Director who dispensed with Michelin-starred cuisine participates in delivery network that projects 90 million in 2026

According to Seu Dinheiro, Antonio Mendes, 39, turned down a cooking position at Ze Kitchen Galerie, a Paris restaurant with a Michelin star, to stay in Brazil. Currently, Mendes shares the role of co-founder and director of innovation and product with Papila Deli. The company, which presents itself as a delivery network, expects to earn 90 million reais in 2026.

Mendes worked at the house for five years, under the command of chef William Ledeuil. At the end of a month-long break in Brazil, he turned down the kitchen position at the Parisian restaurant. According to the report, what weighed on the decision was Ana, the person he met on the fifth day of the trip.

Papila Deli was born from the hands of Alex Lewkowicz and Bruno Kormes, and today brings together 11 brands, ranging from poke to burgers. The operation is presented as a delivery network with several sales fronts under the same umbrella.

The numbers reported by the report indicate a relevant jump. The company had revenues of 70 million reais in 2025 and projects 90 million reais for 2026, which is equivalent to an increase of around 29% over the previous year. The account is from this editor, made based on published values.

The most visible movement is the opening of the first physical unit with a salon, in Vila Leopoldina. For a chain born on delivery, the store with salon is a test of another sales format, with direct contact with the customer.

What is at stake is whether the model of several brands under the same operation can sustain the 2026 target and gain space with the physical store. Mendes' trajectory, which left aside a vacancy in a Michelin star kitchen, also shows the weight of personal decisions in the lives of those who undertake.

What changes for the investor

The report does not mention shares traded on the stock exchange, issuance of shares or investment round by Papila Deli, so there is no direct link in this material with listed assets. The case serves as a signal for those who follow the food away from home sector: brands that grow in delivery and begin to open physical stores show how consumption is distributed between channels. To assess any effect on listed companies, data that the article does not provide would be needed, such as margins, costs per unit and the group's market share. This analysis is not a recommendation to buy or sell.

Automatically translated from Portuguese.