What Abrasel does

Abrasel (Associação Brasileira de Bares e Restaurantes) is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1986 in Belo Horizonte that represents and develops Brazil's food service sector. Its members and represented base comprise more than 1.3 million active bar and restaurant establishments spread across over 900 municipalities, organized through sections in all 26 Brazilian states and the Federal District, with one office per capital city and more than 50 regional nuclei in the interior. The association delivers value through four mutually reinforcing pillars: (1) institutional advocacy before regulators and lawmakers (notably CADE on food-delivery platform competition, the Ministry of Labor, and tax authorities on the IBS/CBS reform); (2) commercial benefits bundled through partnerships with payment processors (Getnet, PagBank, SafraPay), employee-benefit providers (Pluxee, Ticket, Alelo), and beverage and supply companies (Ambev, Coca-Cola, Heineken, Caixa); (3) major recurring events — the annual Congresso Abrasel (38th edition in 2026), Salão Abrasel trade fair (September 2026 edition), Festival Brasil Sabor (20th edition), and regional festivals such as Sabores do Inverno Curitiba; and (4) content and data products including the Bares & Restaurantes magazine, the O Café e a Conta podcast, the Índice Abrasel-Stone monthly sales index covering 24 states, and the Estúdio Abrasel sector data platform. Digital infrastructure supporting these activities comprises Conexão Abrasel (member content portal), UP (digital business acceleration platform), Sou Abrasel and SIGA (member and partner CRMs), and an LGPD-compliant data governance program. Revenue is generated from annual membership dues, event ticket and trade-show fees, and corporate sponsorship, with pricing varying by regional section and not publicly disclosed. The organization is led by President Paulo Solmucci and Board President Rosane Oliveira, with regional presidents and executives across the state sections, and is governed as a member-owned association with no parent company or external investors.

Name

Abrasel

Legal name

ABRASEL - Associação Brasileira de Bares e Restaurantes

Website

https://abrasel.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Abrasel is a Brazilian nonprofit trade association representing over 1.3 million bars and restaurants across all 26 states, delivering advocacy, commercial partner benefits, sector events, and digital services to SMB food service operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Belo Horizonte

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Abrasel generates revenue through annual membership fees paid by bars, restaurants, and similar establishments. Membership provides access to exclusive benefits including reduced rates with partner companies, legal and accounting advisory services, training content, event participation, and representation before government bodies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Abrasel is a nonprofit trade association that represents and develops Brazil's food service sector through a paid annual membership model. Members — bars, restaurants, lanchonetes, industrial kitchens, nightclubs and similar establishments — gain access to regulatory and tax advocacy (including intervention with CADE on delivery market competition), legal and accounting advisory, exclusive partner rates with major suppliers, training content, annual events (Congresso Abrasel, Salão Abrasel, Festival Brasil Sabor, Encontro de Talentos), industry publications (Bares & Restaurantes magazine, 'O Café e a Conta' podcast), and data products such as the Índice Abrasel-Stone monthly sales index. The organization operates through a national network of state sections and regional nuclei covering all 26 Brazilian states and the Federal District.

Product overview

Abrasel (Associação Brasileira de Bares e Restaurantes) is a national business association representing Brazil's food service sector. Rather than a technology product company, Abrasel operates as a membership organization offering advocacy, events, training, and digital platforms. Its digital offerings include UP (a business acceleration platform), Conexão Abrasel (online member portal), SIGA (association CRM), and Estúdio Abrasel (sector data analytics). The organization also publishes Bares & Restaurantes magazine, produces events including the annual Congresso Abrasel, Salão Abrasel trade fair, and Festival Brasil Sabor, and publishes the Índice Abrasel-Stone monthly sector analytics report.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bares & Restaurantes (B&R): The association's specialized online magazine providing content on management, technology, gastronomy, sales, ESG, and events for bars and restaurants.
• Podcast O Café e a Conta
• Estúdio Abrasel
• Sistema SIGA
• Índice Abrasel-Stone
• Abrasel Mulher
• Congresso Abrasel
• Salão Abrasel

Products and services

• Abrasel Membership (annual association membership) Annual membership product for bars, restaurants, lanchonetes, nightclubs and similar food service establishments, providing access to exclusive partner rates, legal and accounting advisory, training content, events, and representation before regulatory bodies in Brazil.
• Congresso Abrasel Annual national congress bringing together industry leaders to discuss trends, management practices, economics, labor laws and technology impacts on the Brazilian restaurant sector.
• Salão Abrasel Annual trade fair connecting suppliers with restaurant owners, serving as the meeting point between innovation and the food service sector in Brazil.
• Encontro de Talentos Annual internal capacity-building event for Abrasel executives focusing on strategy, productivity, people management and institutional alignment.
• Festival Brasil Sabor Large culinary festival celebrating Brazilian gastronomic diversity and identity, running its 20th edition with the theme 'A Seleção da Cozinha Brasileira'.
• Índice Abrasel-Stone Monthly sector sales index tracking bars and restaurants performance across 24 Brazilian states, produced in partnership with Stone to provide market intelligence on the food service sector.
• Bares & Restaurantes (B&R) Magazine Specialized online magazine covering management, technology, gastronomy, sales, ESG and events for bar and restaurant operators in Brazil.
• Podcast O Café e a Conta Podcast series featuring conversations with industry leaders about business strategy, hospitality and food service trends in Brazil.
• UP (UP Abrasel digital platform) Digital platform developed to support entrepreneurs in planning and accelerating their businesses in the food service sector.
• Conexão Abrasel Online member portal offering exclusive content, webinars and digital resources for Abrasel members.
• Estúdio Abrasel Data concentration platform aggregating varied information from the food service sector and providing analytics and insights for the industry.
• Aplicativo Valadares Internacional Digital hospitality application for tourist reception that translates menus, provides tourism routes, and offers phonetic transliteration of Portuguese phrases for foreign visitors.
• Programa de Adequação à LGPD Structured LGPD compliance program delivered in three layers (Essential, Structured, Strategic) using the LGPDLITE methodology to bring member businesses into alignment with Brazil's General Data Protection Law.

Quantifiable outcome

• Associated businesses show 20% higher survival rate compared to sector average
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GooglecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Strategic partnership announced at Encontro de Talentos 2026 for productivity solutions and digital tools for members.
• 99FoodcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDelivery platform partnership providing visibility on Abrasel website. Abrasel has advocated for fair competition in delivery market and partnered with 99Food on promotional initiatives.
• AmbevcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor beverage company partner offering exclusive conditions to Abrasel members. Sponsor of major Abrasel events including Encontro de Talentos 2026.
• GetnetcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPayment processing partner offering preferential rates to Abrasel members. Sponsor of Abrasel events.
• PagBankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial services partner offering exclusive conditions for members. Sponsor of Abrasel events.
• PluxeecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployee benefits company (meal vouchers, gift cards) offering exclusive rates to Abrasel members. Sponsor of events.
• TicketcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMeal voucher and benefit card provider offering exclusive conditions to Abrasel members.
• AlelocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployee benefits platform offering meal and food vouchers with exclusive rates for Abrasel members.
• Coca-ColaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeverage company partner displayed on partner section of Abrasel website.
• SebraecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazilian SME support service collaborating on research, training programs, and regional development initiatives. Joint studies on food service sector and delivery market.
• Caixa Econômica FederalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerState bank partner with promotional visibility on Abrasel website.
• SafraPayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPayment processing partner offering conditions to Abrasel members.
• Centro EuropeuminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCulinary school partner in 1st Festival Sabores do Inverno Curitiba, providing prize scholarships for winning restaurants.
• HeinekenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeverage company partner with visibility on Abrasel website.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• UKHospitality: UK trade association representing hotels, restaurants, pubs, and food service operators with advocacy, member services, and research outputs. Closely comparable to Abrasel in operating model (voluntary membership, regulatory advocacy, sector data) and target membership (bars and restaurants).
• Restaurants Canada: Canadian national association representing the food service sector with advocacy, member benefits, industry research, and events. Directly comparable to Abrasel in mandate (representing bars and restaurants nationally) and revenue model (dues, events, partnerships).

Others

• iFood: Brazil's leading food delivery platform and a key counterpart/partner-critic of Abrasel, with which Abrasel has filed CADE complaints. Not a direct peer (different business model) but is the most consequential commercial relationship in Abrasel's ecosystem and the primary driver of member pain points Abrasel addresses.
• Stone Co. Brazilian payments and software provider that co-produces the Índice Abrasel-Stone monthly sector report with Abrasel. Comparable as a strategic data and partnership counterpart rather than a competitor; relevant to assess the depth of Abrasel's commercial data ecosystem.

Regional players

• Australian Hotels Association (AHA): Australian national association representing hotels, pubs, and hospitality operators with advocacy, training, and member benefits. Comparable to Abrasel in its national scope covering bars, pubs, and restaurants with regulatory representation.
• National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI): Indian national association for the restaurant industry with advocacy, training, and major industry events. Comparable to Abrasel as a national restaurant trade body with a similar mix of advocacy, events, and member services.
• Associação Brasileira da Indústria de Hotéis (ABIH): Brazilian hotel industry association, operating in the same national association landscape as Abrasel with advocacy and member services for a closely adjacent hospitality vertical. Comparable as a peer in scope and structure within Brazil's hospitality ecosystem.
• Federación Española de Hostelería (FEHR): Spanish national hospitality federation representing bars, restaurants, and cafes. Directly comparable to Abrasel in mandate, organizational form, and the bars-and-restaurants focus, though operating in a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• Confederação Nacional do Comércio de Bens, Serviços e Turismo (CNC): Brazilian national commerce confederation representing commerce, services, and tourism. Abrasel is a sector-specific association within this broader umbrella, and CNC plays a similar representational role at the macro level, making it a structurally comparable Brazilian peer.
• National Restaurant Association (US): The leading US trade association for the restaurant industry, providing advocacy, training, research (e.g., the State of the Industry report), and major events like the Restaurant Show. Directly comparable to Abrasel as a national food service trade association with membership dues, advocacy, and event revenue.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BareseRestaurantes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/abrasel
• Instagraminstagram.com/bareserestaurantes
• TikToktiktok.com/@bareserestaurantes
• Xx.com/abraselbrasil
• Facebookfacebook.com/AbraselBrasil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries34 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Abrasel