Emileno Ortet launches grogue brand DeePuna for export
Cape Verdean entrepreneur Emileno Ortet aims to sell his grogue and ponche to the US and Europe.
Emileno Ortet, from São Domingos, has created DeePuna, a brand of grogue and ponche named after his mother, with ambitions for international markets. Ortet, who grew up in a family involved in commerce, saw the economic potential of grogue and developed this entrepreneurial project. He previously emigrated to the United States in search of better opportunities, where he identified a business opening for his native product.
After two years of preparation, including cultivating sugarcane, refining production, and obtaining export licenses, DeePuna has been launched in Praia and is available domestically. The primary goal remains internationalisation, with the US as the first target market due to Ortet's familiarity and existing contacts there. He is also seeking partnerships in Europe to expand the brand.
Ortet believes the Cape Verdean aguardente holds significant promise in the US and European markets, particularly among the diaspora who appreciate the flavours of home. He is confident that both grogue and ponche will find a receptive audience abroad, driven by a sense of nostalgia for their homeland's tastes.