Colombia's Richest Man, Gilinski, to Sell Ice Cream in Venezuela

Jaime Gilinski, Colombia's richest businessman, is set to significantly expand his business interests into Venezuela through the acquisition of Helados Tío Rico by his company, Grupo Nutresa. This move is described as potentially the first of many ambitious ventures in the country.

"With the acquisition of Helados Tío Rico, Grupo Nutresa continues its growth strategy in Venezuela, strengthening its presence in the ice cream segment and consolidating its commitment to the Venezuelan market within the framework of the country's economic reopening," stated Jaime Gilinski, president of Grupo Nutresa. He had previously expressed his intention to "flood Venezuela with Nutresa products as soon as possible."

Grupo Nutresa already has a presence in Venezuela, with products like cookies and chocolates available in various retail channels. However, this acquisition signifies a deeper commitment and an escalation into the industrial sector. Gilinski's son, Gabriel Gilinski, indicated that the company's acceleration in Venezuela "will be really fast."

This expansion coincides with a shift towards commercial and economic initiatives in Colombia, championed by the newly elected President Abelardo De La Espriella. Notably, De La Espriella has appointed Jorge Jaller Jaramillo, a former executive from the Éxito group, as his future ambassador to Caracas. The Gilinski family was a significant financial backer of De La Espriella's presidential campaign, with the bank GNB Sudameris, owned by the Gilinski group, reportedly financing the second round of his campaign. Furthermore, the magazine Semana, also part of the Gilinski group, openly supported De La Espriella's candidacy.