Grupo Nutresa signed a purchase agreement on October 22, 2026, to acquire Presto and its operating assets, rescuing the historic Colombian burger chain just nine days after judicial liquidation was ordered. The deal preserves 700 jobs and keeps 104 locations operating across more than 20 cities.
Presto’s journey to the brink of collapse accelerated after years of financial strain. Founded in 1981 by Julio Mario Santo Domingo, the pioneering fast-food chain became a fixture of urban life for generations of Colombians. In April 2026, creditors approved a reorganization plan to address roughly COP 31,000 million in liabilities over six years, but the business ultimately could not maintain its cash flow.
The Superintendencia de Sociedades officially ordered the judicial liquidation on October 13, appointing Mónica Macías as auxiliary of justice. With the chain facing total dissolution, Grupo Nutresa stepped in through its subsidiary Ircc to acquire the brand and its productive economic unit, securing the physical restaurants, processing plant, and production centers.
Grupo Nutresa Keeps Presto Independent From El Corral
The acquisition brings two rival titans of Colombian fast food under the umbrella of the country’s largest food conglomerate, controlled by Jaime Gilinski. Yet leadership insists the two chains will maintain distinct paths. Felipe Baquero, president of consumer foods for Grupo Nutresa, told journalists that the company will not merge Presto with Hamburguesas El Corral, ensuring both brands operate simultaneously as independent entities with their own identities and value propositions.
That separation creates a massive footprint in the domestic market. Combined figures from 2025 show that El Corral and Presto generated combined revenues of $899,833 million, eclipsing the sales reported by international competitor McDonald’s in Colombia during the same period. El Corral led that domestic tier with $791,204 million across 292 establishments, while Presto recorded $108,629 million. Presto operated 114 total points of sale—86 open and 28 closed—at the time of the transition.
Nutresa Deal Saves 700 Formal Jobs
The rescue mission drew swift political attention. Government officials celebrated the transaction, pointing to the preservation of the entire workforce. Abelardo De La Espriella posted on social media to praise the conglomerate’s intervention.
Abelardo De La Espriella stated, 700 jobs are saved, 100% of Presto's jobs!
While official filings tied to the liquidation process recorded a slightly lower payroll of 599 active workers when the liquidator requested temporary suspensions, Nutresa confirmed that the deal maintains 700 formal jobs.
Behind the numbers lies an appeal to national nostalgia. Executives framed the purchase not merely as an asset acquisition, but as a cultural rescue mission. Jaime Gilinski emphasized the emotional weight of the brand in a statement published by the company.
Jaime Gilinski noted that Presto is part of our collective memory and our history.
Nutresa structured the transaction as a productive economic unit, which allows the conglomerate to acquire the brand, recipes, and physical locations while leaving legacy legal disputes and the $31,000 million in accumulated debts with the previous owners, the Costa Rican investment fund Mesoamérica.
Menu Staples and the Strategy for Reconnecting With Consumers
With the operational framework secured, the focus shifts to a brand relaunch. Leadership plans to lean heavily into the products that defined the chain’s four-decade run: the original hamburgers, the ham and cheese sandwich, apple pies, and the signature house sauce.
Felipe Baquero explained, The objective is to reconnect with those who grew up with the brand and win the preferences of new generations.
Baquero added that the company intends to listen closely to customers regarding menu adjustments, while preserving the distinctive taste profile that patrons have recognized since their first bite.