Food & Beverage Import — Pay Colombian Suppliers Faster, Cheaper
Perishable goods and slow bank payments don't mix.. And your bank makes it worse — 3-day settlements, 2-4% hidden FX spreads, and zero visibility into what your payments actually cost.
We built payment infrastructure for food & beverage import businesses. 0.5% spreads. Same-day COP settlement. Free container tracking.
Get a Quote for Your Next Colombian PaymentFood & Beverage Import margins are too thin to donate 2-4% to your bank on every supplier payment.
Before we show you a single number, know this: we are regulated, audited, and transparent. Our pricing is published. Our client funds are segregated. These aren't marketing claims — they're regulatory requirements we meet daily.
These aren't marketing claims — they're regulatory requirements we meet daily.
Save £2,419 per £100k Payment
Typical savings for Food & Beverage Import paying Colombia suppliers
- ❌ 2-3 day settlement
- ❌ Hidden FX margins
- ❌ High correspondent bank fees
- ❌ Manual compliance checks
- ✓ Settles in seconds — 2.3 second average
- ✓ Transparent pricing
- ✓ PSE (Pagos Seguros en Línea) available
- ✓ 0.14s automated compliance
At £250k-£2M monthly volume, save £29,028/year
What Challenges Do Food & Beverage Import Businesses Face Paying Colombia?
Industry Pain Points
- Perishability creates urgency
- Demurrage extremely costly for fresh goods
- Seasonal supply windows
- Complex compliance (FSA, duty, quotas)
Country-Specific Considerations
- Banco de la República de Colombia regulations
- DIAN (Tax Authority) documentation
- IVA (VAT 19%) on goods and services
- Customs declaration requirements
How Do Food & Beverage Import Businesses Typically Pay Colombian Suppliers?
Fast Settlement: Settles in seconds — 2.3 second average
Use PSE (Pagos Seguros en Línea) for instant COP settlement. Colombia instant online payment system
Real-Time FX Exposure Tracking
Upload supplier invoices as PDFs. Our AI OCR extracts amounts and currencies. See exactly what waiting costs you in real-time. Lock rates for 15 seconds when you see a good rate.
0.14s Compliance Screening
Automated compliance checks for Colombia regulations. Banco de la República de Colombia regulations handled automatically.
How Food & Beverage Import Businesses Typically Pay Colombian Suppliers
If you're importing in this sector, you're likely dealing with a mix of payment terms. Here's how they work — and why speed matters.
⏱ Payment Timing
Payment on container release (perishables) or Net 30 (shelf-stable). Wine/spirits: Net 60-90 for established suppliers.
📄 Invoice Terms
CAD (Cash Against Documents) for perishables. Net 30-60 for wine/spirits. LC for large harvest contracts. 50% deposit for seasonal orders.
Highly seasonal: Harvest windows (Southern hemisphere Jan-Apr, Northern Jul-Oct). Christmas peak for alcohol. Easter for lamb.
📊 FX Risk Profile
MODERATE-HIGH: EUR (60% of wine imports), AUD/NZD (seasonal), ZAR (wine/fruit). Harvest timing creates concentrated FX exposure windows.
Direct estate relationships (wine), cooperatives (olive oil), agents (fresh produce). Harvest allocations require advance commitments.
Common Documentation for Food & Beverage Import
- Health Certificate (country-specific)
- Phytosanitary Certificate (produce)
- Certificate of Origin (duty rates)
- VI-1 Form (wine imports to UK)
- Veterinary Certificate (meat/dairy)
Popular Colombia Supplier Types for Food & Beverage Import
Common Colombia Suppliers
- Coffee exporters (Eje Cafetero region)
- Flower growers (Bogotá savanna)
- Textile factories (Medellín, Bogotá)
- Emerald traders (Bogotá)
Payment Tips for Colombia
- Colombia = Coffee leader (3rd globally), flower exporter (2nd globally)
- PSE widely adopted for COP payments
- Bogotá + Medellín + Cali = Main business centers
- Improving security situation - verify supplier locations
Frequently Asked Questions: Food & Beverage Import Payments to Colombia
How do Food & Beverage Import businesses pay suppliers in Colombia?
Food & Beverage Import businesses can pay Colombia suppliers instantly using Unicorn Currencies. We offer a 0.5% FX spread with 2.3-second average settlement using local payment rails like PSE (Pagos Seguros en Línea). This is significantly faster and cheaper than traditional SWIFT transfers which take 2-3 days.
What banking details do I need for Colombia Food & Beverage Import suppliers?
To pay Food & Beverage Import suppliers in Colombia, you need the recipient's Account Number (SWIFT/BIC and account number (no single national code)), account number, and beneficiary name. Our platform validates these details automatically to ensure successful payment delivery.
How much can Food & Beverage Import businesses save on Colombia payments?
Food & Beverage Import businesses typically save 83% compared to traditional banks when paying Colombia suppliers. On a £100k transaction, that's £2,419 in savings. With Unicorn Currencies, you pay just 0.5% FX spread + £5 per payment vs banks charging 2.9% spread + £24 fees.
Is container tracking available for Food & Beverage Import shipments from Colombia?
Yes, Unicorn Currencies offers FREE container tracking for Food & Beverage Import shipments from Colombia. You receive real-time visibility into your cargo, including demurrage alerts to help avoid costly port storage fees. This feature is included at no extra cost with your payment account.
What currencies do Food & Beverage Import businesses typically use with Colombia?
Food & Beverage Import businesses typically convert GBP to COP when paying Colombia suppliers. Unicorn Currencies provides live exchange rates with a transparent 0.5% spread, and you can lock rates for 15 seconds when you see a favorable rate. Our AI-powered invoice OCR can automatically extract amounts and currencies from supplier invoices.
Ready to Pay Colombia Suppliers 83% Cheaper?
Join Food & Beverage Import businesses saving £2,419 per £100k payment with t+0 (2.3s avg within unicorn network).
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