Voluntary Report - public distribution

**Date:** 9/21/2004

**GAIN Report Number:** VE4009

VE4009

**Venezuela**

**Kosher Foods**

**Venezuelan Market for Kosher Food**

**2004**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Leanne E. Hogie

U.S. Embassy VENEZUELA

**Prepared by:**

Clara Nuñez

**Report Highlights:**

The Venezuelan Jewish Community is the third largest in South America,
after Argentina and Brazil, with an estimated population of about
23,000. The kosher market is supplied by locally produced products
certified by the local rabbi, and by certified imports mainly from
Israel and the United States. Venezuela\'s major food processors have
many of their products kosher certified. A list of contacts and contact
information for key importers and distributors of kosher food is
included in this report.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

Caracas \[VE1\]

\[VE\]

**Venezuelan Market for Kosher Food**

The first Jewish immigrants in Venezuela were reported around 1824 when
the first organized community was established in the city of Coro,
located in the northwest part of the country. Sephardic Jews coming from
Holland and Curacao were the first immigrants. However, since colonial
times there is information that confirms some presence of Sephardic
Jews. Information points out that in 1693 a small congregation existed
in the town of Tucacas. A second migration of Jews from North Africa
arrived in the year 1870. Jews from Eastern Europe later joined the
group. After the rise of Hitler, Jews came from Germany and elsewhere in
central Europe.

Venezuela's Jewish Community is estimated as the third largest in South
America, after Argentina and Brazil, with an estimated population of
about 30,000 out of a total national population of 25 million. However,
since the year 1998, this population has been decreasing. The exact size
and trend of the Venezuelan Jewish population is difficult to accurately
identify, however according to some kosher store owners as well as other
FAS/Caracas contacts the Jewish population is estimated now at about
23,000 people. In 2001, the official national census did not include
religious indicators for the first time. Caracas is the home of the
largest Jewish community in the country.

The Venezuelan Jewish community is divided in two major groups by
geographic origin. The Sephardim, descendants of Spanish, North African,
Lebanese, and other Middle Eastern and Mediterranean countries that
comprises about 55 percent of the Jewish community in Venezuela. The
Ashkenazim descendants from German, Polish, Russian and other eastern
European countries, account for the remaining 45 percent of Venezuela's
Jewish community. A central organization called the "Confederacion de
Asociaciones Israelitas de Venezuela" (CAIV) was established to
represent the entire community.

Generally speaking, the level of religious commitment in the Jewish
community is high. Nearly all the synagogues in the country are
Orthodox, though the level of personal observance varies greatly and
membership in the synagogue does not necessarily mean regular attendance
on Shabbat or rigorous observance of the dietary laws. Orthodox Jews,
who comprise about 10 percent of the Jewish community, are the main
consumers of kosher food. The purchase of kosher food increases during
certain Jewish religious celebrations, particularly in the months of
September and October.

## 

## Non-Traditional Kosher Consumers

Apart from the Jewish community, there may also be a growing number of
consumers for kosher food in Venezuela, since some people believe that
these products have higher food safety standards. Kosher store-owners
estimate that 10 percent of their current customers are not Jewish.

Other possible consumers of kosher products in Venezuela include
Muslims, vegetarians and lactose intolerant people. There are no
reported figures on size of the Muslim community in Venezuela.
FAS/contacts have reported that vegetarians look for kosher food, as
they know that they can trust the "parve" labeling to guarantee no meat
or dairy content.

# 

# Domestic Production and Market for Kosher Products

Approximately 90 percent of fresh kosher products are produced in
Venezuela, and about 50 percent of kosher canned and frozen products are
produced domestically, the rest is imported either from Israel or the
United States.

There are two kashrut authorization committees that provide
certification for kosher products in Venezuela, the Israeli Union of
Caracas, UIC (Unión Israelita de Caracas) and the Israeli Association of
Venezuela, AIV, (Asociación Israelita de Venezuela.) They work closely
with domestic manufacturers to ensure that their products meet the
standards mandated by Jewish dietary laws, thereby allowing them to be
sold as kosher certified products. The kashrut committees perform strict
inspections in every kosher manufacturing facility in order to be able
to certify the products as kosher. The UIC and the AIV also import
directly from Israel and the United States and they work closely with
food importers in order to have enough stocks of products for religious
celebrations.

For meat and meat products, kosher certifying organizations have
arranged with some Venezuelan slaughterhouses to perform slaughter in
separate areas and under the supervision of a rabbi and employ
kosher-trained staff. Meats are mainly from the local market or imported
from Argentina. Although imports of meat from the United States are
preferred among some Jews because their preparation is considered well
supervised, other contacts have commented that imports of meat from the
United States have been curtailed during the last four years
(1999--2003) due to the difficulties in obtaining import permits.

Venezuela's major food processing companies manufacture many kosher
certified products. Kosher products produced domestically are listed at
the UIC, AIV and Centro Beth Shemuel's websites, in local magazines
(including Kol Shemuel Newsletter, The New Israel World Bulletin and The
Jabad Lubavitch de Venezuela Newsletter), and at major Jewish community
centers. The lists are updated periodically. (For further information,
please see section on contacts)

Kosher foods and ingredients can be found at independent stores located
mainly in the neighborhoods of San Bernardino, La Florida, Los Chorros,
Los Dos Caminos, Los Palos Grandes, and in some delicatessen stores in
Caracas and other cities. Kosher certified products are also sold at a
few supermarket chains, but rarely placed in a special kosher section.
There are opportunities for U.S. kosher products with both the small
independent retailers and major supermarket chains.

Kosher restaurants and food service can be found at local Jewish clubs,
congregations, schools and neighborhoods.

# Marketing

FAS/Caracas will be promoting U.S. kosher products in Venezuela and will
be providing information to kosher importers and associations at the
Kosherfest show in New York City, which will take place from October
26-27, 2004. This show is a good opportunity for Venezuelan importers to
learn about the varied supply of U.S. kosher products and the diversity
of brands.

For more information on the show, please consult the trade show web site
at [http://www.kosherfest.com](http://www.kosherfest.com/) or contact
the FAS/Caracas office at (58-212) 975-8861 or see our web site at
<http://embajadausa.org.ve/usda.html>. For more information about
Venezuelan congregations and import contacts, please see the next
section of key contacts.

# 

# KEY CONTACTS:

**Jewish Entities and Associations:**

# UNION ISRAELITA DE CARACAS

Av. Marquez del Toro, No. 9

San Bernardino

Caracas, D.C. -- Venezuela

Or P.O. Box 14452, Caracas 10111

Phone (58-212) 552.8222

Fax (58-212)

E-mail: <presidencia@uic.org.ve>

Web site: [http://www.uic.org.ve](http://www.uic.org.ve/)

# ASOCIACION ISRAELITA DE VENEZUELA

3861 Zona 1010-A Caracas 1050 Venezuela

Tel. (58-212) 574.82.97 **/** 574.49.75 **/** 574.39.53 **/** 576.45.72
**/** 577.31.36

Fax (58-212) 577.0249

E-mail: <aiv@aiv.org>

Web site: [http://www.aiv.org](http://www.aiv.org/)

# EMBASSY OF ISRAEL IN VENEZUELA

Centro Empresarial Miranda

Av. Francisco de Miranda con Av. Principal de Los Ruices

Piso 4, Oficina 4-D

Caracas - Venezuela

Tel. (58-212) 239-4921/ 4511

Fax (58-212) 239-4320

# RABINATO DEL CENTRO BETH SHEMUEL

Av. La Capilla, Quinta Beth Shemuel

La Florida -- Caracas

Venezuela

Tel. (58-212) 731-6029

Fax (58-212) 731-2226

Web site: <http://www.bethshemuel.cl.tc/>

# CLUB HEBRAICA

Avenida Principal de Los Chorros,

Caracas 1071, VENEZUELA\
Or: Apartado Postal 16004, Caracas 1013-A, Venezuela\
Tel. (58- 212) 273.6711

Fax: (58- 212) 238.4795

[http://www.hebraica-online.com](http://www.hebraica-online.com/)

E-mail: <hebraica@cantv.net>

**Food Stores, Importers and Distributors:**

# SUPERMERCADO KOSHER WORLD

Av. Sucre entre 4ta. Y 5ta. Transversal

Centro Parque Boyacá, frente a Balmoral

P.B. Local 12 - Los Dos Caminos

Caracas - Venezuela

Tel. (58-212) 285.0684/ 1824

Tel. 0500 KOSHERW

E-mail: <info@koserworld.com.ve>

Web site: [http://www.koserworld.com.ve](http://www.koserworld.com.ve/)

# COMERCIAL GALIPAN

Av Roraima con Cagigal,

Urb. San Bernardino

Caracas - Venezuela

Tel. (58-212) 551-7763/ 7880/ 7978

Fax (58-212) 551 552.8684

# DELICATESSES REY DAVID

4ta. Transversal, Av. Andres Bello

con calle Alfredo Jahn

Urb. Los Palos Grandes

Caracas -- Venezuela

Tel. (58-212) 284-1790/ 238-8011

Fax (58-212) 285-0605

# 

# FRIOSA

Autopista Valle-Coche

Subida a Tazón, Kilometro 8

Frigorificos Militares Tazón

(sentido Hoyo de la Puerta-Caracas)

Tel. (58-212) 682-5761

Fax (58-212) 681.4987

E-mail: <info@friosa.net>

Web site: [www.friosa.net](http://www.friosa.net/)

# ALIMENTOS OCEANIA

Calle Bolivar, Edf. Fryan,

Urb. La Trinidad

Caracas -- Venezuela

Tel. (58-212) 943.3737

Fax (58-212) 945.0932

E-mail: <oceania@cantv.net>

Web site: <http://www.alimentosoceania.com/>

# DISTRIBUIDORA BEKA

Av. Principal, Zona Industrial La Candelaria, Kilómetro 9

Edif. La Candelaria, Nivel Sótano, Filas de Mariches

Caracas -- Venezuela

Tel. (58-212) 532-1223 / 0006

Fax (58-212) 532-2343

E-mail: <akbeka@telcel.net.ve>

# DISTRIBUIDORA FINE FOODS

Calle Tiuna, Galpón No. 5

Sector Industrial La Naya

Carretera Vieja las Minas de Baruta (frente a Maderas Tiuna)

Tel (58-212) 976.3861

Fax (58-212) 976. 0016

E-mail: <fbraschi@finefoods.com.ve>

Web site: [www.finefoods.com.ve](http://www.finefoods.com.ve/)

# CORPORACION PF

Carretera Petare-Sta. Lucía, Km 4,

Conjunto Industrial del Este, Manzana H,

Edificio La Parmigiana,

Estado Miranda -- Venezuela

Tel. (58-212) 532.2892 / 0749

Fax (58-212) 532.3406

E-mail: <parmigiana@cantv.net>