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Inspired by a Thai dessert, Leo Fernandes invested R$ 10 thousand and turned a single flavor into a family business sought after by tourists and residents of Natal.
A cart specialized in artisanal ice cream served inside a coconut started forming lines on the Ponta Negra boardwalk in Natal.
The operation reaches an average revenue of R$ 60 thousand per month, with an average ticket of approximately R$ 20 per customer.
Residents and tourists watch the product being prepared in front of the cart.
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The coconut is opened on the spot, the fruit’s water is given for free, and the pulp accompanies the ice cream.
The combination turned a simple dessert into an experience that draws attention on the beach.
Idea from Thailand inspired the ice cream served in the coconut
Leo Fernandes is behind the creation of the cart.
The entrepreneur, with a degree in business management, started working with açaí and creams on the beach.
The experience accumulated over seven years helped Leo understand consumer behavior and the movement of the region.
The desire to build his own business, however, remained present.
A friend who had traveled to Thailand talked about desserts sold inside coconuts.
The inspiration led Leo to adapt the proposal for the Brazilian audience.
The initial investment reached R$ 10 thousand.
The first tests showed that the mix of ice cream with fresh pulp made the product more attractive.
The coconut ice cream, thus, became the only flavor offered by the cart.
Free coconut water became part of the experience
The presentation represents one of the main differentiators of the business.
The preparation begins with the opening of the coconut in front of the customer.
The water extracted from the fruit is offered free of charge as a courtesy.
The pulp is then separated and served along with the artisanal ice cream.
Leo also began to see the courtesy as a strategy to spark curiosity.
The dynamic helps to bring the consumer closer and turns the service into part of the experience.
The lines on the boardwalk began to reinforce the visibility of the cart in Ponta Negra.
Social media increased the demand for the cart
The promotion started with simple videos recorded on a cell phone.
Leo published the preparation process and showed the ice cream served inside the coconut.
Digital influencers discovered the cart and shared the experience spontaneously.
The content reached people from other regions and increased the demand for the sales point.
Tourists began to include the cart in their itinerary after learning about the product through social media.
The digital exposure strengthened the brand and expanded the business’s reach beyond the usual beach traffic.
Family participates in production and service
The operation currently runs with direct family involvement.
Leo’s sisters help with production, service, and the cart’s logistics.
Local suppliers deliver fresh coconuts daily.
The family organization allows maintaining supply and keeping up with the growing demand.
The increase in sales also benefits everyone involved in the operation.
Leo summarizes this relationship by stating that the higher the volume sold, the greater the gain for partners and family members.
Revenue led business from MEI to microenterprise
The sales growth led Leo to leave the individual microentrepreneur classification.
The activity began to operate as a microenterprise, or ME.
The average monthly revenue of R$ 60,000 represents the growth achieved since the initial investment.
The average ticket of R$ 20 helps sustain the operation concentrated on just one flavor.
New points at other beaches in Rio Grande do Norte are already part of the entrepreneur’s plans.
Expansion to other states is also being considered.
Courage and persistence accompany expansion plans
The journey presented challenges and periods of instability.
Leo associates the business’s growth with courage, persistence, and resilience in the face of ups and downs.
The model remains based on the artisanal recipe, family participation, and the experience offered to the consumer.
The expansion could take the ice cream served in the coconut to new destinations.
Do you believe that a business focused on just one product can grow faster than an operation with several options? Share your opinion!
