How Two Brazilian Brothers Turned a Childhood Tradition Into a Brand Winning Over America

By combining culture, experience, and a deep understanding of consumer behavior, Pedro and Cleo Uchôa have led and built a brand whose customer base is now 87% non-Brazilian.

In an industry where new food concepts emerge every day, the real challenge is not opening a store. It is creating a brand that customers choose to return to time and time again. That is precisely where Pedro and Cleo Uchôafound their competitive edge. Rather than competing solely on product quality, the brothers focused on building an experience that could resonate with people from different cultures.

Today, their operation spans six locations across New York and Miami, employs more than 60 people, and is projected to generate $10 million in revenue over the next twelve months.
The brand’s story has deep roots in Brazilian culture, and for Pedro and Cleo, those roots are personal. For years, Pedro would take his younger brother, Cleo, for açaí whenever he visited Rio de Janeiro. That shared passion for Brazilian flavors and traditions is exactly what drew both brothers to the brand, and ultimately what shaped the vision they have been building together ever since. Yet the company’s success has never been about açaí alone. As the leadership team driving the brand’s evolution, Pedro and Cleo recognized that in order to scale in the United States, they needed to offer more than a product. They needed to create an emotional connection.

That insight led them to invest in something many businesses overlook: translating Brazilian culture without diluting it. Rather than reshaping their identity to fit the American market, Pedro and Cleo focused on making their heritage accessible and appealing to consumers who had never experienced it before. Their concept goes beyond serving food. It delivers an experience rooted in wellness, hospitality, authenticity, and the lifestyle values that define modern Brazil.

The company entered a new phase when Pedro, after building a successful career at some of Brazil’s leading advertising agencies, joined the business alongside Cleo in the United States. While Cleo brought years of operational expertise and firsthand knowledge of customer behavior, Pedro contributed a strategic perspective on branding, positioning, and consumer engagement. Together, they transformed a successful operation into a scalable brand with a clear identity and long-term vision.

Another key differentiator lies in the company’s people-first philosophy. In a sector known for high employee turnover, the brothers have prioritized team development, internal growth opportunities, and a strong organizational culture. Their shared background in sports has played a significant role in shaping this mindset. The principle is straightforward. Lasting businesses are not built solely by talented leaders. They are built by strong teams working toward a common goal.

The company’s growth reflects a broader shift in the global marketplace, where consumers increasingly value authenticity. Instead of creating an Americanized version of a Brazilian concept, Pedro and Cleo chose the opposite path. They embraced their roots and turned them into a competitive advantage. In a world where products can be copied and trends can be replicated overnight, authenticity remains one of the few assets that cannot be. Perhaps that is the true reason a childhood ritual between two brothers from Rio is now resonating with consumers far beyond anything either of them imagined.