To start a coffee brand in Uruguay, choose your entry model up front: import green beans and roast locally for control and margin, or launch faster by white‑labeling with a certified roaster in Montevideo. Form an SAS or SRL, obtain your RUT with DGI, and secure municipal habilitación bromatológica if you roast/pack; for imports, register with Aduanas (DNA) and coordinate MGAP phytosanitary clearance for green coffee. Build labels to MERCOSUR rules: Spanish, brand and product name, net weight, country of origin, importer RUT and address, lot, best‑before, storage, and allergens statement if flavored; use one‑way‑valve bags. Control quality: keep beans at 18–22°C and 60–65% RH, cup every lot, and tune roast curves to medium for broader Río de la Plata palates. Price from a landed‑cost sheet (FOB + freight/insurance + duties/fees + roasting/packaging + logistics + IVA), then target ±50–65% retail gross margin and 30–40% wholesale. Win distribution where demand is: Montevideo specialty cafés, gourmet grocers, offices, and seasonal Punta del Este; pilot with 10–20 cafés using consignment or grinders‑on‑loan. Sell D2C with a Shopify/VTEX site, Mercado Pago checkout, and next‑day delivery via DAC/UES; add subscriptions. Protect your brand at DNPI (classes 30/43) and secure a .uy domain and signage.
