Not everyone is familiar with the Bimbo Bakeries USA name. However, probably everyone in the United States has enjoyed at least one of the company’s many products at one time or another.
Thanks in great part to its focus on providing the best quality, freshest baked goods at a great value to customers and consumers, Bimbo Bakeries USA became the nation’s largest baking company.
Although many of its brands can trace their histories back to the late 1800s or early 1900s, Bimbo Bakeries USA’s story begins in 1994, when Grupo Bimbo – Mexico’s largest baking company with operations in 19 countries – purchased La Hacienda, a California-based tortilla company. Bimbo Bakeries USA then entered the U.S. bread market in 1997 with the acquisition of Pacific Pride Bakeries of San Diego.
The company grew again in 1998 with the purchase of Mrs Baird’s Bakeries in Texas, which at the time was the largest family-owned bakery in the U.S. The combined operations were renamed Bimbo Bakeries USA (BBU) with headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas.
In 2002, BBU acquired the Western U.S. baking business of George Weston Ltd., adding such iconic premium brands as Oroweat bread and buns, Entenmann’s sweet baked goods, Thomas’ English muffins and bagels and Boboli pizza breads. In 2009, Grupo Bimbo purchased the remaining U.S. fresh baked goods business of George Weston Ltd., adding brands such as Arnold, Brownberry, Freihofer’s and Stroehmann and making BBU the largest baking company in the U.S.
In 2011, BBU completed its largest acquisition to date: Sara Lee’s North American Fresh Bakery business. Adding Sara Lee’s bread business doubled in size, enabling us to better able to deliver on our mission: to nourish, delight and serve America every meal, every day.
Today, BBU operates more than 65 bakeries, employs more than 25,000 associates and distributes products through 12,000 sales routes throughout the United States.
Source: thetandd.com
