Grupo Bimbo - food industry company news 
On the money: Flowers confident on cakes ahead of Hostess return
17 May 2013
US baker Flowers Foods has said it is "confident" its snack cake business will continue to thrive even as the new-look Hostess Brands returns to the market, with products including Twinkies.
US: Acquisition boosts Flowers Foods Q1
16 May 2013
US baker Flowers Foods recorded an increase in earnings in the first quarter driven by gains from a recent acquisition.
MEXICO: Tax bill hits Bimbo but operating profit up
1 May 2013
A higher tax bill hit Grupo Bimbo's bottom line in the first quarter of the year but the Mexico-based bakery giant reported an increased operating profit.
US: Hostess disposals get green light
20 March 2013
Hostess Brands has received court approval to proceed with the sale of a swathe of brands, including Twinkies and Wonder Bread, in a series of deals worth around US$800m.
US: McKee Foods to buy Hostess cake brand Drake's
15 March 2013
Privately-owned US group McKee Foods looks set to be the latest buyer of assets from bakery giant Hostess Brands.
US: Metropoulos, Apollo acquire Hostess snack cake unit
12 March 2013
Private-equity firms Metropoulos & Co. and Apollo Global Management have acquired the snack cake business of Hostess Brands.
US: Silver Point, Hurst "interested" in Hostess snack cake unit
11 March 2013
Hostess Brands creditor Silver Point Capital and hedge fund Hurst Capital are understood to be interested in buying some of the US baker's snack cake brands, including Twinkies.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
4 March 2013
The fall-out from the horsemeat contamination continued last week, with Tesco outlining plans to shake up its supply chain and source meat from the UK. Elsewhere, UK free-from firm Genius Foods bought out venture partner Finsbury Food Group and, in the US, more buyers were found for Hostess Brands' assets. Click on the headlines for more.
US: Flowers wins Wonder, Bimbo snaps up Beefsteak in Hostess auction
1 March 2013
Flowers Foods won through in its bid to acquire the majority of Hostess Brands' bread units, including Wonder, but was outbid for the Beefsteak business by rival baker Grupo Bimbo.
On the money: Flowers sees gains from Hostess demise
8 February 2013
US baker Flowers Foods has expanded its market share in the wake of Hostess Brands' move to wind down its operations.
US: Hostess names PE firms "stalking horse" for Twinkies
31 January 2013
A consortium of two private-equity firms has emerged as the lead bidder for the majority of Hostess Brands' cake business, including the Twinkies brand.
just the answer: Barry Callebaut marketing director for Western Europe, Sofie De Lathouwer
31 January 2013
Since selling its consumer units over the last few years, business-to-business chocolate maker Barry Callebaut has been treading a new path focused on its "core" business with industrial and artisanal customers. Michelle Russell caught up with Barry Callebaut marketing director for Western Europe, Sofie De Lathouwer at this year's ISM confectionery show in Cologne to find out more about its strategy for growth.
Deal or no deal: "Stalking horse" Flowers eyes Hostess bread brands
15 January 2013
Flowers Foods showed its hand when it emerged as the "stalking horse" bidder for parts of Hostess Brands' bread business, notably the Wonder and Nature's Pride brands. While the deal is not yet in the bag, Flowers has clearly emerged as the front-runner to snap up a significant chunk of Hostess' bread interests. Katy Askew takes a look at the impact the potential acquisition could have on Flowers.
US: Bimbo Bakeries to invest in Philadelphia plant
15 January 2013
Bimbo Bakeries, the US unit of Mexico's Grupo Bimbo, is to invest US$75m in the construction of a second production facility in Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia.
US: Hostess sale will "most likely" lead to break up
3 January 2013
The sale of Hostess Brands will most likely result in a break-up of the company, a spokesperson for the group told just-food.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
12 November 2012
A raft of quarterly results hit the just-food newsdesk this week, with the likes of Morrisons, Associatied British Foods and Marks and Spencer all revealing figures for the last three months. Morrisons spoke about its need to strengthen its marketing message and promotional mechanics, while ABF insisted its grocery business after profits fell in the last 12 months. just-food's latest exclusive interviews included chats with executives Spain's Campofrio and Swiss dairy group Emmi.
US: Flowers raises sales outlook on Q3 gains
9 November 2012
US baker Flowers Foods has reported a slight lift in third-quarter earnings, which were boosted by "solid" sales gains.
On the money: Barry Callebaut "confident" following investment surge
7 November 2012
Swiss chocolate maker Barry Callebaut insisted it is "confident" on the outlook for the coming fiscal year after investments weighed on the group's bottom line.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
5 November 2012
Following the news last week that Premier plc sold its sweet pickles and table sauces business to Mizkan, just-food caught up with the Japanese firm's Euro-Americas president Craig Smith to discuss its plans for the brand. Elsewhere, word reached UK shores of the devastation Hurricane Sandy has left on the east cost of the US. Mondelez revealed an R&D site in New Jersey was still closed yesterday in the wake of the super storm. Elsewhere, the debate over the implementation of fat taxes continued.
MEXICO: Bimbo profits slump on pension, M&A costs
30 October 2012
Grupo Bimbo saw its third-quarter earnings tumble 82% after it incurred a jump in pension costs and charges from the integration of the Sara Lee business the bakery giant acquired in North America.
US: Flowers acquires Sara Lee, Earthgrains assets in California
29 October 2012
Flowers Foods has acquired the licence to the Earthgrains and Sara Lee brands in California from Grupo Bimbo.
MEXICO: US hits Bimbo H1 profits
26 July 2012
A drop in profits from its US operations has hit half-year profits at Mexican bakery giant Grupo Bimbo.
SWITZ: Americas sweeten Barry Callebaut sales
5 July 2012
Barry Callebaut, the Swiss B2B chocolate manufacturer, today (5 July) reported a 2% increase in sales for the first nine months of its fiscal year, with contracts in the Americas helping revenue.
US: Bimbo to open $75m factory in Texas
18 May 2012
Mexican bakery giant Grupo Bimbo is set to build a US$75m factory in Texas.
Deal or no deal: CSM prepares for bakery bids
10 May 2012
Dutch food and ingredients group CSM announced plans to sell off its bakery business earlier this week. The speed of the decision to offload the division may have taken industry watchers by surprise but CSM has been giving off signals that it sees its future as a bio-based ingredients company for some time. Katy Askew takes a speculative look at the interest that the sale could generate.
MEXICO: Bimbo profits tumble on costs
30 April 2012
Mexican baker Grupo Bimbo has indicated that first-quarter profits almost halved as higher financing costs and margin pressure hit the bottom line.
US: Unilever-backed P.F. Chang's Asian meals take NPD poll
20 April 2012
P.F. Chang's Home Menu, a range of Asian frozen ready meals, was the best-selling new food and drink product in the US last year, according to data from SymphonyIRI.
US: Bimbo Bakeries expands distribution of Sara Lee breads
10 April 2012
Bimbo Bakeries USA has expanded the reach of its Sara Lee bread range in the US to include the north-east and Mid-Atlantic parts of the country.
BRICs and beyond: Ferrero investment shines light on Mexican confectionery market
5 April 2012
Confectionery giant Ferrero last month announced plans to invest US$190m in the construction of a production facility in Mexico.
US: Bakery group Bimbo to close two plants
29 March 2012
Mexican baker Grupo Bimbo is to close two manufacturing plants in the US.
