The United States has become the next step in the growth of CMI Foods, business group of CMI, Corporación Multi Inversiones, following a decade marked by sustained development in Central America. The corporation, which has tripled its size over the past ten years, views this market as a natural evolution within its long-term strategy. This was explained by Juan José Gutiérrez Mayorga, Chairman of CMI Foods and Chairman of the Board of Del Real Foods, during a conversation with the business magazine E&N at the Council of the Americas Symposium 2025, held in Miami.
The track record built in the region, combined with more than 20 years of presence in the United States through Pollo Campero, has allowed CMI to understand consumer behavior and business dynamics, laying the groundwork to strengthen its portfolio and operational capabilities in a larger-scale market.
A decade of growth that reshapes the company’s direction
Over the past ten years, CMI Foods has consolidated its position in Central America and the Caribbean, tripling the size of the company. However, this growth has also revealed natural limits within the region. According to Juan José Gutiérrez Mayorga, the opportunity to continue doubling operations in these markets is becoming increasingly constrained, prompting the corporation to evaluate new opportunities.
The United States emerges as a logical next step, aligned with the philosophy that the business should grow in step with the family-owned company’s evolution. In addition, the experience gained through Pollo Campero has enabled CMI to build a strong understanding of the U.S. market, consumer preferences, and regulatory and commercial frameworks, reducing entry barriers and strengthening execution capabilities.
The United States and portfolio strengthening
CMI Foods’ strategy in the United States combines organic growth with selective acquisitions. One example is its majority stake in Del Real Foods, a company specializing in refrigerated Hispanic-style foods. This move has expanded the product portfolio and allowed the company to serve evolving consumer preferences while maintaining alignment with its corporate identity.
Key factors behind this decision include:
- Complementarity between brands and production capabilities.
- Existing knowledge of the U.S. market.
- The ability to scale operations in a more sophisticated environment.
- Diversification of channels and formats within the food industry.
This approach reflects a gradual strategy based on prior experience and the consolidation of capabilities before taking on more complex operational challenges.
Leadership, family vision, and future outlook
Juan José Gutiérrez and Felipe Bosch Gutiérrez, Chairman of CMI Capital and representatives of the third generation of the family, agree that CMI’s growth has been closely tied to a process of personal, business, and corporate governance maturity. The decision made years ago to formally structure the organization as a family-owned business laid the foundation for a more structured, long-term management approach.
In this context, the move into the United States responds to a strategic assessment of the company’s current stage. At the same time, while CMI Foods continues strengthening its operational platform, CMI Capital supports this process by evolving toward an Active Asset Management model, aligning corporate reputation with investment attraction.
In this way, CMI Foods’ expansion into the United States represents a natural progression after a decade of consolidation in Central America. The experience gained, a stronger portfolio, and a strategy grounded in market knowledge position the corporation to compete in a more demanding environment while maintaining discipline and focus.