Carlos Ferreira: 30 years bringing Portuguese cuisine to Canada

Carlos Ferreira, founder of Ferreira Café, has dedicated 30 years to promoting Portuguese cuisine in Canada. After emigrating in 1975, he started from humble beginnings, washing dishes while working as a welder. In 1988, he opened his first café, achieving significant growth. The Ferreira Café, established in 1996, aimed to showcase authentic Portuguese flavors, overcoming initial financial challenges. The restaurant sources 80% of its fish from Portugal and offers a wide selection of wines, primarily Portuguese. Ferreira also invests in vineyards in the Douro region, producing around 40,000 bottles of wine annually. The family-run business now employs over 150 people and is transitioning leadership to the next generation.