Customer Profile:
How OCA Foods Found its Peanut Butter Groove
Sometimes, a little homesickness can lead to great things. Just ask Renato Raposo, the founder of Oca Foods. While working in the tech industry in the United States, he missed the snack he used to eat in his native Brazil. Called Paçoca in Brazil, the simple but delicious bite-sized treat is made with peanut butter. Examples he found in America were typically too sweet and contained superfluous ingredients. He wanted to replicate the taste of the snack his recently departed father and he enjoyed together as they talked.
I’m not even looking for a different supplier or better pricing because the service [from C.J. Dannemiller] is so outstanding
The Mother of Great Peanut Butter
Necessity being the mother of invention, Renato decided to make his own Paçoca here in the USA, strictly adhering to the simplicity of the original snack invented by the Indigenous people of the Amazon. Soon, friends and family demanded he make “Peanut Bites” for them as word spread about the tasty treat. Once demand exceeded his home kitchen’s capacity, he produced the snack commercially.
Naming his new company Oca, a term the Indigenous natives of the Amazon region of Brazil use to describe their homes, Renato launched his new business on the strength of Peanut Bites, which have three ingredients: peanuts, sugar, and salt (a sugar-free version replaces features monk fruit extract with erythritol). Gluten-free, low-carb, and keto-friendly, Peanut Bites have been a hit for Oca Foods.
Choosing C.J. Dannemiller Peanut Butter Stock
After trying other peanut butter stock suppliers, Oca began using stock supplied by C.J. Dannemiller. Before this, Renato sourced his peanut butter stock locally, but as the business grew, he sought a higher quality product in the quantities Oca needed as it scaled its operations.
Reflecting his tech-sector background, Renato methodically searched for a new source, he visited candidates, toured their facilities, looked at pricing, read reviews, and requested samples. “I decided to go with Dannemiller because the products are great,” says Renato, “customer service is amazing, and their price is really fair.”
“Zero Problems”
While Oca is a newcomer to the C.J. Dannemiller family of customers, the business has so far experienced “zero problems,” according to Renato. “Everything is working better than expected. In terms of quality, we always expect the same flavor and the same texture, and that’s what we’re getting. So quality is always the same, which is great, and service is amazing. Shipping time is no problem. If they say we’ll get the product in four business days, it’s always four business days or less.”
Renato appreciates the consistency. “When you’re running a business, you have so many things to keep track of, so having no problems with your main ingredient is super cool. I feel relieved that I found this company because I don’t have to worry about it.”
Customers Noticed a Shift
The move to C.J. Dannemiller also generated downstream benefits. “My customers noticed when I changed peanut suppliers to C.J. Dannemiller,” says Renato. “My customer reviews are even better than before, noting the quality has improved, and the flavor is even better. I had a customer two days ago whose last order was especially good – he hadn’t placed an order for a long time. That indicates that I’m getting the right product from the right supplier. They make you feel relevant, no matter how small your order is.”
Summing up, Renato says, “I’m not even looking for a different supplier or better pricing because the service [from C.J. Dannemiller] is so outstanding.”
About The C.J. Dannemiller Co.
C.J. Dannemiller is dedicated to delivering the freshest ingredients, quickest turnaround and best experience. See how we’ve impacted other retail businesses and food manufacturers. And contact us when you’re ready to connect with a bulk wholesale nut supplier that always puts the customer first.