Amitcha Lima, Entrepreneur and Owner of The Flavours Butchers & Groceries, Liverpool and Rossio Restaurant, Manchester
Turning a passion for food into a thriving business
Amitcha Lima, affectionately known as Mimi, is the inspiring founder and owner of The Flavours Butchers & Groceries, a successful chain of Brazilian and Portuguese food businesses based in Liverpool. Her story is one of resilience, hard work, and unwavering belief in herself.
Originally from São Tomé and Príncipe, Amitcha moved to Portugal at the age of 14, where she gained experience working in restaurants before opening her first shop. Eleven years ago, following the death of her father, she moved to the United Kingdom in search of new opportunities.
When she first arrived, Amitcha worried that her limited English would prevent her from running a business. However, the encouragement of a women’s organisation changed everything when someone told her, “Amitcha, you don’t speak English, but you can cook. If you can cook, you can do it.” Motivated by those words, she decided to pursue her dream.
Today, Amitcha proudly owns three thriving businesses, including The Flavours Butchers & Groceries on Limekiln Lane, Vauxhall, and a café in St John’s Market. Her shops offer a distinctive selection of Brazilian and Portuguese products — from coffee and beer (cerveja) to breakfast cereals and authentic meats. The butcher’s counter is particularly popular, offering high-quality cuts such as Brazilian ribeye and sirloin steaks, alongside seven varieties of freshly made sausages prepared in-house.
Her success is driven by her passion for food and community. Amitcha’s achievements have not only benefitted her family — she is a mother of four — but also people in her home country. Through her charitable efforts, she supports over 460 families in São Tomé and Príncipe, providing essentials such as food, education, and medication, and even helping to establish a GP clinic.
Balancing business and family life has not been easy, but Amitcha’s determination remains unshaken. “Having all these businesses is good, but it’s not easy because we have a family — four children and a little baby. You have to stay strong. When I had a baby,
