Amazonian inputs Beraca seeks partner
Valor Econômico
They are the third generation of a São Paulo family business that produces Amazon plant oils and essences. They export to more than 40 countries and have Estée Lauder, L'Oreal, Unilever, Natura and Johnson's in their client portfolio. Their products are both organic and certified. They accumulate sustainability awards in their curriculum, one of which awarded by the UN. Now, they are in search of partners. With six plants on their hands, Daniel and Filipe Sabará, Executive Officers of Beraca, have just announced the company's transformation into a private corporation.
The company intends to attract investors to increase its business - focused on the segments of cosmetics, foods and feed - and leverage the average growth of 14% a year and earnings of R$ 100 million (US$ 57.1 million). According to Filipe, Business Director, the change in the corporate structure of Beraca is the first step towards the future public offering.
Born as a distributor of imported chemical inputs, the company currently has three business units that have become reference in the market - the Health and Personal Care (HPC), with raw materials for the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries; Food Ingredients, for animal and human nutrition; and Water Technology, which provides inputs for the treatment of water. Among the projects that must be driven by the raising of funds is the enlargement of the unit for the processing of oils and extracts in Ananindeua, in Metropolitan Belém (PA), where the company works in partnership with 3 thousand Amazon families. According to Sizelmar Pereira Ramos Junior, Supervision Manager of Beraca, it is an investment of nearly US$ 10 million.
It is in the Amazon that Beraca has launched its Program for the Valuation of Biodiversity and where it develops works based on the environmental, social and economic tripod of sustainability, which granted the company some awards. And it is from the forest that result the essences shipped for the cosmetics production of major European and American brands, as well as for Brazilian brands such as Natura - Beraca is the largest supplier of the Ekos line, according to Filipe.
The health and beauty unit is the one that registers the biggest leap in earnings of the company. Between the first quarter of this year and 2009, there was an increase of nothing less than 76%. The sector of foods is another one that has gained relevance. Beraca supplies saponin for a range of uses, including oils for capsules intended for human consumption and feed, with the purpose of regulating the digestive system, eliminating the odor of the feces of animals.
Unknown to the great public for being a company that supplies raw materials Beraca celebrates its performance abroad. Exports already respond for 35% of the income. The shipments increased 76% between 2005 and 2006, and that forced the executives to review strategies. They decided to open an inventory and administration base in Paris, Beraca International Europe, in May 2008. Last year, they opened their first stock in the United States in order to expedite the deliveries and lower the cost with freight. Until the end of this year, the expectation is to open Beraca International North America, in New Jersey, following the same concept as in Europe.