Raúl Borges

More than 25 years managing BF Consultores - a national leader in consultancy - and, more recently, the creation of the Icecare project - a brand that seeks to «transform ice cream into a food that is a vehicle for health and well-being, providing a glimpse of what the "Health & Wellness” segments are all about». In terms of management, Raúl Borges is at the helm, surrounded by a competent and efficient team. In this interview, he tells us about the challenges faced with the closure of PT2020 projects; he refers to the launch of PT2030; and the path that Icecare has travelled. One thing is certain, the business manager is very aware in his life «that tomorrow is never guaranteed, it’s only envisaged». Raúl has come to attach more importance to the good things in life, such as travelling the world with his family.  

Today, and with this panoply of EU funds, how has BF Consultores adapted to the market?
It hasn’t been easy. Even in a phase of growth with regard to business, the release of notices for different EU funding packages, such as the PRR (Portuguese Recovery and Resilience Plan), the start of Portugal 2030 and the closure of PT2020 projects, have complicated life for the consultancy’s work teams and the public bodies involved. The consulting firm, because it currently has a number of disruptive projects coming from new programmes, such as the Decarbonisation of Industry (hydrogen, biomethane, energy storage, biomass, solar), the Mobilisation Agendas with their own specificities, Mobility and Energy Efficiency and, finally, Digitalisation - all within the scope of the PRR. This obliges BF to explore disruptive solutions for the market with its clients, always aligning feasibility with economic viability. This has not been an easy task. On the other hand, we have organisations with teams that are too small to cope with the number of programmes and applications, making it very difficult for them to meet the estimated deadlines, thus creating various constraints and delays in the market.  

How do BF Consultores and Icecare stand out from the products we usually see on the market?
BF, in monitoring the implementation of projects and their closure. Normally, processes with a lot of information and detail. Bulky files. Significant changes to what was initially proposed. Justifications described with technical support. As for Icecare, our factory on floors 0 and -1, it stands out for being involved in research and development in the laboratory, with the aim of transforming ice cream into a food that is a vehicle for health and well-being, providing a glimpse of what the «Health & Wellness» segments are in the short term, and «medical food» in the long term. 

With BF Consultores specialising in providing consultancy services, what are the benefits of combining Artificial Intelligence with business?
The benefits include streamlining processes. Quicker, more accurate, more surgical responses to enquiries, with the advantage of quickly providing us with more knowledge. Where and how, what is being done!

«Icecare stands out for its involvement in research and development in the laboratory»

Icecare is focused on producing ice creams developed using biotechnology and innovative processes. What are the questions consumers frequently ask about this product? 
Consumers, at tastings in El Corte Inglés and Pingo Doce hypermarkets (Jerónimo Martins group), ask a lot about its characteristics, they feel it’s something different, innovative. So, we explain that we have organic ice creams, with formulations adapted to industrial production, maintaining the absence of colourings and preservatives, but guaranteeing the shelf life of these «innovations» for periods of up to a year. As a result of this strategy of ambidexterity (investing in traditional concepts and investing in their innovation at the same time), Icecare has developed research and development projects that allow it to work with the Nanotechnology Institute and the University of Minho to create ice creams that improve the lives of those who consume them, by not having as much fat and/or sugar, or by incorporating constituents that help improve health problems, such as phytosterols or hemp.  

What role do you play in the BF group?
Managing the group, which is fundamental. This involves having responsibilities and making decisions in business, strategic and investment areas. BF’s development area is the responsibility of my partner, Norberto Fernandes, and some long-standing employees.

Having been in the market for 25 years, what is the most important lesson that experience has taught you?
That many times, very many in fact, we have to know how to put things into perspective.

What can’t you do without every day?
Always bearing in mind that tomorrow is never guaranteed, it’s only envisaged. That way, I don’t get distracted, I don’t embark on these crazes of ‘always wanting more’ and stop enjoying the truly good things in life. Taking advantage of travelling to the four corners of the world, when possible, with my family, in good company. After all, it’s only at the end that we realise how long we’ve been here.