Nine Colombian food companies explored the Texas market

Aiming to find other market niches in the United States, different from New York and Florida, the traditional destinations from Colombian agribusiness products, nine domestic food companies went on an exploration mission to Houston, Texas. 

"It was an excellent experience. It helped to make us aware of many aspects we sometimes overlook before beginning to export, such as packaging, product presentation, and the strategy to reach distribution channels successfully, said Sara Velazquez, from the company C.I. Fusion Ltda., from Cartagena. ¡Error! File name not specified.

The trip, which was arranged by PROCOLOMBIA, was also intended to find new business opportunities in the aftermath of the signature of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), entered into with the United States. Photo: PROCOLOMBIA

The trip, which was arranged by PROCOLOMBIA, was also intended to find new business opportunities in the aftermath of the signature of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), entered into with the United States.

Two companies from Santa Marta participated: Bananitas Ltda. and Grupo Tayronaca; two from Cali, Agrícola Himalaya and Aprocol; from Bogota, the company D'Cambil y Cía.; Pastelería Lucerna from Pereira; Fruta Seca de Verona S.A.S. from Medellín; CI Citricland Ltda. from Bucaramanga; and C.I. Fusión LTDA from Cartagena.

According to Pedro Luis Peña from Hortalizas Gourmet SA, a Cali company associated to Aprocol, the visit allowed them to get to know the details of the North American market. "We found out who our competitors are, and that the United States is a large-volume market."

As part of the agenda, the visitors attended several illustrative talks on the Texas market. For instance, they had a first hand look at the market access conditions and the business culture in the United States. 

Furthermore, they visited the Port of Houston and supermarkets like Fiesta Mart.