Nutresa signs agreement to acquire Presto and relaunch the brand

Grupo Nutresa signed a contract on 22 October 2026 to acquire Presto through its subsidiary IRCC. The agreement marks a new chapter for the Colombian burger chain following the court-ordered liquidation of its operator. It aims to keep the business trading and prepare for a relaunch while preserving the brand’s identity.

An agreement covering the operation, not just the name

According to Infobae’s report on 23 October, the transaction covers Presto’s outlets, plant and production centres. The acquisition was structured as the purchase of an operating business, with the aim of preserving operations without taking on the liabilities or litigation of the company in liquidation.

The deal’s value was not disclosed. Completion also remains subject to the customary conditions for agreements of this kind. Signing the contract should therefore be distinguished from completing the purchase: it represents a commitment to acquire the business, but conditions remain outstanding.

The chain has 156 registered outlets, according to information published by Kienyke. Restaurants currently open will continue serving customers while a plan to strengthen the business is developed. This allows preparations for the next phase to proceed without interrupting service at operating outlets.

The scope of the agreement matters to Colombia’s franchise sector because it brings together the commercial and production assets underpinning the business, rather than simply transferring the Presto name.

Presto will retain its identity within Nutresa

The chain will join Grupo Nutresa’s Alimentos al Consumidor (Consumer Foods) division, which already includes El Corral, El Corral Gourmet, Papa John’s, Beer Station, Leños & Carbón and Mimo’s. The company announced that Presto will operate as a standalone brand, with its own identity and value proposition.

Its position alongside El Corral will be one of the most visible changes to the portfolio. According to Infobae, the transaction would bring together El Corral’s 292 outlets and Presto’s 156 establishments, creating a combined network of 448 burger restaurants in Colombia. That total refers to the two existing chains, not newly announced openings.

Over the coming weeks, Nutresa expects to draw up a plan to strengthen the business, prioritising job retention, supplier relationships and adapting Presto’s longstanding products to current consumer trends.

The announcement therefore combines two objectives: preserving the distinctive features of an established brand and updating its offering. The information released does not yet specify menu changes or a timetable for the relaunch.

From restructuring to an acquisition agreement

The purchase follows the failure of Franquicias y Concesiones S.A.S., known as Frayco and the operator of Presto, to stabilise its finances through a corporate restructuring process.

The company had sought protection under Colombia’s insolvency law, Law 1116, in July 2023. In April 2026, the Superintendencia de Sociedades, Colombia’s corporate supervisory authority, confirmed an agreement supported by 81.39% of recognised creditors. It provided for the repayment of approximately COP 31 billion in obligations over six years.

However, deteriorating cash flow and a failure to meet obligations arising after the restructuring made that approach unsustainable. On 30 September, the company applied for its own liquidation, acknowledging that it was no longer a going concern.

Following the court-ordered liquidation in October, permission was granted to keep the restaurants and plant open to facilitate the sale of the business as a going concern. The signing of the contract with Nutresa turns that search for a buyer into an agreed transaction, although completion is still pending.

What the franchise sector should watch

For those involved in franchising, the case highlights the distinction between an operating company’s financial position and a brand’s commercial continuity. In this transaction, Frayco’s liquidation led to an agreement intended to preserve productive assets and prepare Presto for a new phase.

The announcement focuses on acquiring and strengthening the business; it is not an invitation to prospective franchisees. The next milestones will be meeting the conditions for completion and defining the relaunch plan.

Practical takeaway: before making commercial decisions involving Presto, check that the transaction has completed and review the terms announced for each contractual relationship. The brand’s continuity should not be confused with the automatic continuation of all previous agreements.