From November 7–9, Nata Pura brought the flavour of Portugal to MotoGP Portimão. As a result, this brand activation created a strong moment of visibility and connection with thousands of visitors at the Algarve International Circuit. Present in 24 FanZone points, Nata Pura reinforced the pastel de nata as a global symbol of Portugal.

MotoGP is one of the world’s most-watched sporting competitions, attracting a diverse international audience, high engagement, and massive media coverage. Therefore, it offers the ideal stage to combine visibility with memorable experiences. For Nata Pura, the event supported its mission to share the authentic Portuguese custard tart worldwide, reinforcing its status as the most awarded pastel de nata.

Nata Pura’s presence at MotoGP Portimão carried symbolic weight. After a year marked by international growth – with activations, partnerships, and tastings across Asia, North America, the Middle East, and Europe – returning to Portugal in such a high-impact setting strengthened the brand’s emotional narrative: a Portuguese tradition with a global voice.

A partnership with local impact: promoting the new Nata Pura Caffé Lagos

This activation was also developed in partnership with Nata Pura Caffé Lagos, the brand’s new store in the Algarve. More than a launch, this opening marks the beginning of a new franchising chain. A promises to bring the world’s most awarded pastel de nata back home, and closer to consumers. The presence at MotoGP served as a powerful platform to announce and amplify this milestone, ensuring immediate regional visibility and driving awareness toward the new space.

A strategy focused on experience, reach, and authenticity

The activation was built upon three strategic pillars designed to maximise reach and engagement.

1. Distributed presence across 24 points of sale
Nata Pura products were available in bars, food courts, VIP lounges, and high-traffic zones throughout the circuit. This widespread distribution ensured that visitors repeatedly encountered the brand, increasing awareness and reinforcing recall.

2. Product sampling and sensory engagement
One of the strongest components of the activation was the tasting of mini pastéis de nata. Offering a direct sensory experience allowed Portuguese and international consumers to connect emotionally with the brand. These moments of delight often translate into spontaneous social media sharing, organically amplifying visibility.

3. Strong and consistent visual identity
Nata Pura maintained its iconic black visual identity across materials and touchpoints. This ensured coherence with the brand’s global image, reinforcing elegance, premium positioning, and recognisability.

A return to Portugal with global impact

In 2025, Nata Pura strengthened its international footprint by participating in major events in Korea, Japan, Canada, Australia, and the United States. Ending the year with a key activation at home, and in such a vibrant, high-exposure environment, reinforced the brand’s role as a global ambassador of Portuguese pastry.

The presence of Nata Pura at MotoGP Portimão demonstrated how a well-designed brand activation can go beyond visibility. It can create real connections, emotional impact, and meaningful brand memorability. Through distribution, sampling, and consistent identity, Nata Pura once again celebrated the power of the pastel de nata. This pastry is a flavour that unites tradition, pride, and global appeal.

Over the past few months, our CEO, Mabilio de Albuquerque, has been sharing daily insights on LinkedIn about internationalization; the result of years of experience taking a Portuguese brand to more than 37 countries.
In this article, we consolidate the 10 key lessons in internationalisation from these reflections, highlighting what it truly takes to transform a local product into a global success.

1. Mindset comes first

Before logistics, regulations, or contracts, entrepreneurs need to prepare their mindset.
Going global means embracing uncertainty, adapting faster than competitors, and turning risk into opportunity.
Without this mental shift, no export plan survives its first challenge.

2. Fear is the first invisible barrier

Regulations can be addressed with experts, but the fear of failure can paralyze a business before it even starts.
The courage to take the first step, even without all the answers, often separates the companies that stay local from the ones that go global.

3. Research is more than a plane ticket

Knowing a market doesn’t come from a flight. It requires deep study: consumer habits, cultural codes, distribution channels, and pricing psychology. You don’t “discover” a market – you study it into clarity.

4. Authenticity sells – but it must be accessible

Products with strong local identity, like the pastel de nata, can conquer the world.
The key is balancing authenticity and accessibility: keeping the essence while making it understandable and appealing to someone with no cultural references.

5. Internationalisation is less glamour and more resilience

Business trips may sound exciting, but reality is long hours, complex paperwork, and inevitable mistakes.
The reward is not the romance of the idea, but the resilience gained along the way.

6. Regulations are not obstacles, they’re maps

Food safety, labelling, or taxation rules may feel like a maze.
In fact, they are the map guiding your market entry.
Entrepreneurs who prepare and work with experts turn bureaucracy into a competitive advantage.

7. Culture matters as much as product

Negotiating in Tokyo is not the same as in Lisbon.
Understanding cultural codes, business pace, and local expectations is what ensures a product not only arrives but also stays in a market.

8. Price speaks a different language in every country

Pricing is more than math; it’s positioning.
What feels premium in one market may seem affordable in another.
Setting international prices requires cultural sensitivity, competitor benchmarks, and strategic vision.

9. Digital is often the first door to new markets

Today, the first international sale often happens online.
Social media, e-commerce, and global platforms are the new entry point.
Having a digital strategy tailored to local behaviours can open markets before the first shipment leaves the factory.

10. Resilience is the currency that never devalues

Capital funds internationalisation, but resilience sustains it.
Every setback (delays, rejections, failed launches) becomes growth only if the entrepreneur can rise again.
In the end, going global is more than business: it’s a school of life.

Mabilio’s reflections on LinkedIn show that internationalisation is not a straight line.
It is a journey of courage, research, adaptation, and resilience.
For any company dreaming of going global, these lessons are practical reminders that growth abroad requires more than product; it requires vision, culture, and humanity.