Puebla, Puebla. Due to the export of mezcal to countries such as the Netherlands, France and Russia since 2017, 12 companies have increased their sales by 120%, due to the acceptance of the product from Puebla, a market to which they seek to add another five manufacturers.
The President of the State Council of mezcaleros with 300 partners, Braulio García Lezama, pointed out that the new interested parties complied with the certification to be able to export, so they are in negotiations to enter in 2022.
He highlighted that the Denomination of Origin (DO) granted to 116 municipalities in 2015 has generated facilities for mezcaleros to offer their product in the national market and in the cases of those who export or wish to do so, making contact with distributors is quick because the state government helps.
He indicated that sales abroad are positive, which allowed to increase infrastructure and 20% of personnel on average in factories to meet the demand that from 2017 to date also grew 40% in production.
They aspire to more
He recalled that so far there are 31 brands, so they hope that 70% in three years will be venturing into other countries, but it depends on them complying with the certifications, along with the addition of other brands, where the council supports with training to improve their drinks.
He pointed out that the producers with registered trademarks have been dedicated to that drink for at least 20 years, which they marketed with restaurants and hotels in Puebla, as well as in neighboring entities, but as a result of the DO They strengthened their manufacturing, which opened the doors for them to go on a commercial tour in 2016 and obtain distribution contracts.
After tequila, mezcal is the second most sought-after drink by European consumers, which is why producers from Puebla took advantage of that opportunity to seek to enter that market, where Oaxaca and Guerrero have an important presence, García Lezama acknowledged.
He stressed that the mezcal production chain is one of those with the greatest potential and growth in recent years, so other manufacturers should also take advantage of the opportunity to expand their market, he considered.
He said that the potential for the production of mezcal agave in Puebla territory is 250,000 hectares, but they only have 580 and they are working on it with the producers to reach another 1,500 in two years, depending on the support they receive from the state government.
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