Source: Halal Times

Kawaguchiko, Japan – A distinctive culinary venture has emerged in São Paulo’s Mooca district, where a unique partnership between Brazilian butchers and Lebanese heritage has created a specialized shopping destination for the city’s Muslim and Arab communities.

Blending Expertise and Heritage

Ono Boutique de Carnes Halal represents the successful collaboration between Brazilian couple Catia and Ricardo Ramos and Lebanese descendant Hassan Ali Abdullah. Since opening its doors in August 2024, the specialty shop has quickly established itself as a premier provider of halal-certified meats and authentic Middle Eastern food products.

“Our premium Angus beef and poultry are just the beginning,” explains 53-year-old Catia Ramos, who manages the daily operations of the boutique. “We’ve curated approximately 600 food items, with our most popular selections including traditional breads, garlic paste, Middle Eastern sweets, sfiha, and stuffed eggplant—many sourced directly from Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, and Palestine.”

A Family Legacy in Butchery

Ramos brings over two decades of professional butchery experience to the business, following in the footsteps of her Portuguese immigrant father who worked as a butcher throughout his life in Brazil. Though initially pursuing interior design, Catia ultimately embraced her family’s tradition.

“While I inherited this profession, I genuinely love what I do,” Ramos shares. “My role now primarily involves customer service and order management, though I still handle meat cutting when needed.”

The transition to serving a predominantly Arab and Muslim clientele required minimal adjustment for the experienced butcher. “The main difference is learning the Arabic terminology for various meat cuts, which I mastered quickly. The fundamentals of customer service remain consistent with my previous experience,” she explains.

Expansive Reach Beyond Local Neighborhoods

Despite its physical location in eastern São Paulo, Ono Boutique de Carnes Halal serves customers throughout the metropolitan area and beyond through its comprehensive delivery service.

“We regularly fulfill orders in Guarulhos, São Bernardo do Campo, and São Caetano do Sul, where significant Muslim communities reside,” notes Ramos. “Our delivery network also extends to other states including Santa Catarina, Pará, Rio de Janeiro, Paraná, and Minas Gerais.”

The boutique prides itself on accommodating customer needs regardless of order size. “We’ll deliver any item, regardless of its price. The only variable is the shipping cost, which increases with distance. Our focus remains on providing personalized, distinctive service to every customer,” Ramos emphasizes.

From Unexpected Partnership to Thriving Business

The business concept materialized when Hassan Ali Abdullah, seeking skilled professionals to launch a boutique halal food shop, connected with the Ramos couple, who were operating their own butchery business. Their collaboration began taking shape in early 2023.

“When we secured our location, we were surprised by the amount of available space,” Ramos recalls. “To maximize our retail footprint, we expanded our inventory beyond meats, which led to our current diverse selection of 600 products.”

The shop regularly serves Arabs, Arab descendants, Muslims, and even non-Muslim Brazilians who appreciate halal food and Middle Eastern cuisine. While Catia typically handles customer interactions, Arabic-speaking staff assist whenever language barriers arise.

Future Growth Opportunities

Looking ahead, the partners have plans to expand their business reach. While they haven’t yet ventured into exports, Catia indicates this remains a future possibility. Additionally, they aim to increase their wholesale distribution to supermarkets and restaurants, though no specific timeline has been established for these initiatives.

As São Paulo’s diverse culinary landscape continues to evolve, Ono Boutique de Carnes Halal represents the successful integration of traditional butchery expertise with specialized halal practices—creating a valuable resource for the city’s growing Muslim and Arab communities while introducing authentic Middle Eastern flavors to a broader Brazilian audience.

Original Articles

anba.com.br. (n.d.). São Paulo has a boutique halal butcher shop. Retrieved May 2, 2025, from https://anba.com.br/en/sao-paulo-has-a-boutique-halal-butcher-shop/