Esta cadena de café de origen paisa busca el reconocimiento nacional y aterriza en Bogotá
Ricardo Mesa, gerente general de Urbania Tiendas SAS. Foto: Karlus Morales/Urbania Tiendas SAS,
TL;DR
- Urbania Café, founded in 2015 in Medellín, focuses on direct sourcing from small coffee farmers, paying premiums for quality.
- The company is a certified B Corp, highlighting its commitment to social, environmental, and economic impact.
- Urbania currently operates 14 points of sale (13 in Medellín, 1 in Bogotá) and plans to open four more in Bogotá by 2026, reaching a total of 20 stores.
- Expansion in 2026 will be driven by franchising, with an estimated investment of $1.5 billion pesos.
- Key differentiators include social and environmental impact, high coffee quality, and excellent customer service.
- The company experienced 40% growth in the past year, exceeding expectations with strong demand for its franchise model.
- Urbania generates 80 jobs and faces challenges related to rising labor costs and inflation impacting operational costs.
- They work closely with over 300 coffee farmers, demanding high quality in exchange for above-market prices and technical support.
- Export sales doubled in 2025, with plans to double them again in 2026 and expand into Europe and the United States.
- Challenges include controlling expenses, especially labor costs and inflation, national brand positioning, and talent retention.