What Confeitaria Nacional does

Confeitaria Nacional is a Lisbon-based traditional Portuguese confectionery founded in 1829 by Balthazar Roiz Castanheiro, operating today as a Sociedade Anónima under the legal name BALTAZAR ROIZ CASTANHEIRO, SUCESSOR S.A. with stated share capital of €400,500. The company's core technology is artisanal: recipes drawn from the founder's 1852 recipe book, including one of the oldest Pastel de Nata recipes in Lisbon and the unchanged Bolo Rei recipe introduced to Portugal in 1875, with the latter known only to the current owner and head pastry chef. House-exclusive creations (Africanos, Meias Luas) and the 1940-commissioned logo anchor a product range that extends to Bolo de Arroz, festive cakes, savory items (cod pastry, croquettes, shrimp patty), and the Café Balthazar coffee sub-brand.

The business operates a physical retail footprint of three stores (the flagship Main House at Praça da Figueira since 1829, a Belém location near Torre de Belém, and an Amoreiras Shopping location with kiosk) supported by a dedicated factory in Campo de Ourique and an e-commerce platform shipping across Continental Portugal and Europe. The customer base is split between tourists visiting Lisbon's historic center and local Portuguese consumers purchasing traditional pastries, daily lunch dishes, and weekend brunch, with a secondary segment of celebrants ordering festive cakes for weddings, baptisms, and birthdays.

Revenue mechanics are entirely retail/F&B: per-transaction in-store sales of pastries, cakes, coffees, brunch, and lunch, plus one-off e-commerce orders. The company holds no external institutional investment and has remained within the Castanheiro family lineage across multiple generations. Its principal go-to-market advantages are the nearly two-century brand heritage, royal and presidential supplier status since 1873, Casa Centenária certification, CNN recognition in 2014, and high-traffic tourist-adjacent locations in Baixa and Belém.

Name

Confeitaria Nacional

Legal name

BALTAZAR ROIZ CASTANHEIRO, SUCESSOR S.A.

Website

https://confeitarianacional.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1829

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Confeitaria Nacional is a Lisbon-based heritage confectionery founded in 1829, producing traditional Portuguese pastries and cakes from the founder's original recipes for tourists, local consumers, and special-occasion customers across three retail stores, a factory, and a Europe-wide online shop.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Traditional Portuguese Confectionery

NAICS

Retail Bakeries (311811), Baked Goods Retailers (445291)

SIC

Bakery Products (2050), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Patisseries & Dessert Boutiques (CRAHAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Patisseries & Viennoiserie (French-Style) (THAFAFAB), Ethnic & Regional Bakeries (e.g., Middle Eastern, Asian, Latin) (THAFAFAJ)

Keywords

• Traditional Portuguese pastries
• Artisanal confectionery
• Portuguese bakery products
• Festive celebration cakes
• Specialty coffee blends

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. In-Store Retail Sales: Direct sales of pastries, cakes, and beverages at physical store locations including the Main House at Praça da Figueira, Amoreiras store, and Belém location. Customers can dine in or take away products.
2. Online Shop / E-commerce: Online store for ordering products for delivery across Europe and Continental Portugal. Products include festive cakes, specialty items, and gift packages.
3. Daily Lunch Menu and Brunch: Daily lunch dishes prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Weekend brunch service on Saturdays and Sundays. Includes both sweet and savory offerings.
4. Café Balthazar Coffee Products: Sale of artisanal coffee blends including 100% Arabica (capsules and ground), Premium Coffee (1kg beans), and standard blend (250gr and 1kg). Distribution through stores and online.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Confeitaria Nacional is a traditional Portuguese confectionery established in 1829 that produces and sells artisanal pastries, festive cakes, breads, and savory snacks using century-old recipes. The company operates multiple retail locations in Lisbon (Main House at Praça da Figueira, Belém, and Amoreiras), offers daily lunch and weekend brunch services, and runs an e-commerce shop delivering across Continental Portugal and Europe. Its portfolio features signature products such as Pastel de Nata, Bolo Rei, Bolo de Arroz, Africanos, Meias Luas, Folar, and the Café Balthazar coffee sub-brand.

Product overview

Confeitaria Nacional is a traditional Portuguese pastry shop offering a portfolio of iconic products centered on its centuries-old recipes. The core offering includes Pastel de Nata (custard tarts since 1829), Bolo Rei (Christmas cake introduced 1875), Bolo de Arroz, and exclusive creations like Africanos and Meias Luas. The product range extends to festive cakes, cupcakes and assortments, and savory goods including cod pastry and croquettes. Supporting services include an online store with delivery options, daily lunch menus, and weekend brunch. The Café Balthazar sub-brand offers premium coffee blends under the same heritage identity. The company operates multiple physical locations in Lisbon (Main House in Praça da Figueira, Belém, and Amoreiras) alongside its e-commerce platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Café Balthazar: Artisanal coffee blends produced by Confeitaria Nacional, including 100% Arabica blend and Premium Coffee blend available in capsules, ground, and whole bean formats.

Products and services

• Pastel de Nata Traditional Portuguese custard tarts made from the founder Balthazar Castanheiro's original recipe since 1829, considered one of the oldest and most traditional Pastéis de Nata recipes in Lisbon. Sold individually and in boxes to retail customers.
• Bolo Rei Traditional Portuguese Christmas cake introduced to Portugal by Confeitaria Nacional in 1875, with the original recipe remaining unchanged to this day.
• Bolo de Arroz Iconic Portuguese rice cake that is one of the most beloved traditional cakes in Portugal.
• Africanos Exclusive cake of the confectionery's own creation, only available at Confeitaria Nacional.
• Meias Luas Exclusive pastry of the confectionery's own creation, only available at Confeitaria Nacional.
• Festive Cakes Celebratory cakes for special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, and baptisms, available in various flavors with customizable decorations.
• Cupcakes and Assortments Selection of cakes and assortments made with centuries-old recipes using egg, butter, or almond bases, representing the best of Portuguese confectionery heritage.
• Savory Goods Traditional Portuguese savory snacks including cod pastry (pastel de bacalhau), croquette, and shrimp patty (rissol de camarão).
• Weekend Brunch Weekend brunch service available on Saturdays and Sundays with various sweet and savory options for the whole family.
• Daily Lunch Menu Daily lunch dishes prepared by the chef and team using fresh, seasonal ingredients, with weekly rotating menus.
• Café Balthazar Premium coffee blends including 100% Arabica, Premium Coffee Blend, and Confeitaria Nacional blend, available in various formats including capsules, ground, and whole bean (250gr and 1kg).
• Online Store and Delivery Service Online ordering service with delivery to Europe and Continental Portugal, pick-up points at physical stores, and in-store collection options for festive cakes and specialty items.
• Folar Traditional Portuguese festive bread, available for online ordering in 500g portions.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Fábrica da Nata: Portuguese pastry chain with stores in Lisbon and other cities, focusing on freshly-made Pastel de Nata. Comparable as a more modern take on the same Portuguese pastry tradition that Confeitaria Nacional has historically dominated.

Direct peers

• Manteigaria: Portuguese pastry chain producing Pastel de Nata on premises with multiple locations in Lisbon, Porto, and beyond. Competes head-to-head for traditional Portuguese pastry demand but with a modern, design-forward format targeting younger consumers.
• Aloma Pastelaria: Traditional Portuguese pastelaria chain with multiple Lisbon locations offering Pastel de Nata, Bolo de Arroz, and everyday Portuguese pastries. Operates a similar retail bakery + café model with broader geographic footprint than Confeitaria Nacional.
• Padaria Portuguesa: Portuguese bakery café chain with numerous locations across Lisbon and other cities, serving traditional Portuguese breads, pastries, and lunch menus. Overlaps with Confeitaria Nacional in traditional pastry, bread, and casual café categories.
• Pastéis de Belém: Historic Lisbon pastry shop near Mosteiro dos Jerónimos in Belém, specializing in Pastel de Nata and traditional Portuguese sweets. Direct rival to Confeitaria Nacional for the tourist Pastel de Nata experience and operates a similar eat-in/ takeaway retail bakery model in Lisbon.
• Versalhes Café Restaurante: Historic Lisbon café and patisserie founded in 1924, anchored near Avenida da República. Comparable to Confeitaria Nacional as a heritage Lisbon confectionery offering in-store dining, traditional Portuguese sweets, and café service.

Broad incumbents

• Pierre Hermé Paris: Internationally renowned French luxury patisserie/macarons brand. Comparable as a premium patisserie operator in the broader artisan confectionery category where Confeitaria Nacional competes for celebratory and gifting occasions.
• Ladurée: Iconic French patisserie chain known for macarons and luxury confectionery with global retail presence. Comparable to Confeitaria Nacional as a heritage patisserie brand monetizing brand recognition through in-store experience and packaged gifting.

Others

• Delta Cafés: Leading Portuguese coffee roaster and capsule/ground coffee brand. Comparable to Confeitaria Nacional's Café Balthazar sub-brand as a Portuguese artisanal coffee offering sold through retail and e-commerce channels.

Regional players

• Livraria Bertrand Chiado Café: Historic Lisbon café associated with Portugal's oldest operating bookstore in Chiado. Comparable to Confeitaria Nacional as a heritage Lisbon food-and-beverage venue leveraging cultural and historical significance to attract both locals and tourists.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ConfeitariaNacional
• Instagraminstagram.com/confeitarianacional
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/confeitaria-nacional

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Confeitaria Nacional