Economic evaluation of sweet potato distilled beverage produced by alternative route

Abstract

Shochu is the most consumed distilled beverage in Japan, produced from sweet potato, one of the most cultivated vegetables in Brazil. Tchêchu is a similar distillate, produced by an innovative process, whose economic viability is the object of study of this work. The cost of producing a bottle (750 mL) of Tchêchu was estimated at US$ 2.56. The economic evaluation was based on economic indicators that resulted in positive net present value (US$ 530,501.42), internal rate of return (26% p.y.) higher than the minimum acceptable rate of return (9.25% p.y.) and payback of 2.44 years, indicating that the implantation of the distillery is economically viable.