Portuguese Franchisor To Base Its Global Coffee Houses On Indigenous Pastry

A Portuguese franchising group is launching a chain of coffee houses on four continents featuring a centuries-old pastry that has never been commercially available outside the country. Portugal’s government supports the new franchise chain as a way to help reverse the country’s shrinking economy. The pastry – “pastel de nata” – is a “rich, round egg custard in a flaky crust,” sprinkled with cinnamon and icing sugar. It is in great demand by both locals and tourists. The franchise – Be-business – opened the first "Nata Lisboa" coffee house in Lisbon. A new one opens in Paris soon, to be followed by establishments in Brazil, North America and Asia by 2016.