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At 75 years old, Nilton Vidigal is the portrait of the retired franchisee who doesn’t want to stop: he became the owner of Divino Fogão, runs a father-and-son business with his heir, and becomes a symbol of 60+ entrepreneurship, this advance of the silver economy that puts mature people in charge of their own restaurants.
Some people at 75 dream of the hammock, and then there’s Nilton Vidigal, who dreams of the next opening. Retired from the textile industry since the 1990s, he never accepted the idea of staying still. Instead of resting, he became a businessman in the food industry and today runs restaurants alongside his son.
According to Times Brasil, Nilton has been a franchisee of Divino Fogão since 2013 and manages two units of the brand in partnership with his son, Ricardo. The franchise became almost all of his income and a legitimate father-and-son business, an example of 60+ entrepreneurship that is growing in the country.
Who is the retired franchisee Nilton Vidigal
Nilton Vidigal spent a good part of his life working in the textile industry.
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When he retired in the 1990s, he didn’t want to live only on the benefit.
To supplement his income and stay busy, he ventured into the world of franchises.
The first business was an ice cream shop, opened the same year he retired.
The story of this retired franchisee began right there, with the desire to keep producing.
Since then, he never left the counter.
From ice cream to Divino Fogão: the business turnaround
The brand, specialized in farm food, was a bigger step than the ice cream shop.
The first unit was located in Shopping Atrium, in Santo André, in the heart of ABC Paulista.
Then came the second, in Santana Parque Shopping, in the northern zone of São Paulo’s capital.
Therefore, there are two Divino Fogão operations run by the same family.
The retired elderly franchisee effectively became an operator of two restaurants.
A father and son business, and even a grandson
The management was never solo.
According to Tribuna Hoje, the son Ricardo already had experience with franchises and helped structure the operation.
Today the business control is divided between father and son, with participation even from the grandson.
This arrangement turned the franchise into a true father and son business, spanning generations.
In such a father and son business, each takes care of a front and the experience circulates.
It’s the combination of the elder’s experience with the younger’s energy.
What is the silver economy and why it is growing
Nilton’s case is not isolated, it’s part of a wave.
The so-called silver economy encompasses the consumption and work of the population over 60 years old.
With Brazil aging, this silver economy gains weight every year.
Retirees who venture into entrepreneurship drive services, generate employment, and remain active.
For many, the silver economy is the chance to combine extra income with purpose.
Instead of stepping aside, this audience became the protagonist of a new market.
60+ Entrepreneurship and the franchise as an entry point
Why do so many mature people choose a franchise instead of starting a business from scratch?
The answer lies in the ready-made structure: well-known brand, suppliers, and processes already tested.
For 60+ entrepreneurship, this reduces risk and shortens the learning curve.
A network like Divino Fogão provides a manual, training, and management support.
In 60+ entrepreneurship, this support matters even more for those changing fields in maturity.
It’s no wonder that 60+ entrepreneurship is driving the demand for affordable franchises.
What the case of the elderly retired franchisee Nilton Vidigal shows
Nilton’s journey dispels the idea that retirement is the end point.
At 75, he proves that it’s possible to learn, manage, and grow beyond the so-called productive age.
But it’s worth keeping your feet on the ground.
Entrepreneurship is not a guaranteed recipe: a franchise has costs, fees, and risks like any business.
And not every retiree has the health, capital, or a partner child to run the venture together.
The example of the elderly retired franchisee is inspiring, but it does not replace financial planning.
Even so, few portray the silver economy and 60+ entrepreneurship in action so well.
From textile worker to owner of two Divino Fogão, Nilton made work a way not to age idly.
And you, would you retire for good or run a father-and-son business like this elderly retired franchisee? Comment here if your family has someone 60+ who, like him, doesn’t plan to quit working.
