Source: DN Economia
Portuguese cannery Cofaco, owner of the ‘Bom Petisco’ tuna brand
Cofaco started 50 years ago in the Portuguese location of Vila Real de Santo Antonio, just a stone’s throw away from Spain. In just less than a year the company crossed half the Atlantic and settled in the Azores. Cofaco has been exporting products for over 30 years, says Administration Manager Luis Cumbrera Tavares.
The canning company has several brands with history such as ‘Tenorio’ (gourmet line), ‘Santa Maria’ (for export), ‘Bom Amigo’ (online low cost) and its star brand ‘Bom Petisco’.
One of the brand’s secret lies in the fact that the whole canning process is done in an ‘artisanal’ way. The tuna is fished with pole and line, manually cleaned and packed in a traditional manner. This artisanal method stands out against the coverage that Cofaco aims at reaching within the global market.
Luis CumbreraTavares explains that Cofaco exports product to 30 different countries, including Australia, Italy, USA, France, besides the traditional markets. Despite the distance, Australia is one of Cofaco’s best markets. The company’s tuna, packed under ‘Santa Maria’ brand, has been part of the Australian supply chain for several decades.
Cofaco is mainly focused on exports and therefore produces three specific brands for the overseas markets: ‘Santa Maria’, ‘As do Mar’ and ‘Bon Apetit’. Cofaco is selling four million cans of tuna per year. In 2011, its exports grew by 40% and it expects an additional 30% increase in 2012.
