Eduardo Robayo: Kokoriko Founder & Colombian Food Industry Pioneer Dies at 91

Eduardo Robayo Ferro, the entrepreneur credited with popularizing chicken consumption in Colombia and establishing the Kokoriko restaurant chain, died on March 21, 2026, at the age of 91. The news of his passing was widely shared by Colombian business leaders and public figures.

Fernán Martínez, a manager for several artists, announced Robayo’s death on social media, extending condolences to his children Claudia, Eduardo and Carolina, his wife Alba Lucía Gómez, and other family members. Former Bogotá Mayor Enrique Peñalosa remembered Robayo as “the creator of Kokoriko, a great businessman, a builder of the nation, and a better human being.” The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Robayo’s impact on Colombian cuisine is rooted in a period when chicken was not a staple in the national diet. During the 1960s and 1970s, its consumption was limited. Recognizing this, Robayo, along with partners Noé Cardona and Emilio Jordán, founded Avesco, a company that laid the groundwork for his business model. This venture ultimately led to the opening of the first Kokoriko restaurant in Cali in 1971, a pivotal moment as Colombia’s fast-food sector was beginning to accept shape.

Kokoriko’s growth coincided with significant societal shifts in Colombia, including rapid urbanization, a growing middle class, and an increase in dining outside the home. The chain’s success helped transform chicken from a relatively infrequent meal into an accessible and affordable option for a broad segment of the population.

Over the years, the Robayo family diversified its investments into sectors such as housing, pensions, and financial services, a common strategy among Colombian business groups of that era. A significant change occurred in 2017 when control of Kokoriko passed to the Inmaculada Guadalupe y Amigos (IGA) group, which consolidated its holdings in several restaurant chains. Despite the change in ownership, the brand’s identity—built over decades under Robayo’s leadership—has remained central to its continued operation. According to reports from Nation’s Restaurant News, Richard Sandoval recently brought the Kokoriko brand to the United States.