Uruguayan exporters build opportunities in the Uruguay XXI and CIU food roundtable

From Carmelo to the world, from a hemp superfood to the first canned tuna made in Uruguay, success stories and projections multiplied during the international business roundtable organized by Uruguay XXI and the Uruguayan Chamber of Industries (CIU). With a decade of experience, this food sector business roundtable has become one of the most effective tools for promoting the internationalization of Uruguay’s food ecosystem.

More than 300 meetings occurred between 70 national companies and 13 strategic buyers from key markets such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and the United States.

Exporting from identity

The round allowed participants to see firsthand how Uruguayan companies are approaching the export process from different starting points and with other approaches.

From the wine-growing heart of the country, Sebastián Gonzatto, export manager at Giménez Méndez, valued the possibility of centralizing meetings with multiple markets in one place. “For us, it is one of the best reverse visit activities. It is often difficult to arrange a schedule abroad, but we have several countries and origins here. I congratulate all the event organizers for their work,” he said.

Gonzatto emphasized that international business must be thought of in the long term. His experience with Peru is illustrative. “We had a meeting here another year, and from that meeting, together with other people involved, we could move forward to be considered as a supplier for an important company. That was the kick-off for that,” he said.

Giménez Méndez is now the fourth largest wine exporter in the country and exports mainly to Brazil, although it also works with Peru, Paraguay, and Argentina.

From Carmelo, Claudia Elizalde represented Narbona, a well-established brand in the domestic market that is taking firm steps toward internationalization. “For companies like ours in the country’s interior, this round is a way to access different markets in one or two days. It’s exciting to participate,“ she said.

Today, Narbona exports sweets and wines to countries such as Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Peru, Guatemala, and the United States. According to Elizalde, the rounds have been decisive. ”We got new customers, reconnected with others we had virtual ties with, and now we know them personally. That’s also very valuable,” she said.

One of its star products is dulce de leche, but growth is also coming from wine. Narbona made progress with new prospects from Brazil and Peru in this edition. Currently, we only work with Peru on dulce de leche. Now I was able to leave them wine samples,” he said.

His participation and that of other exporters of similar products resonated with buyers. For example, Sonia Camacho, from Monalisa Internacional (Paraguay), highlighted Uruguay’s wines, dulce de leche, and olive oil, which were of great interest to her group. At the same time, María Victoria Pozzoni, from the United States, added, “I have wanted to work with Narbona, a prestigious dulce de leche producer, for a long time.”

Aníbal Zeballos brought an unprecedented case to the roundtable: UyTuna, the first Uruguayan company to produce canned tuna on an industrial scale. “Uruguay has become a tuna canner. This is not normal. Other countries lead the way. It is the first time there has been something like this in the national industry,” he celebrated.
Amid its launch phase, UyTuna made its first export to Argentina on the same day as the business roundtable and is preparing a shipment to Brazil. The meetings during the roundtable, said Zeballos, were well received. “Everyone is attracted to the product; they find it innovative. After that, the price-quality ratio matters most, but that’s part of the commercial work,” he said.

Giovanna Guilhen, from DOMAZZI S.A. (Brazil), agreed on its distinctive character. “I found tuna in different packaging (...) with a higher quality than those compared with Europe,” she said.

From the health food segment, Rodrigo Gómez, from Goland, shared another experience. “We are looking for buyers who want to bring an established brand to their country, with a line of hemp-derived superfoods,” he said.

The star product is a cold-pressed oil high in omega-3, antioxidants, and a characteristic green color. Gómez was well received during the round: “I had a meeting with a gourmet supermarket chain in Paraguay. They were delighted with the product and think they may carry it this year. We also spoke with a buyer of Latin American products in the United States who saw it as a healthy and sustainable alternative.” Among these potential partners, María Victoria Pozzoni (United States) highlighted: “I had a meeting with the Goland brand, which I loved. I think there could be a business opportunity there.”

Goland is already present in Argentina and the United States, but its goal is to expand its presence in Latin America. “We don’t have the opportunity to travel all the time for business. It’s great that these opportunities are being generated here in Uruguay,” she praised.

In the case of Dos Orientales and Mala Fama, director Mauricio Sánchez said that their products, such as pizza and beer, are made with the highest quality raw materials and a demanding development process. “Through trial and error, we refined every detail until we achieved a product that today stands out internationally,” he said.

This first participation in the round yielded promising results. “Buyers showed great interest in the quality and price of our products, which they could not find in their local markets. Chile, Peru, Brazil, and Argentina were particularly interested in our pizzas and pizza products, while Paraguay and Mexico showed great interest in beer,” he said.

Visitors agreed on this appeal. Jesús Higueras, from SMU The Sucseed (Chile), said, “I found products such as sourdough pizza... it catches your attention,” while Giovanna Guilhen, from Brazil, added, “I saw frozen pizzas of a higher quality than those found in Europe.”

A strategic bridge to the world

The business roundtable agenda included a technical talk by Analía Bello, a specialist from Uruguay XXI, who recalled that 60% of the country’s industrial exports are food and beverages, and that the national offering stands out for its traceability, certified quality, and sustainability. “Uruguay offers natural and safe foods, with known origins, sustainable agricultural practices, and a low carbon footprint,” she summarized.

Beyond the numbers, the roundtable served—as it has for years—as a direct bridge between Uruguayan producers and the world. This edition showcased exportable products, diverse trajectories, and strategies intertwined with a common goal: opening markets.