The sectoral project “Brazil. The Coffee Nation”, developed by the Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association (BSCA) in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), took 77 Brazilian entrepreneurs on trade missions to England and Belgium. These initiatives generated US$33.1 million in face-to-face business through 1,145 business contacts – 649 of which were with new clients – and could yield an additional US$218.9 million over the next 12 months, resulting in a total of US$252 million in business if consolidated. The trade missions included 25 entrepreneurs, including nine producers from the “Produced by Them” project, carried out by BSCA in partnership with the International Women Coffee Alliance (IWCA) and with the support of ApexBrasil. On June 23rd, in London, strategic visits were made to the companies Notes Coffee, Grind, Mercanta, and Coffee Centre, providing opportunities for exchanging experiences, making business connections, and updating on the prospects of the British market. On the 24th, activities took place in Brussels, Belgium, where networking, business contacts, and insights into the local market were gained through visits to Wide Awake, MOK, and Café Capitale. The final mission also took place in Belgium, with the "Guided Tour of Specialty Coffee in Antwerp," led by master roaster Tom Jansen, a pioneer of the specialty coffee movement in the country and co-founder of OR Coffee Roasters, a renowned artisanal roastery known for its direct sales and support of producers. Visits were made to Caffènation, Kolonel, Cuperus, Cross Roast / Cafe Mundi, and Rush Rush. Between June 26th and 28th, the focus of the Brazilian entrepreneurs' activities was on World of Coffee Brussels, one of the leading global trade fairs in the specialty coffee segment, bringing together producers, roasters, baristas, companies, and professionals from across the chain in an environment focused on innovation, business, knowledge, and international connections. Organized by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), the event is a significant meeting point for business and knowledge exchange. Brazil had a strategically located booth at the fair, with space for business meetings, a brew bar for tasting specialty coffees from various Brazilian regions, including the "Produced by Women" project, and a cupping room for tasting sessions of products from BSCA members. "As a continent, Europe is the main trading partner of the Brazilian specialty coffee sector, and our initiatives with 'Brazil. The Coffee Nation' focus on expanding business and strengthening the Brazilian presence in this mature and vital market in the global segment. The results achieved demonstrate, in this context, that we continue to carry out unique and exemplary work for all the players in the Brazilian specialty coffee sector," highlights Vinicius Estrela, executive director of BSCA.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.