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Former Maranhão banker left the financial sector, invested in his own açaí brand, and structured a network with stores, franchises, a factory in São Luís, and monthly production on an industrial scale.
The Maranhão native Ekles Aguiar, 44 years old, left a 15-year career in the banking sector to work in the food industry and created an açaí network with 18 stores in operation.
Açaí Sunset, founded in São Luís (MA), earned R$ 10 million in 2025, according to a report by UOL published on May 5, 2026.
Before launching his own brand, Aguiar worked at banks such as Bradesco, Itaú, and Safra.
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His career began at 18 years old as a clerk at Bradesco and advanced to the position of general manager of a branch in Maranhão.
He then took on management roles at Itaú and Safra, where he worked with corporate accounts exceeding R$ 30 million.
His entry into entrepreneurship occurred while still working as a banker.
In 2013, while working at Safra, Aguiar opened his first business, a franchise of Mr Mix Milk Shake.
Four years later, he left the financial market and invested R$ 100,000 in creating Açaí Sunset in São Luís.
“As a bank manager, I had a very strong commercial characteristic. I became so sought after by clients that I realized I could make more of a difference being on the other side of the table, also as an entrepreneur,” Aguiar told UOL.
According to him, the experience as a franchisee was used as an initial step before creating his own brand.
From banking career to own açaí brand
The transition to entrepreneurship did not start directly with Açaí Sunset.
Before creating the network, Aguiar operated a milkshake franchise and also worked with Açaí no Ponto stores.
According to the account published by UOL, the change to his own brand occurred in 2017, amid changes in previous operations.
At that time, he transformed five units linked to Açaí no Ponto into Açaí Sunset stores and opened two more units.
The decision led the entrepreneur to operate with his own operation, with control over the menu, suppliers, brand identity, and expansion.
The experience in the financial sector appears in Aguiar’s account as part of his commercial training.
However, the operation in the food sector began to require a different routine, related to production, customer service, store management, and relationship with franchisees.
According to UOL, the network reached 18 stores in operation, with eight owned and ten franchised.
Açaí Sunset Factory in São Luís
Açaí Sunset began to have its own factory in 2024.
The unit is located in São Luís and processes 30 tons of products per month, of which 20 tons correspond to açaí.
The company purchases about 7 tons of pulp monthly from suppliers in the south of Pará, according to the data provided to the report.
Once acquired, the pulp is processed in the factory and used in the products sold in the network’s stores.
Açaí frozen yogurt is the main item on the menu and represents 60% of the units’ revenue.
The average ticket reported by the company is R$ 35.
In addition to açaí, the network sells sorbets of regional fruits, such as cupuaçu and bacuri, and fruit salads.
These products make up the brand’s portfolio and appear as alternatives to the item with the highest revenue share.
Own production was also presented by the company as part of the structure created to supply the stores.
The measure concentrates an operational stage in São Luís and allows the products to be distributed to the network’s units based on the same industrial process.
Good Food Line Expands Healthy Menu
In 2025, Açaí Sunset launched Sunset Good Food, a line of healthy foods and quick meals.
The menu includes crepes, tapiocas, omelets, smoothies, and juices.
According to the UOL report, the line is available in all the network’s stores.
“We want to consolidate the açaiteria market as a place for good, fast, healthy, and fun food,” said Aguiar.
The statement indicates the company’s strategy to expand the use of stores beyond açaí consumption.
The change in the menu was also commented on by business analyst Karoline Gonçalves, from Sebrae-SP, interviewed by UOL.
According to her, businesses that rely heavily on a single product need to observe consumption changes and external factors, such as climate and raw material availability.
In the case of açaí, the analyst stated that the versatility of the ingredient allows for different combinations and formats.
The evaluation was made in the context of the expansion of Açaí Sunset’s menu and the brand’s attempt to increase consumption occasions within the stores.
Açaí Sunset Franchises and Expansion Plan
The first Açaí Sunset franchise was opened in 2023, in São Luís.
Currently, according to data published by UOL, the network operates with ten franchised units and eight owned.
All are located in the capital of Maranhão.
The company informed the report that it planned to reach 30 stores by the end of 2026, with expansion to cities in Maranhão.
The initial investment to open a franchise starts at R$ 150,000, according to data released by the brand to UOL.
The network works with three operation models: kiosk, container, and street or mall store.
The reported average monthly revenue ranges from R$ 40,000 in the container format to R$ 60,000 in the kiosk and store models.
The estimated average monthly profit margin for a franchise is between 15% and 20%, according to the company.
As all units mentioned in the report are in São Luís, the expansion described by the brand remains concentrated in Maranhão.
The advancement to other cities in the state was cited as a goal of the network, but there is no confirmation in the base text about new openings after the publication of the report.
Experience in Franchises Before Own Business
Aguiar’s trajectory includes a previous stint in franchises before the creation of Açaí Sunset.
According to analyst Karoline Gonçalves from Sebrae-SP, this stage may have contributed to the entrepreneur understanding management processes and testing products close to the market he intended to enter.
The specialist also assessed that diversifying the menu can reduce dependency on a single product.
The analysis was attributed to Sebrae-SP in the UOL report and refers to the business context of food based on items with strong regional appeal, like açaí.
In the published account, Aguiar associates the career change with the commercial experience accumulated in the banking sector.
From his role as a manager, he began to serve business clients and later decided to operate on the other side of the commercial relationship, as an entrepreneur.
Açaí Sunset now comprises its own factory, own stores, and franchised units.
The case shows the transition of an executive from the financial sector to an operation in the food industry, with local production in São Luís and growth plans within Maranhão.
