São Paulo – Trading company Berto International Business, based in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, wants to increase its sales to the Arab market. The company specializes in the food industry and represents 10 Brazilian and international brands. According to the director and partner at the trading company, Daniela Bertolucci, hard candy, peanuts and nuts are the Brazilian products more likely to enter the Arab market.
The trading company first exported to the Middle East in the year 2000, when it went on a government mission to the Middle East and made contact with a large Saudi importer. On that occasion, hard candy was shipped. In 2004, it was the time of paçoca (candy made from peanuts) with chocolate, by the Agtal company, which makes peanut-based snacks. The SAudi buyer came to Brazil to attend a food industry trade fair promoted by the Brazilian Wholesalers and Distributors Association (Abad) and wound up striking a deal with the company.
"We shipped just one container to Dammam, and from there the products were distributed in Riyadh and other main cities. After that we never exported to them again," said Daniela. According to her, in order to export to Saudi Arabia, the company adapted the product’s package and included Arabic labels. "It is a very traditional product of Brazilian culture, and I guess it was not widely accepted because of this," she added. Besides, paçoca with chocolate requires special care in distribution and storage, because it is heat-sensitive.
Daniela believes that Agtal’s products stand good chance of entering the Arab market, especially the salted peanuts, cashew nuts, and a mix of peanuts, cashew nuts, nuts, raisins, pistachio and apricots. "These are excellent products to be sold in hotels, mini-bars and aircraft," she said.
Berto International Business has also exported hard candy, canned meat and coffee to the Arab market. "Approximately 5% of our exports go to Arab countries," said Daniela. She believes that exports of hard candy made by company Soberana to the Middle East, for instance, also has potential to grow. The trading company sells to the region two or three times a year, to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Palestine.
The trading company’s main target countries are located in South and Central America, Africa e Oceania. In August, the company is going to attend the Abicad trade fair, in the city of Curitiba, and Daniela is expecting to be contacted by Arab buyers. "All of our companies are prepared to export and are able to adapt their products for the Arab market," she asserted.
Contact
Berto International Business
Site: www.bertointl.com.br
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
