Bacu Expands to Medellín and Aims to Close 2025 With 20 Locations
Colombian healthy food chain Bacu announced its expansion to Medellín, after consolidating its presence in Bogotá with 13 outlets and nearly 70,000 monthly orders. The company now sets its sights on reaching 110,000 monthly orders and 20 stores by the end of 2025.
Consolidation in Bogotá and New Horizons
Founded by Stephanie Gómez, Juan Osuna, Andrew Clarkson, and Mateo Albarracín (who later stepped away to pursue other projects), Bacu has become a leader in the balanced food segment in Bogotá.
“Bacu is currently positioned in Bogotá as one of the leaders in healthy eating,” said co-founder and CEO Stephanie Gómez in an interview with Forbes. “We already operate 13 outlets, generating around 70,000 monthly orders, with the goal of building an omnichannel experience for our consumers.”
The decision to move into Medellín, according to Gómez, responds to market demand and the city’s potential. “The market itself is asking us to expand to other cities, and Medellín is ideal due to its size, tourist appeal, and the growing wave of digital nomads seeking this type of offering,” she explained.
Medellín Strategy: Four Stores in 2025
Bacu plans to open four new outlets in Medellín during the second half of 2025, strategically located across the city. “The idea is to establish a strong presence in Medellín with four points of sale this semester and become a food solution for the local community,” added Gómez.
At the same time, the company will continue to strengthen its footprint in Bogotá, with the clear objective of ending the year with 20 locations and 110,000 monthly orders.
Technology and Personalization at the Core
Since its inception, Bacu has relied on technology to optimize operations.
“From the start, we developed our own products and platforms that allow us to vertically integrate from supplier to final customer,” noted Gómez.
With the launch of its loyalty program Club Bacanes, the company seeks to personalize the customer experience.
“Our next step is to offer personalized menus. We want every customer to have a ‘Netflix for healthy food,’ where they first see the products they love and not those they would never consume,” the CEO emphasized.
Backed by Strong Investors
Bacu is supported by institutional investors such as Benchstrenght Capital, Hof Capital, Reshape Ventures, H20 Capital Innovation, and Kamay Ventures (the corporate arm of Coca-Cola Latin America and Grupo Arcor). The company also has angel investors, including Felipe Villamarín and Simón Borrero (Rappi), Isabella Fernández and Camilo Obregón (Poke), Diego Caicedo (Klym), Juan Pablo Ortega and Julián Núñez (Yuno), Ángela Acosta (Morado), and Jun Sung Hwang (ex-Tesla).
Competing in Colombia’s Restaurant Market
The Colombian restaurant industry is led by Frisby (257 outlets), followed by El Corral (203), Crepes & Waffles (181), KFC (103), and McDonald’s (79). With just three years of operations, Bacu seeks to stand out with its omnichannel model and wellness-driven approach.
“What we have learned in these nearly three years is that we must remain 100% focused on our mission: delivering good, balanced, and affordable food, always listening to consumers and leveraging data and technology to innovate in product and pricing,” concluded Gómez.
