of Paraná, Vapza, is focusing on the Middle East market. The company is in the process of obtaining the halal certification for its factory and wants to export the vacuum-packed lines of vegetables and meat to the Arab countries. The halal certification attests the food is prepared according to the Islamic law.
“We have already got some contact with the region and we have seen it is time to look into this market, which is growing a lot”, says Enrico Milani, vice-president of Vapza. “Our products are long-lasting and do not need refrigeration. They are natural, steam-cooked and vacuum-packed”, explains the executive. “I believe we can replace the big quantity of frozen products going there”, adds Milani on the imports made by the Arabs. Vapza produces food to be sold in the wholesale and also in food service segments (distribution in restaurants, hotels, etc.).
Vapza produces around 10,000 tonnes of food per year. In 2014, only in Q1, exports already stand for 15% of the company’s earnings. The company sells mainly to France, England and United States, but also to Panama and Hong Kong.
The contact with potential buyers from the Middle East came about at fairs in Europe and North America. Milani says he has already spoken to importers from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, besides Iran and Pakistan, which are non-Arab countries, but also demand halal food. “We are in touch with retail chains”, he said.
To get into the Arab market, besides the halal certification, Vapza is now also a member of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. The next step, reveals the vice-president, is to be present in the fairs in the region. “We will take part of the next edition of Gulfood”, says Milani, in reference to the biggest food fair in Middle East, which is held annually in Dubai. The company has already got packages in English and French and, if need be, Milani says they can also be produced in Arabic.
Headquartered in the city of Castro, in Paraná, Vapza was founded in 1996 and has almost 350 employees. In 2013, its revenue was around US$ 30.4 million, 49% higher than the previous year.
Contact
Vapza
Tel.: +55 (41) 3362 6466
E-mail: luizmion@vapza.com.br
Site: www.vapza.com.br (in Portuguese)
*Translated by Rodrigo Mendonça
