Compass

NaturaNectar's COMPASS was built by the founders' desire to make a difference in the world. It is what drives our policies, products and relationships.

Today, NaturaNectar enjoys developing, making, and distributing best-in-class bee propolis supplements and ingredients from raw materials harvested in Brazil. The fifth largest country of the world is widely recognized by its vast biodiversity and favorable climate.

It all started back in 2008 In Brazil where we exclusively source and harvest the best bee propolis of the world through our sister company, ALMAR Research and Development. It was there that founding partners J.L. Paes-Leme and Alessandro Esteves met to design and create the ideas behind what NaturaNectar offers today. 

Alessandro was a local business man which was in love with the honeybees and had just discovered the botanical origin of the Brazilian Red Propolis during a scientific expedition with researchers of University of São Paulo. At the same time J.L. was wrapping up a successful career in the financial services world and was looking forward to the next chapter of his life with more purpose and impact in the world.

Here is an excerpt from J.L.'s notes during the formation of the company:

"It was one of the many trips I have done from Miami to Sao Paulo, Brazil. As a senior executive of one of the largest financial services multinational companies, responsible for Brazil at the time, I was very used to this trip. Flight attendants already knew me by name... This trip was different though. It was to explore my exit strategy from the company that gave me a 21-year exciting career. I felt it was time to do something fundamentally different with my life, something that could make a great impact on people’s lives. I was on my way to explore the potential business opportunity of what we call NaturaNectar and PhenolicFactory today. As I crossed the Equator line flying over South America, I started to type in a few basic caveats that Alessandro and I would have to agree upon before we could do any business together:

Be conscious of the many needs “our neighbors”, especially the ones closer to us. A strong desire to have a portion of the company’s profits directed to charity.

Absolutely conduct our business with the highest degree of integrity, ethics and respect.

Pledge to learn to appreciate and value each other’s strengths and help one another bridge our gaps.

When I presented this to him, his face could not hide how aligned our thoughts were... and so it all began!"

J.L. Paes-Leme, Founder/CEO