Colombian Ice Cream Giant Meals Eyes Peru With Chikos Trademark Filing

Meals de Colombia Seeks Chikos Trademark in Peru

Colombian ice cream powerhouse Meals de Colombia, part of Grupo Nutresa, has applied to Peru’s intellectual property office Indecopi to register the name and logo for “Chikos” in the category covering ice cream. The filing is the clearest signal yet that the company—which holds roughly 80% of Colombia’s impulse ice cream market—is preparing to bring its frozen desserts to Peruvian consumers.

Meals operates brands such as Crem Helado, Polet, Aloha, and Bocatto and has been steadily expanding internationally, with footprints in Panama, the Dominican Republic, Central America, and even South Korea. A 2025 restructuring created a dedicated commercial arm, Meals Comercializadora, to strengthen distribution, suggesting that the Chikos registration is part of a deliberate, well-resourced push into neighboring markets.

The move puts Meals on a collision course with established Peruvian favorites D’Onofrio (owned by Nestlé) and Artika (part of Grupo Gloria), both of which have deep local distribution and brand loyalty. However, the trademark filing does not yet confirm a launch date or production plans.

The filings by Meals are just one piece of a broader picture. In recent weeks, Indecopi also received applications from Leche Gloria, Yango, and POP MART. Gloria—the dairy giant—sought to register its name in classes covering machinery, medical devices, musical instruments, industrial materials, and furniture, hinting at a diversification far beyond milk. Meanwhile, Yango, the ride-hailing and tech platform now operating in Lima, Arequipa, and Trujillo, applied for trademarks in classes covering vending machines, power generators, robots, and vehicle maintenance services. And Singapore-based POP MART registered the “Peach Riot” brand for a wide multi-class application spanning toys, jewelry, clothing, and household goods, signaling an expansion of its collectible blind-box concept in Peru.

What the Wave of Filings Says About Corporate Strategy

Meals de Colombia: A Formidable New Challenger in Peru’s Ice Cream Aisle

The Chikos application is a credible competitive threat. Meals has decades of experience in a market structurally similar to Peru’s—high impulse-buy culture and strong brand loyalty. If it enters, it could pressure D’Onofrio’s dominance and Artika’s price-sensitive niche. The company’s prior regional experience and the backing of Grupo Nutresa give it the financial muscle to invest in local manufacturing or distribution partnerships, potentially sparking a price or innovation war in the frozen desserts category.

Gloria’s Unorthodox Brand Extension

Leche Gloria’s decision to register its mark in classes far removed from dairy—including medical devices and musical instruments—is unusual for a consumer staples company. It may signal a holding-company strategy where the parent Grupo Gloria intends to leverage the trusted “Gloria” name to launch or acquire businesses in industrial and healthcare sectors. Alternatively, it could be a defensive move to prevent third parties from using the name, but the breadth of the filing suggests genuine diversification intent. Either way, it points to a group thinking beyond its traditional lactose comfort zone.

Yango: From Rides to Robots and Charging Stations

Yango’s multi-class filing, covering everything from robots to battery recharging services, indicates the company is positioning itself as a broader mobility-and-tech ecosystem in Peru. The inclusion of vehicle maintenance and repair services, as well as hardware installation, suggests that Yango may be planning to build out physical infrastructure—possibly for electric vehicles—rather than remaining a pure software platform. This move could disrupt local logistics and maintenance providers if executed at scale.

POP MART’s Retail-tainment Gambit

The “Peach Riot” filing shows POP MART preparing to build a direct retail presence in Peru, not just wholesale distribution. The wide array of classes—from toys to apparel and household items—mirrors the company’s global “lifestyle brand” approach, where each character franchise spans multiple product categories. This could challenge local toy retailers and enter into competition with entertainment-themed store concepts, though Peruvian consumer awareness of blind-box culture is still nascent.

Strategic Takeaways from the New Market Moves

• For D’Onofrio (Nestlé) and Artika (Gloria): Begin tracking Meals’ hiring, import-export records, and cold-chain logistics announcements in Peru. The trademark is a leading indicator; actual launch may follow within 12–18 months. Consider fortifying impulse-buy channels and limited-edition collaborations to pre-empt a new entrant.
• For Grupo Gloria shareholders and partners: The multi-class filing signals potential new business lines. Watch for capital expenditure announcements or acquisitions in the labeled categories (medical devices, building materials) that would confirm the strategy beyond dairy.
• For Yango’s competitors (Uber, Cabify, local logistics firms): The technical classes suggest Yango is not just expanding its ride-hailing footprint. If the company begins installing battery-charging infrastructure or deploying autonomous delivery robots, it could reshape the cost structure of last-mile logistics in Peru. Map any real-estate or procurement activity tied to these classes.
• For retail real estate and toy distributors: POP MART typically opens experiential stores requiring prime mall locations. Expect increased demand for high-footfall retail space in Lima and potentially Arequipa as the company builds out. Negotiate lease terms early if you are a landlord or a competing concept.