Cali, Colombia · Serving clients across the United States, Europe and Latin America
InterOceanic, International Business Development
Latin America market entry consultants · Since 2016

Your partner to build and grow your business in Latin America.

We help US and European companies enter, establish and grow in Latin America, starting in Colombia. And we open markets in the United States, Europe, Africa and the Middle East for Latin American companies.

Book a consultation Meet the partners
US and Europe → Latin America Latin America → US, Europe, Africa and the Middle East
40+years of combined multinational experience
50+countries of direct experience on five continents
27new markets opened by our partners
10years operating as an international development firm
Our partners' experience was built at
BarillaHenkelJohnson & JohnsonKenvueColgate-PalmoliveColombinaCarvajal
What we do

Two routes, one senior team

We work as an extension of your leadership team, with partners who have run international markets and key accounts for top-tier multinationals.

For US and European companies

Latin America market development

Colombia first, then the Andean region, Central America and the Caribbean. We support you from the decision to enter to recurring sales.

  • Market assessment and entry strategy
  • Importer and distributor selection
  • Key accounts with leading retailers
  • Trade and shopper marketing in store
  • In-country commercial representation
For Latin American companies

Expansion to the US, Europe, Africa and the Middle East

We take regional companies to new markets, drawing on experience opening markets across North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania for Colombian companies.

  • Export readiness assessment
  • Market prioritization and pricing
  • Distributor and buyer search
  • Outsourced export management
Why Colombia first

The natural gateway to Latin America

A large, sophisticated market with trade agreements in force with the United States and the European Union, and a location that connects to the Andean region, Central America and the Caribbean. From Colombia, a brand can test, learn and scale.

50M+consumers in Colombia
2012free trade agreement with the US in force
2013trade agreement with the EU in force
2 oceansports on the Pacific and the Caribbean
Services

Everything a brand needs to win in a new market

Market intelligence and entry strategy

Category size, competitors, shelf pricing, channels and a business case for each country.

Distribution partners

Search, qualification and negotiation with importers and distributors that can truly execute.

Retail and key accounts

Account negotiation and development with retail chains, wholesalers and traditional trade, with hands-on experience at Grupo Éxito, Olímpica and Alkosto.

Trade and shopper marketing

Merchandising, activations, launch plans and in-store execution.

Registration and import

Coordination of sanitary registrations, Spanish labeling and import logistics with specialized partners.

Fractional country management

We act as your regional management: annual plans, distributor KPIs and monthly reviews.

Our approach

A proven five-phase method

The same process our partners have used to open and manage dozens of markets on five continents.

  1. Assessment

    Product, pricing, registrations and potential by market.

    3 to 4 weeks

  2. Entry plan

    Channel, portfolio, price chain and business case.

    3 to 4 weeks

  3. Partners

    Distributors and retailers: selection, meetings and negotiation.

    4 to 8 weeks

  4. Launch

    First order, listings and in-store activation.

    Market dependent

  5. Growth

    Monthly management, KPIs and expansion to new countries.

    Ongoing
Founding partners

Multinational experience leading every engagement

Your project is led directly by the partners: more than 40 combined years in international development, sales and retail for global companies.

Juan Nicolás Vélez

Juan Nicolás Vélez

Founding Partner and Managing Director

International market entry and development expert: 23 years taking brands from European multinationals and leading Latin American groups into more than 50 countries across five continents.

  • Barilla: business development across 26 countries in South America, Central America and the Caribbean since 2017.
  • Henkel: Beauty Care Retail development across 13 markets in South America, Panama, the Caribbean and the United States.
  • Carvajal and Colombina: 25 new markets across the United States, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Oceania.
  • Opened the Miami subsidiary of a Colombian jewelry exporter.
CV (Spanish) CV (English)
María Cristina Arboleda

María Cristina Arboleda

Founding Partner and Commercial & Retail Director

More than 20 years in consumer goods multinationals: 18 years at Johnson & Johnson (Kenvue) and 3 at Colgate-Palmolive. She knows from the inside how Colombian retail buys, negotiates and sells.

  • Indirect channel: national Sales Manager, leading a team of 18 and the go-to-market restructuring.
  • Direct channel: key account management with Colombia's top retail chains, including Grupo Éxito, Olímpica and Alkosto.
  • Led Shopper Marketing for J&J's direct channel in Colombia.
  • Economics and International Business, Universidad ICESI.
CV (Spanish) CV (English)
Track record

Results behind our experience

26Barillacountries under direct responsibility in Latin America and the Caribbean
13Henkelmarkets developed in Beauty Care Retail across Latin America and the United States
10Carvajalnew markets opened, with a focus on the United States, Europe and Australia
15Colombinanew markets opened across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Oceania
18Johnson & Johnson · Kenvueyears leading direct and indirect channel sales in Colombia
TopGrupo Éxito · Olímpica · AlkostoColombian retail chains managed as key accounts, with Shopper Marketing leadership

Results achieved by our partners in their roles at these companies.

Industries

Experience in the categories that drive international trade

Food and beverage

Mass-market and premium food across all channels.

Beauty and personal care

Retail chains, pharmacies, direct selling and specialized distributors.

Pulp and paper

High value-added paper, board and consumer products.

Fresh flowers

Cut flowers for importers and wholesalers in the US and Europe.

Jewelry

Fine jewelry and precious metals for premium North American channels.

How we engage

Engagement models for every stage

Assessment

Market entry assessment

To decide whether, where and how to enter, using real market data.

  • Opportunity and competition by country
  • Price chain and margins
  • Recommendation and roadmap
Fixed fee · 3 to 4 weeks
Program

Market entry program

From strategy to the first order and retail listings.

  • Distribution partners
  • Retail negotiations
  • Launch plan
Fee per phase · 3 to 6 months
Partnership

Fractional country management

Your team in the region, without the cost of opening your own office.

  • Annual business plans
  • Distributor and account management
  • Monthly reporting to headquarters
Monthly retainer + performance fee
Contact

Let's talk about your next market

Tell us about your brand and the market you want to reach. In a complimentary first conversation we assess the opportunity and next steps.

nicolas.velez@interoceanic.co

Cali, Colombia · We reply within one business day, in English or Spanish.

Your email app opens with the request ready to send.