Month: July 2025

In a world where sustainability is no longer optional, even traditional desserts must adapt. The pastel de nata, a Portuguese pastry born in monasteries centuries ago, is now travelling the world – frozen, safe, and sustainable.

At BY Foods, we believe that frozen pastry can be both delicious and responsible. Here’s how we’re helping shape the future of food with every box of nata we deliver.

Tradition meets innovation in frozen pastry

Our story begins with a classic: the pastel de nata, made according to the original monastic recipe. But behind each custard tart we export is a modern production model designed for efficiency, quality, and sustainability.

From carefully sourced ingredients to waste reduction and clean energy initiatives, we ensure every step adds value – not burden – to the planet.

Ultra-freezing for a 18-month shelf life

The secret behind our global reach is our freezing technology. Using blast freezing, we lock in freshness, flavour, and texture – without preservatives.

With an 18-month shelf life, our frozen pastéis de nata are ideal for international distribution. They allow better inventory control, reduce food waste, and enable businesses to serve premium pastry on demand.

FSC certified packaging for frozen foods

Packaging is critical in frozen food logistics, but it doesn’t have to come at the environment’s expense. We use FSC-certified cardboard and continue to develop alternative materials to reduce our packaging footprint further.

Our goal: protect the product throughout the cold chain while supporting a more sustainable food packaging system.

Cold chain logistics for global distribution

BY Foods currently exports to over 37 countries, from Europe to Asia and the Middle East. Ensuring quality across that distance requires a tightly managed cold chain.

By optimising shipping routes, consolidating deliveries, and maintaining a frozen supply chain from origin to shelf, we minimise waste and carbon impact while guaranteeing food safety and consistency.

Why sustainable frozen pastry is the future

Frozen pastry isn’t just about convenience – it’s about ensuring quality and reducing waste on a global scale. At BY Foods, we’re leading the way by combining traditional recipes with sustainable practices, long shelf life, and responsible logistics.

By combining a 18-month shelf life, certified packaging, and cold chain logistics, we’re setting new standards for sustainable frozen pastry production and distribution.

Whether you’re a distributor, retailer or foodservice professional, we offer more than a product – we offer a solution ready for global scale.

From Portugal to the world, one sustainable pastel de nata at a time.

Want to bring sustainable pastry to your market?

Let’s talk! Contact our team or explore our range to discover how we can grow together.

How does a small custard tart, born in Portuguese monasteries over three centuries ago, become a global success story? The answer lies in a perfect mix of consistency and adaptability, combined with a bold vision, and a world of pastel de nata global flavours.

At BY Foods, we’re not just exporting pastry – we’re exporting culture. And at the heart of this journey is someone who saw the potential long before the world was ready.

A vision for expansion, rooted in tradition

When Mabílio de Albuquerque founded BY Foods, he followed a simple but powerful belief: that one of Portugal’s most iconic pastries could find a home in markets far beyond its borders. At a time when many still saw frozen pastry as a compromise, he saw it as an opportunity. A way to preserve quality, guarantee consistency, and scale a product that deserved global attention.

With a clear vision and a strong connection to Portuguese culinary heritage, Mabílio set out to combine tradition with innovation. Not by changing the recipe, but by rethinking how it could be produced, transported and enjoyed around the world. Under his leadership, BY Foods grew from a local project into an international operation, with the brand Nata Pura distributed in over 37 countries across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

His approach remains a guiding force today: respect the roots, trust the product, and adapt when needed to meet new tastes, cultures, and contexts.

Reinventing a classic: the global journey of a Portuguese icon

The traditional pastel de nata is universally loved. But behind the scenes, adapting it to local markets is an art – and a science.

We’ve seen our custard tarts enjoyed in countless ways around the world – served with green tea in Japan, paired with coffee or champagne in Europe, topped with ice cream or fresh fruit, featured as dessert, brunch, or even part of a premium breakfast.

Each variation reflects how local culture meets Portuguese tradition – and makes it their own.

The Middle East: sweet meets subtle

In the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, where dessert traditions often favour balance and subtle sweetness, the pastel de nata has found a unique niche. Its rich creaminess and delicate caramelised top make it a favourite in both premium retail and high-end hospitality, especially when paired with Arabic coffee or cardamom tea.

This region has proven that a product doesn’t need to change radically to resonate – it simply needs the right context and a quality guarantee.

Japan: matcha as a bridge between worlds

In Japan, respect for tradition goes hand in hand with a love for experimentation. The pastel de nata with matcha is a perfect example: the custard’s sweetness is beautifully balanced by the earthy bitterness of green tea powder, creating a new version that feels both local and premium.

This adaptation wasn’t born in a lab – it came from listening to local partners, chefs, and consumers. 

France: when custard meets cheese

France, the land of pastry, is also a place where the unexpected can thrive – if done well. Our savoury pastéis de nata, featuring ingredients like brie or blue cheese, have unlocked new opportunities in the HoReCa channel.

Used as starters, brunch options, or canapés, these salty adaptations prove the versatility of the format. Once again, it’s not about replacing tradition; it’s about expanding its reach.

Consistency where it matters. Flexibility where it counts.

We never change the base of our recipe lightly. But we do pay attention to regional trends, flavour preferences, and the creative input of our partners.

Every new adaptation – whether flavour, format, or packaging – goes through a process of testing, feedback, and alignment. The goal is always the same: respect the soul of the product while making it feel at home, anywhere in the world.

This balance is what drives the sustainable global growth of BY Foods.

The world’s most adaptable pastry?

From Dubai to Tokyo, Paris to Seoul, our pastéis de nata are speaking different flavour languages – and being welcomed with open arms.

The Portuguese tradition remains the heart of our product.

But it’s our openness to the world that allows us to travel and thrive.