The Family:
• Martin, our founder, travels to Peru in 2015.
• There he meets Lizzy from Lima.
• Together, they move to Denmark and get married the same year (2015).
• In the first few years, they live in Southern Jutland and Kolding.
• Later, they move to Frederiksbjerg in the heart of Aarhus.
• Today (2025), they live in Silkeborg and have a son.
2018
LIMA is founded by Martin in a backyard between Guldsmedgade and Badstuegade, centrally in Aarhus, on 26.02.2018. It begins with a complete clearing of a 100m2 space, which will later become LIMA Aarhus, a small café serving coffee and sandwiches with 11 employees and many happy regulars. LIMA hosts board games, football matches on a big screen, and music quizzes.
2019
The menu evolves as LIMA finds its path and niche. At this point, dough for empanadas, cookies, and cakes is being kneaded. A 5-liter kneading bowl is set up in the attic where the dough is prepared, and a portable stove with a 10-liter pot is used to fry and cook the fillings for the empanadas in an open kitchen in front of the guests. Versions of empanadas with Lomo Saltado and Ají de Gallina, among others, can be found on the menu. Additionally, you can also enjoy Causa, Chicha, Ceviche, Pisco Sour, and much more at the small café, which is open every day of the week.
Nov. 2019
As the café gets busier, Martin begins searching for a place to produce their empanadas. At this point, the founder has added new varieties of empanadas to the menu several times. By the end of 2019, there are 10 different varieties of empanadas on the menu, along with ceviche and a few cookies and cakes.
For a while, our founder has been thinking about selling empanadas wholesale, but it’s been difficult to find suitable kitchens around Aarhus. However, through some detours, an agreement is made to rent a remodeled farm shop at Johannesminde Agriculture outside Skanderborg. Here, they can “peacefully” produce empanadas and other items for the café. LIMA Empanadas ApS is born.
2020
The café on Guldsmedgade is thriving. There are customers from morning to evening, and two years of hard work begin to pay off. New staff is hired in February, and preparations are made for a record year.
On March 11th, EVERYTHING shuts down. Corona hits the world. Martin has to think outside the box to keep his livelihood. The café stays open, and a direct delivery service of empanadas to customers front doors is established. On Mondays and Tuesdays, they drive to Southern Jutland, Wednesdays to Northern Jutland, and so on. Empanadas are delivered across ALL of Denmark, and no order is too small.
It’s tough for the café. Despite this, the café remains open, and every effort is made to maintain the loyal customer base the café can hopefully rely on after the crisis. However, the café never finds its momentum during or after the crisis. Bills also leave their mark, and the café never fully recovers its rhythm afterward.
2021
The first wholesale order from the farm shop near Skanderborg is delivered to SKAGENFOOD in Strandby. 13,000 100% organic empanadas are sent off, marking the start of a new chapter in the story of LIMA.
Later that same year, Nemlig.com also becomes a customer, as it is determined that it’s not profitable to deliver empanadas through their own webshop. Nemlig.com thus takes over the sales to LIMA’s loyal customers across Denmark.
2022
At the end of 2021, the toughest decision to date is made — the closure of Café LIMA. However, it feels more like a relocation. By this point, the concept has shifted to focus solely on empanadas.
A contract is signed with Aarhus Street Food for a stall, and LIMA acquires a 10-foot container, beginning the process of transforming it for the new setup. In February 2022, the container opens in the old bus garage at Aarhus Street Food.
Summer 2022
The Corona pandemic has finally begun to loosen its grip on Europe, and festivals are opening their doors once again. A food truck is purchased, and applications are submitted. The first festival season includes various street food festivals, with Jelling, Grøn, and SMUKFEST as the highlights.
LIMA moves its production. A contract is signed for a 350m² space in Søften, near Aarhus. However, extensive renovations are needed before the space can be used for large-scale empanada production. In September, all machinery is moved from the farm shop to the new location.
At this point, LIMA supplies empanadas to 200 kindergartens across Denmark, with 12,000 empanadas leaving production every fourth Friday.
A LIMA restaurant also opens in Nicolinehus, Markedshallen at Aarhus Ø.
Additionally, LIMA Empanadas Østerbro comes to life. Here, all LIMA empanada varieties are available to guests throughout the week. Araceli and Juan own and run the shop in Copenhagen with great success.
2023
LIMA has established itself on the festival scene. Three food trucks have been purchased, serving all types of events. Additionally, for the first time, a tent is set up at the larger festivals.
This summer, LIMA’s breakthrough is especially evident, with 330 days spent at festivals or events in 2023. LIMA Empanadas can be enjoyed at major festivals such as Jelling Musikfestival, NORTHSIDE, TINDERBOX, HEARTLAND, ROSKILDE FESTIVAL, SMUKFEST, and GRØN KONCERT.
2024
2024 was an exciting year for LIMA. Our stall at Roskilde Festival expanded significantly. The year brought a lot of innovation in vegan empanadas, and overall, we refined our recipes and enhanced flavors! LIMA Østerbro celebrated its 5th anniversary in style!
2025 and beyond!
Follow the journey on social media!