Popular Portuguese food store Atlântico has moved from Bath Street to a new home on La Motte Street.

The business, which took over from Alfonso’s two years ago, is owned by Claudia Alves and her husband and specialises in products offering the Island’s Portuguese community a “taste of home”.

Atlântico has a partnership with Pingo Doce – described by Claudia as “the Waitrose of Portugal” – allowing it to sell a range of the supermarket’s products in Jersey.

Claudia, who holds a heavy goods vehicle licence, travels to Portugal around four times a year to collect stock herself, with another company also helping to transport goods.

“I go to Lisbon, get the products and bring the products back. I think the main point is bringing a taste from home,” she told Express.

“Pingo Doce is something people have been wanting for years, and I am the one who managed to bring it here.”

The new shop opened on Friday 28 August – although Claudia described the launch as a “soft start” as the new Atlântico is currently unable to sell its range of alcoholic drinks until it gets a licence, which has been applied for.

Claudia comes from a family of business owners and also runs an accountancy firm and works as a court interpreter.

She documents her trips to Portugal on Facebook, where her personal account has around 4,000 followers – including journeys to collect the shop’s popular large watermelons.

Claudia said some of the fastest-selling products were yoghurts, including stracciatella-flavoured varieties not stocked by Jersey supermarkets.

“As soon as those hit the shelves, they go,” she said. “I can’t order huge quantities of them because of the shelf life. I can only bring it in once a month.

“Obviously the watermelons go fast too, and sometimes I like to bring fresh fruits and sweet potatoes back.”

The shop also stocks a wide range of frozen goods, meats and Portuguese specialities – including confectionery, pasta, tinned fish and toiletries.

Atlântico is currently expected to open from 6am until 10pm, although the morning opening time may change to 6.30am following a review.

Freshly baked goods will be available each morning, while a coffee machine is set to be installed to cater for the morning rush.

GALLERY…

Express headed over to the La Motte Street store to get a glimpse of what is on offer…