Interview with Ricardo Faria, the Brazilian entrepreneur behind Global Eggs, who leads the second largest egg producer in the world. The conversation traces his journey from his beginnings as a street vendor to the consolidation of an agro-industrial empire with operations in Brazil, Europe and the United States. Faria details his management model based on operational efficiency, meritocracy through partnerships with his executives, and his vision of the competitiveness of the Brazilian agribusiness sector. He also addresses personal topics such as the importance of mental health, his rejection of hereditary family succession, and his focus on sustained international growth. Faria offers a comprehensive perspective on business leadership and the challenges of expanding an animal protein business across diverse global markets.
From selling ice cream on the beach to leading the global market: The story of Ricardo Faria and the Global Eggs empire
Ricardo Faria, founder and chairman of the board of Global Eggs, is one of the most prominent figures in today’s Brazilian business world. Widely known as the “egg king” — a title he himself modestly declines — he has built an empire that today produces more than 13 billion eggs per year and generates revenues in excess of $2.5 billion. With operations in Brazil, the United States, Europe and Uruguay, his career stands as a testament to resilience, efficiency and a deeply entrepreneurial mindset.
A background shaped by hard work
Faria’s story did not begin in large offices, but on the beaches of Santa Catarina. At just 8 years of age, he was already selling ice cream to earn his own money, discovering early on that he did not need formal employment to generate an income. He never signed an employment contract with a third party; he always preferred to take his own risks and work for himself.
Before his success in the poultry sector, Faria founded Lavebrás, an industrial laundry chain that he consolidated after acquiring 30 companies in 36 months, before selling it to the French group Elis in 2016. Although it was a successful transaction, it left him with the “frustration” of not having built something of global scale at that point — a lesson he would later apply to the internationalisation of his egg business.
Global Eggs: Conquering the international market
In 2024, after leading the Brazilian market with Granja Faria, the entrepreneur made the definitive leap abroad. Global Eggs is currently the second largest egg producer in the world and aims to achieve global leadership in revenues and EBITDA by 2026, with a projected output of 15 billion eggs.
Faria’s strategy rests on clear pillars:
- Extreme efficiency: His business model focuses on being more competitive and efficient than the competition, maintaining a “paranoid mindset” when it comes to cost reduction.
- Partnership model: Unlike other companies, Global Eggs operates under a genuine meritocracy system in which the CEOs of each region (Brazil, USA, Europe, Uruguay) are real partners with equity stakes.
- Culture and DNA: Faria prepares his executives for years before sending them abroad, ensuring they carry the company’s values with them.
Interview with Ricardo Faria, chairman of Global Eggs, on the Show Business programme.
Entrepreneurial challenges: Brazil versus the world
Faria is critical of the difficulties of doing business in Brazil compared with the United States or Europe. He describes the Brazilian business environment as “hostile”, citing a corporate tax burden of 34.5% compared with 21% in the USA or 24% in Europe. He also highlights the negative impact of the litigation industry and the “labour blackout” in certain regions of Brazil, which he partly links to dependency on social welfare programmes such as Bolsa Família.
Despite this, he champions the efficiency of Brazilian agribusiness, asserting that Brazil is the world’s most competitive country in grain and protein production, thanks to the technology developed by institutions such as Embrapa and the adaptability of local farmers.
The egg as a health category
For Faria, the egg has ceased to be a mere commodity and has become a health category. The rise in global consumption is driven by people’s pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. His company is committed to diversification, producing everything from conventional eggs to organic, free-range, vitamin-enriched and gourmet options, catering to both lower-income segments and premium niches.
Mental health and personal discipline
It has not all been a linear rise. Faria revealed that in 2014, during a period of great financial success with his laundry company, he suffered from depression after moving to São Paulo and feeling isolated. He overcame this period through psychological therapy and a return to sport, without the need for medication — an experience that taught him to be more empathetic towards his executives.
Today he maintains a spartan routine: he wakes up at 4:00 a.m. and works 16 hours a day, finishing at 8:00 p.m. His discipline extends to his diet, consuming at least three eggs a day and avoiding sugar and dairy to maintain his energy levels and performance.
Future and succession
Unlike many family-owned companies, Faria has decided that there will be no family succession at Global Eggs. His children will not inherit the management of the business; succession will be strictly professional and based on market meritocracy. As for a stock market listing, while it is not an immediate priority, should it ever happen, it would be on the US market.
Ricardo Faria concludes that his success is not the result of a “stroke of luck” or a “magic trick”, but of constant preparation for when opportunities arise. As he himself puts it: “Luck is when an opportunity appears and I was ready for it”.
Find out more:
-. Holding Global Eggs
-. Hevo Group
-. Company news on NeXusAvicultura
-. Acquisitions and mergers and investments in poultry
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