Saying that Portugal is a gateway seems like a cliché, but there are examples that prove that internationalizing to Europe through Portuguese territory works. At the Paris Chocolate Show, the Brazilian space has both businesswomen and businessmen who live on the other side of the Atlantic as well as those who already have their feet in Europe, more specifically in Portugal.
This is the case of businesswoman Raquel Lopes, who works with cachaças and has an increasing presence in Europe. Based in Lisbon, it frequently participates in fairs and events in other European countries, bringing cachaça and Brazilianness to do business.
“Here at the Chocolate Hall it’s been very promising, we’ve already had business rounds with real interested parties in buying several boxes for restaurants”, he tells the newspaper. This is the second time that the immigrant has participated in this event.
In addition to the business rounds, these missions are also important for networking and for sharing Brazilian culture. The “ambassador of cachaça” held a dinner for Brazilians and French in Paris during the Chocolate Salon week, at the restaurant Ourby renowned chef Alessandra Montagne.
Raquel challenged the Brazilian chef to pair dishes with cachaça and cocoa, two Brazilian products that stand out in the room. According to Alessandra, it was a “challenge” to create the dishes – which were considered a success among the participants.