Based in the city of Cascavel, in the western region of the state of Paraná, in the South of Brazil, Mate Laranjeiras, a small producer of mate herb, mate tea and powdered mix for cold tea, already exports to countries in the Mercosur, and to the United States, Germany, Poland, France and Japan.
Now they want to spread their wings even farther and have plans to enter the Arab countries in coming months. They have approached Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Lebanon.
"We started making contact with importers from these three countries, where there are large Muslim communities and that have shown interest in our products," stated businessman Heroldo Secco.
According to him, the most recent contacts took place at Sial Paris 2008 fair, one of the most important fairs in the food sector, which took place from October 17 to 25, in France. Participation was through a project by the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil), connected to the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.
"It was a very important opportunity for consolidation of mate herb of Brazilian origin on the foreign market, as it made possible contact with occasional customers and with new buyers, like those in the Arab countries," pointed out Secco. The event is a window for companies to seek innovation and business in the food industry. In all, there were 5,300 exhibitors and 140,000 visitors.
According to Secco, the company usually participates in at least two or three fairs abroad each year, mainly in Europe and the United States. Among the main products exported by the brand are conventional and organic mate herb and tea. "The products are shipped abroad in their own packages and also according to the needs of the client," he explained.
The brand reached the foreign world in the 1970s. The first export by Laranjeiras took place in 1978. "We exported to Argentina, which at the time had no mate herb, and to Uruguay," recalled Mariza Somensi, another of the company partners.
Apart from exporting, the industry also sought strengthening of its business on the domestic market. "We concentrated our sales in Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and Rondônia, but we also sell to all other states, from the smallest orders to large loads," explained Mariza.
Mate Laranjeiras was established in 1976. In three decades the company grew, consolidated partnerships, built new units and developed new products with a varied line of items that range from the traditional mate herb and chimarrão to cold powdered tea drinks.
The company is certified by the Biodynamics Institute for production and sale of organic mate herb and its subproducts, complying with all standards for this purpose.
Service
Mate Laranjeiras
Site: www.matelaranjeiras.com.br
Telephone: (+ 55 45) 3225-6655
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