From a Farmer's Market Find to an International Favorite: The Story of Gusto Brazil
The brainchild of two Brazilian friends who immigrated to the United States in pursuit of the American Dream, Gusto Brazil sells the most authentic Brazilian cheese bread in America to more than 30 states. After seeing authentic Brazilian cheese bread at a local farmer's market in Utah, they were inspired to create their own version and package the staple of Brazilian cuisine for large-scale distribution.
Known for its quality ingredients and taste, Gusto Brazil sells its products both online and in grocery stores, supplying several of your favorite national Brazilian restaurant chains.
As Stephen Shamy, VP of sales at Gusto Brazil, puts it, "We're taking something that is so authentically Brazilian and creating an American passion out of it."
Achieving this vision required adapting the product to create familiarity. Recently, the company expanded its product line to include cheese bread dough and cheese breadsticks that can be used as a side for coffee, tea, soup, salad, and pasta. Additionally, the cheese bread dough can be used in a variety of ways, including dough for waffles, tortillas, and pizza. Gusto Brazil's cassava flour is also a game-changer in the market, being a true alternative flour that is naturally gluten-free and low-glycemic.
Looking to replicate its national success in the global marketplace, Gusto Brazil partnered with World Trade Center Utah (WTC Utah) and was awarded an SBA STEP Grant to fund market research and recommendations for doing business in Canada.
“Our goal was to expand into a foreign market, but with that also comes different languages, culture, currency, and other challenges,” says Carlos Cavalcanti, CEO of Gusto Brazil, “Fortunately, WTC Utah came to our aid by providing us with relevant information to build a sound strategy and shed light on our path forward.”
And as a result of the research and support offered by WTC Utah, Gusto Brazil is now working with a broker and distributor in Canada and Mexico to expand its product to restaurants and grocery stores in North and Central America. Additionally, the company is participating in trade shows with international attendees, roadshows, and the Taste of Utah festival.
By diversifying their customer base and expanding sales into foreign markets, Gusto Brazil is better positioned to grow, innovate, and adapt to challenges like rising freight costs in the frozen food market.
The SBA STEP Grant that Gusto Brazil utilized to go global is administered by WTC Utah and is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
This grant can be used by small businesses for various international activities such as website design and development with an international focus, online-market listing fees, oversight and maintenance, and accommodations for international exports and localization services.
Other common uses of the grant include participation in state-led international trade shows and trade missions, U.S. Commercial Service services for exporters, tuition support for export training programs and certifications, compliance testing, and more. For a complete list, visit https://www.wtcutah.com/grants.
To learn more about Gusto Brazil, visit the following resources:
https://www.gustobrazil.com/ - Products
https://www.gustobrazil.com/recipes - Recipes
https://www.gustobrazil.com/naturally-gluten-free - Why naturally gluten-free?
