ABACO

What ABACO does

ABACO (Asociación de Bancos de Alimentos de Colombia) is a non-profit association founded in 2003 and headquartered in Bogotá that coordinates a national network of 26 affiliated food banks responsible for rescuing surplus food and distributing it to vulnerable populations in Colombia. In 2025 the network delivered 55,091 tonnes of food and reached more than 1.6 million beneficiaries, supported by a donor base of over 3,700 corporate partners spanning food producers (Nutresa, Alpina, Alqueria, Kellogg's), industrials (Dow), logistics providers (LATAM Airlines), and trade associations such as ANDI.

ABACO's operational backbone rests on three proprietary technology components: the EatCloud AI-powered donation matching platform, deployed in partnership with Dow to support the Cooling2Feed cold chain; the IVAI (Índice de Vulnerabilidad Alimentaria Infantil), built using TOPSIS multi-criteria methodology to map child food insecurity; and the Universidad ABACO learning management system for capacity building. The Observatorio de Nutrición Infantil provides the data layer underpinning targeting and donor reporting. The organization is a member of the Global FoodBanking Network and is led by Director Juan Carlos Buitrago.

The business model is donation-funded rather than revenue-generating: ABACO does not sell a product but matches corporate food surpluses and cash contributions to demand points identified through its network of 26 food banks, supplemented by humanitarian response products (notably Cápsulas de Emergencia, launched February 2026) and event-driven fundraising such as the 2024 Todos Juntos concert in Medellín. Customer concentration risk is structurally low due to the long-tail donor base; the binding constraint is the depth of corporate CSR budgets rather than any single counterparty exposure.

Name

ABACO

Legal name

ASOCIACIÓN DE BANCOS DE ALIMENTOS DE COLOMBIA – ABACO

Website

https://abaco.org.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

ABACO is a Colombian non-profit founded in 2003 that coordinates 26 food banks nationwide, rescuing surplus food from 3,700+ corporate donors and distributing it to 1.6 million+ vulnerable beneficiaries annually through an AI-enabled matching platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Banking Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (624210), Community Food Services (62421)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD), Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH)

Keywords

• Food bank network
• Food rescue services
• Hunger relief programs
• Surplus food distribution
• Cold chain logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Bogotá

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Monetary Donations: ABACO receives financial contributions from individuals and corporations that are used to purchase food, hygiene products, and basic household items distributed to vulnerable populations through the food bank network.
2. In-Kind Food Donations: Companies donate surplus food products which ABACO collects, processes, and distributes, reducing donor destruction costs while providing tax benefits under Colombian law Article 126-2.
3. Gestión de Merma Sostenible: Sustainable shrink management services where ABACO handles expired or near-expiry product donations, reducing corporate disposal costs for transportation, storage, and destruction.
4. Logística de Devoluciones: Retail return logistics service where ABACO collects returned products from distribution centers, manages their social reuse, and provides donors with tax benefits.
5. Marketing Social: Social marketing services that enhance corporate social responsibility through campaigns, commercial alliances, publications, and media coverage in regional and national outlets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ABACO coordinates a national network of 26 food banks across Colombia that rescue surplus food from the agricultural, industrial, commercial, hotel, and restaurant sectors and distribute it to vulnerable populations facing food insecurity and malnutrition. The organization operates AI-powered platforms (EatCloud) for donation matching and cold chain logistics (Cooling2Feed), and supports emergency food response, child nutrition programs, and training through Universidad ABACO.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• REAGRO: Agricultural surplus recovery program rescuing fruits and vegetables from farmers for distribution to vulnerable populations.
• Cooling2Feed
• Eatcloud
• Desayunos Saludables
• Banco de Hilos
• Todos Juntos
• Observatorio de Nutrición Infantil
• Universidad ABACO

Products and services

• EatCloud Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• 55,091 tonnes of food delivered in 2025, providing 18.5% of daily nutrient recommendations to beneficiaries
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• EatCloudcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2025Strategic technology partnership for AI-powered food donation platform. EatCloud provides an artificial intelligence platform that automates the donation process for any food volume at any location, enabling seamless connection between donors and food banks.
• DowcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Strategic alliance to strengthen cold chain logistics and food rescue operations. Dow supports infrastructure improvements including cold storage facilities for six food banks and refrigeration equipment for over 40 social organizations. The goal is to rescue 475+ tonnes of small-volume food donations.
• Gobernación de AntioquiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Major government partnership to combat hunger in Antioquia through food rescue and nutrition programs reaching children in 125 municipalities. Delivered 5,000 food rations, distributed 401,161 kg of food, and trained 113 nutrition professionals.
• ANDI (Asociación Nacional de Empresarios de Colombia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational business association partnership for corporate food donations, emergency response coordination, and humanitarian corridor activation during disasters like the Catatumbo crisis and winter emergencies.
• Global FoodBanking Network (GFN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational certification body that validates and certifies food banks. ABACO holds GFN certification and participates in global food banking standards and best practices exchange.
• Fundación NutresamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate foundation partner supporting nutrition programs and food rescue initiatives. Grupo Nutresa is one of Colombia's largest food companies with diverse portfolio supporting ABACO's mission.
• AlqueriamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor dairy company providing milk products for the Desayunos Saludables (Healthy Breakfasts) program feeding 3,400+ children daily.
• AlpinamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor dairy and food company providing dairy products for the Desayunos Saludables program feeding vulnerable children.
• Kellogg'smajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCereal company providing products for the Desayunos Saludables program through alliance with ABACO.
• Fundación ANDImajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerANDI Foundation working with ABACO on emergency response, food donations, and humanitarian aid distribution during national crises.
• Fundación SaciarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey affiliated food bank in Medellín managing operations in Antioquia and founding board member. Responsible for Banco de Alimentos del Oriente Antioqueño serving 23,000+ vulnerable people.
• Fundación ExitomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRetail foundation partner supporting food rescue and community nutrition programs.
• Pastoral Social NacionalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic social services network operating food banks and participating in humanitarian corridors during emergencies like Catatumbo crisis.
• Fundación Saldarriaga ConchamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation focused on social development supporting ABACO's mission on board of directors.
• VantimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy company partner supporting the Alliance for Child Nutrition through social programs.
• LATAM Airlines ColombiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirline providing logistics support to transport emergency food donations to remote and disaster-affected regions.
• Fundación StarbucksmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStarbucks foundation partnering with Alsea and ABACO to rescue food in Nariño and Bolívar departments.
• OlimpicamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor retail chain providing food donations and supporting emergency response efforts.
• Tiendas D1majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiscount retail chain donating products and participating in food rescue programs.
• Tiendas AramajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRetail chain supporting food donations and community programs.
• Páramo ImpactacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent production partner that co-organized the 'Todos Juntos' concert raising $11.46 billion pesos for child nutrition programs.
• AXA ColpatriamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsurance company partner supporting nutrition and food security initiatives.
• HerbalifemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNutrition company partner supporting food bank operations and nutrition programs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Caritas Internationalis: International confederation of Catholic relief organizations operating food assistance and humanitarian programs worldwide, with Pastoral Social as a direct partner of ABACO. Adjacent peer with overlapping beneficiary base and food distribution work.
• Red Cross / Colombian Red Cross: Humanitarian network providing emergency food relief and disaster response, including in Colombia. Overlaps with ABACO on emergency feeding activations (Catatumbo, Venezuela earthquake) but with broader health and shelter mandate.
• The Food Bank Singapore: Singapore-based food rescue and redistribution nonprofit using technology-enabled logistics for surplus food. Comparable tech-forward food banking model relevant as a peer in digital food rescue innovation.

Direct peers

• Mesa Brasil SESC: Brazil's largest food bank network operated by SESC, redistributing surplus food across hundreds of cities. Closest direct peer in scale and geography, with similar corporate-donor model and large beneficiary base.
• The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN): Global federation that certifies and supports national food banking networks, including ABACO. Most directly comparable as ABACO's international umbrella and standards body, with shared mission of food rescue and redistribution.
• Food Bank For New York City: Major US metropolitan food bank distributing food via charitable network and pantry partners. Comparable in mission and donor base, though smaller in geographic scope than ABACO's national reach.
• European Food Banks Federation (FEBA): European umbrella of food bank federations across 30+ countries coordinating surplus food redistribution. Directly comparable network-of-networks structure to ABACO's 26-bank Colombian federation.
• Bancos de Alimentos de México (BAMX): Mexico's national food bank association coordinating a network of food banks for surplus food rescue and distribution. Closest Latin American direct peer by mission, structure and operational model.

Broad incumbents

• World Food Programme (WFP): UN agency addressing global hunger and food security, including emergency response operations in Colombia and Latin America. Larger incumbent with overlapping emergency feeding mission, though structured as a multilateral rather than association.
• Feeding America: Largest hunger-relief organization in the US, operating a network of 200+ food banks and 60,000+ partner agencies. Larger and more established direct equivalent with similar food rescue, redistribution and corporate-donor model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Abacocol
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAGp5AuU4zde3hlunjXYAuQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/abacocolombia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/abaco-asociaci%C3%B3n-de-bancos-de-alimentos-de-colombia
• Instagraminstagram.com/abacocolombia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ABACO