In recent weeks, Guatemala-based food and agribusiness group CMI joined forces with Grupo Bios, one of Colombia's leading pet food producers, through a strategic alliance aimed at strengthening their presence in Central American and Caribbean pet food markets. The agreement brings together two established industry players whose combined strengths span manufacturing, brands, distribution and market access across some of Latin America's most dynamic pet food markets.
The emergence of a regional pet food player
Both companies already possess significant pet food production capabilities, recognized brands and strong positions in their respective markets. As a result, the agreement represents more than a commercial partnership — it lays the foundation for what could become one of the most influential pet food platforms in Central America and the Caribbean.
For an industry that has historically developed country by country, the move reflects a broader trend toward regional scale, greater operational integration and stronger competition across multiple markets.
Complementary strengths, shared ambitions
Grupo Bios brings a portfolio of established brands including Ringo, Mirringo, Nutriss, Filpo and Vivance. CMI contributes deep market access across Central America and the Caribbean, along with its own pet food brands such as Rufo, Alimiau, Rambocan and Alimax.
Together, the companies are positioning themselves to serve a region where pet food consumption continues to grow, but where many markets remain less consolidated than larger markets such as Mexico, Brazil or Colombia.
The scale advantage
According to public announcements, the alliance initially covers Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic, while also benefiting from Grupo Bios' established presence in Colombia.
Collectively, these markets represent an estimated pet food volume of nearly 1.7 million metric tons annually, according to Triplethree International, creating one of the largest pet food platforms in northern Latin America.
For Grupo Bios, the alliance provides immediate access to markets that would likely have required years of investment to build independently. For CMI, the partnership strengthens its position in one of the fastest-growing categories within consumer packaged goods.
What comes next?
The agreement also reflects a broader trend within Latin America's pet food sector: the emergence of regional players capable of competing across multiple markets rather than focusing on a single country. As pet food categories mature and competition intensifies, scale, brand portfolios and market reach are becoming increasingly important sources of competitive advantage.
By bringing together complementary strengths in pet food manufacturing, brand management and regional market access, CMI and Grupo Bios are positioning themselves to play a larger role in the evolution of the Central American pet food industry. The alliance may also signal the beginning of a new phase of consolidation as companies seek greater scale in a growing and increasingly competitive region.
Iván Franco is the founder of Triplethree International and has collaborated on hundreds of research projects for several consumer goods industries.
