″Thank you Mr. Rui″. Hundreds of people applaud businessman’s funeral procession

Hundreds of people, mostly employees of the Nabeiro Group – Delta Cafés, received the funeral procession of businessman Rui Nabeiro at the entrance roundabout in Campo Maior, shortly after 10 am, with applause and much emotion.

A sign was placed in the center of the roundabout saying “Thank you, Mr. Rui” and people who wanted to pay this last tribute as the funeral procession passed by flanked the entrance to the village where the businessman was born, in the district of Portalegre.

As soon as the hearse entered the roundabout, the crowd clapped. With many of the people dressed in black as a sign of mourning, tears were visible on many faces, especially those of employees of group companies identified by a Delta pin on their chest.

The funeral procession headed towards the group’s manufacturing complex – where the Nova Delta factory, the Coffee Science Center and Adega Mayor are located – and will travel to other manufacturing units of the group spread across the county.

A crowd of Novadelta employees applauded the arrival of businessman Rui Nabeiro’s funeral procession at that factory, in Campo Maior (Portalegre), for 13 minutes.

The body of Rui Nabeiro, who died on Sunday at the age of 91, entered the factory at 10.18 am, with employees – dismissed from work today and on Tuesday – receiving the funeral procession in uniform, as on a usual working day.

The procession also followed the businessman’s children and grandchildren, among other family members who, visibly moved, thanked those present for the tribute to Rui Nabeiro.

Maria João Cunha, a Novadelta employee for 21 years, was one of the workers who awaited the funeral procession, reminding the Lusa agency that she had known Rui Nabeiro “since he was a child”, being for her “almost a grandfather”.

“It is a very difficult loss. That daily routine of greeting employees will be missed, it hurts a lot to know that we will no longer have our biggest boss here”, he lamented.

The employee also said that she will “remember forever” a well-known phrase that Rui Nabeiro often told her: “I don’t want them to work harder, I want them to work well.”

In addition to Novadelta, the funeral procession passed through other companies of Rui Nabeiro, having arrived at the Main Church of Campo Maior, where the wake is taking place, shortly after 11:00.

Businessman Rui Nabeiro, founder of Grupo Nabeiro – Delta Cafés, died on Sunday, aged 91, from illness, at Hospital da Luz, in Lisbon.