COLOMBIA · COMPANY NEWS
Key Facts
- The country Colombia is a South American country of more than 50 million people where Grupo Nutresa, a food group based in Medellín, sells coffee, cookies, cold cuts, ice cream and restaurant meals.
- Why it matters Nutresa is a bellwether for Colombian consumers, and its dollar-debt hedges show how currency swings reach corporate profits. Its restaurant arm also includes the US brand Papa John’s in Colombia.
- Why now Nutresa published results for the nine months to 30 September on Friday 30 October 2026, days after its Presto purchase won competition clearance.
- What happened Sales rose 0.4% to COP 15.4 trillion (US$4.86 billion) and adjusted EBITDA grew 20.7% to US$925 million, but bottom-line net income fell 60.8% to US$119 million on dollar-debt hedging costs.
- The numbers Colombian sales rose 11.6% to US$3.16 billion, international sales were US$1.52 billion (down 0.3%), and the gross margin reached 42.6%.
- What it means for you Investors tracking Colombian stocks get a split picture of strong operating earnings and a hedge-hit bottom line, plus two new Colombian purchases.
- Still open Quarter-alone figures, the prices of the two purchases and their closing dates are not confirmed.
- Power Index Colombia ranks 6th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 51.9 points (October 2026 edition).
In Plain English
Grupo Nutresa is Colombia’s leading food group, with brands in coffee, cookies, cold cuts, chocolates, ice cream and restaurants. EBITDA means earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, a common measure of operating profit.
TRM is the official daily peso-dollar rate calculated by Colombia’s financial regulator, the Superintendencia Financiera. A hedge is a financial contract that offsets currency or price risk, and under Nutresa’s accounts the hedges on dollar debt pass through the income statement.
Colombia’s Grupo Nutresa reported on Friday 30 October 2026 that net income for the nine months to 30 September fell 60.8% to COP 377.5 billion (US$119 million), even as sales rose 0.4% to COP 15.4 trillion (US$4.86 billion). Peso amounts are converted at the official rate (TRM) of COP 3,166.91 per US$ for 30 October, and because the peso moved during the period the dollar values are indicative.
Operating results were stronger, with adjusted EBITDA, which excludes one-off costs, up 20.7% to COP 2.93 trillion (US$925 million) and a margin of 19.1%. Nutresa said the gap between reported and adjusted profit comes mainly from hedges on dollar-denominated debt, and the group also signed deals to buy the Presto restaurant chain and a packaging maker; see the Grupo Nutresa profile.
What the Nine-Month Numbers Show
Reported EBITDA, which includes the one-off costs, rose 21.6% to COP 2.83 trillion (US$894 million), a margin of 18.4% against 15.2% a year earlier. Operating profit reached COP 2.39 trillion (US$755 million) against COP 1.96 trillion (US$619 million), according to Portafolio’s reading of the filed statements.
Gross margin widened by 380 basis points to 42.6%, which Nutresa attributed to structural cost efficiencies, commodity and currency hedging and more favorable international commodity prices. Adjusted net income rose 8.3% to COP 730.6 billion (US$231 million), a figure that excludes one-off expenses and unrealized exchange-rate differences.
Why Reported Profit Fell
Financial expenses rose 70.3% to COP 1.75 trillion (US$553 million), and a negative exchange-rate result on non-operating assets and liabilities reached COP 724.8 billion (US$229 million), against COP 56.7 billion (US$18 million) a year earlier, Portafolio reported from the filed statements. Pre-tax profit fell 46% to COP 785.9 billion (US$248 million).
The hedges on dollar debt run through the income statement, Nutresa said, so currency swings can move reported profit even when operations improve. Portafolio, reading the filed statements, put consolidated net income at COP 380.1 billion (US$120 million), down 60.9% from COP 973.3 billion (US$307 million) a year earlier.
Colombia Leads While the Peso Hits Exports
Sales in Colombia rose 11.6% to COP 10.0 trillion (US$3.16 billion at the 30 October rate, or US$2.89 billion, up 32.2%, at Nutresa’s own period rates), led by ice cream (up 26.0%), food service (23.2%), restaurants (17.7%) and coffee (6.4%). The traditional shop channel grew 16.0%, the institutional channel 14.3% and the modern retail channel 13.3%.
International sales were COP 5.3 trillion (US$1.52 billion at Nutresa’s own rates), down 15.5% in pesos and 0.3% in dollars, which Nutresa linked to a 15.3% revaluation of the peso against the dollar. Ice cream (up 14.4%), pet food (4.7%) and cookies (2.4%) grew abroad, while coffee (down 5.7%) and chocolates (down 11.9%) fell on weaker industrial-ingredient sales and exports.
Presto and Packaging Purchases
Nutresa said it signed agreements in September and October to buy Empaques Industriales de Colombia S.A.S., a maker of cardboard and paper packaging, and the assets and brands of the Presto restaurant chain. No price was given in the sources reviewed, and the release does not confirm that either purchase has closed, Portafolio noted.
Colombia’s competition authority, the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce, cleared the Presto integration without conditions in a decision dated 26 October, Portafolio reported. Presto’s operator, Franquicias y Concesiones, is in judicial liquidation, and its liquidator told the regulator it could keep restaurants open only until 31 October, with more than 700 jobs at risk.
Gilinski on Colombia and the Deals
Jaime Gilinski, president of Grupo Nutresa, said the results confirm the group’s financial and strategic strength and that Colombia remains a pillar, with sustained double-digit sales growth. He added that operating discipline kept profitability up despite regional currency volatility that cuts the peso value of international sales.
Gilinski described the two Colombian purchases as proof of commitment to the country and a way to drive long-term value. Presto will join El Corral, El Corral Gourmet, Papa John’s, Beer Station, Leños & Carbón and Mimo’s in Nutresa’s restaurant business, La República reported.
What It Means for You
US investors who follow Colombian stocks get two readings of Nutresa, with operating earnings up about 21% and reported profit down about 61%, so hedge accounting matters as much as the food business. The restaurant arm, which already includes Papa John’s in Colombia, grows again with Presto.
Visitors to Colombia will keep meeting Nutresa products and outlets, from El Corral burgers to Presto restaurants that Nutresa said will keep operating. The next hard data are the closing of the two purchases and any quarter-alone figures that Nutresa publishes.
What Is Not Known
Quarter-alone figures were not in the sources reviewed, because the company’s release and the press coverage gave nine-month totals only. The prices of the Presto and packaging purchases and their closing dates were also not disclosed.
How much of the hedge effect will repeat in coming quarters is not stated by the company. Analyst consensus for the period was not available from an independent source, so no comparison with forecasts is given.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much profit did Grupo Nutresa make in 2026 so far?
Reported net income for the nine months to 30 September was COP 377.5 billion (US$119 million), down 60.8%. Adjusted net income, which excludes one-offs and unrealized exchange differences, rose 8.3% to COP 730.6 billion (US$231 million).
Why did Nutresa’s reported profit fall?
Nutresa said the gap comes mainly from hedges on dollar-denominated debt that pass through the income statement. Portafolio also cited a 70.3% rise in financial expenses and a COP 724.8 billion (US$229 million) negative exchange-rate result.
What is Nutresa buying?
Nutresa signed agreements to buy Empaques Industriales de Colombia S.A.S., a packaging maker, and the assets and brands of the Presto restaurant chain. Colombia’s competition authority cleared the Presto integration without conditions.
How much did Nutresa sell in Colombia?
Sales in Colombia rose 11.6% to COP 10.0 trillion (US$3.16 billion) in the nine months. International sales were US$1.52 billion, down 0.3% in dollars.
What exchange rate is used for the dollar figures?
Peso amounts use the official TRM for Friday 30 October 2026, COP 3,166.91 per US$. Because the peso moved during the period, the dollar values are indicative.
Sources: Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia, TRM series on datos.gov.co, 30 October 2026; La República, Grupo Nutresa results to September, 30 October 2026; Portafolio, Nutresa nine-month results, 30 October 2026; Portafolio, competition authority clears Presto deal, 30 October 2026; ABC Economía, 30 October 2026; Valora Analitik, Nutresa results to September, 30 October 2026; El Colombiano, Nutresa results to September, 30 October 2026; La República, Presto purchase, October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
In depth
LatAm Markets: Live Signals → — real-time movers, turnover leaders and FX across Latin America.