February 1

MASECA PRESERVES THE TRADITIONAL NIXTAMALIZATION PROCESS: SPECIALISTS. (DINERO EN IMAGEN [MONEY AT IMAGEN] ONLINE 0)  

Nixtamalization is a pre-Hispanic process that is used to cook corn with limewater, which is then ground into the dough that is used to make tortillas, tamales, and other traditional Mexican foods. Since its origins in 1949, Maseca, a subsidiary of the Mexican company Gruma, has maintained this process that provides countless health benefits. It is important to note that, as a world-class company with a presence in more than 120 countries, Gruma and its subsidiaries have implemented innovations in their nixtamalization processes, both to ensure the more efficient use of water and contribute to caring for the environment, as well as ensuring the nutritional fortification of their corn flour, with added vitamins, minerals, iron, and folic acid.

February 7

THE MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANIES IN MEXICO. (MUNDO EJECUTIVO [EXECUTIVE WORLD] 4-66-75)

The main commercial battle is now centered on innovation, as companies are under pressure to maintain new market product and service creation levels. The innovation process is not exclusive to technology but is present in all sectors because consumers expect to be surprised with new products and services and do not hide their disappointment when they are not fully satisfied. Gruma is ranked 22 in the ranking, as it conducts research and development activities focused on increasing the efficiency of its corn flour, corn tortilla, and wheat production technologies, among other things.

February 14

MEXICAN COMPANIES VALUED AT MORE THAN 210 BILLION PESOS... AT THE END OF THE WORLD. (COUNTERREPLY 18)

The lists of large Mexican companies expanding across the globe include corn product manufacturer Gruma that has a presence in more than 100 countries with 74 plants strategically located in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. The company produces corn flour, tortillas, and wraps, through global brands such as Mission and Maseca. It was founded in 1949, as Molinos Azteca.

February 18

GRUMA AND SADER, PARTNERING TO DRIVE CORN PRODUCTION IN MEXICO. (SDP NOTICIAS.COM ONLINE 0)  (EL ECONOMISTA [THE ECONOMIST] ONLINE 0)  (GOOGLE NEWS MEXICO 0)  

Corn production is expected to grow 7.6% worldwide with 7.4% growth in Mexico. This dynamism in Mexico is driven by initiatives to support farmland such as those developed by SADER in a partnership with Grupo Maseca (GRUMA) in some of these activities. Although Mexico is self-sufficient in white corn grown for human consumption, the demand for this grain is growing, so the company headed by Juan González Moreno and SADER have promoted a series of programs to guarantee the supply of this raw material and help producers streamline their agricultural processes. One example of this is the Comprehensive Management Program for White Corn in the northern part of the State of Tamaulipas, where Gruma intends to reduce its corn imports in the mid-term, and buy from state producers the close to 400,000 tons it currently purchases in the United States. The company is also maintaining its iron will to increase the production and conservation of native corn in Mexico, which has the largest number of varieties of this grain worldwide.

February 20

GRUMA EXPECTS TO SEE ITS REVENUES GROW (MILENIO ONLINE 0)

Gruma expects to report 4.8% of revenue growth and 6.4% growth in EBITDA, during 4Q/19, according to Monex analysts. The company will send its financial report for the fourth quarter of 2019 to the Mexican Stock Exchange on Wednesday, February 26. They added that the company expects to see a recovery similar to the previous quarter in Europe.

February 24

MEXICO HAS MORE THAN 110,000 TORTILLA SHOPS NATIONWIDE DINERO EN IMAGEN [MONEY IN THE IMAGE] 

Mexico has more than 110,000 tortilla shops, according to the National Statistical Directory of Economic Units (DENUE) published by the Mexican Institute of Geography and Statistics (INEGI) for 2019. Of these, 30% use traditional corn dough to produce the tortillas that make their way to the tables of millions of Mexicans every day. While 20% of the tortilla shops use nixtamalized corn flour made under the same traditional process, although enriched with vitamins and minerals, they also last longer, thus allowing tortilla producers to reduce losses. This is since traditional dough immediately begins a decomposition process that can occur in just eight hours, while nixtamalized corn flour, like the flour produced by Maseca, Minsa, and Harimasa, among others, can last for weeks, since they use dehydrated nixtamalized dough that only needs water to prepare the dough required to make the tortillas needed at a given time, without the risk of them spoiling.

February 25 

THE CONSUMER SECTOR’S EXPECTATIONS AT THE CLOSE OF 2019. (EL ECONOMISTA [THE ECONOMIST] ONLINE 0)

Alberto Carrillo writes: Grupo Herdez (HERDEZ), Grupo Lala (LALA), and Gruma (GRUMA) are expected to announce their 4Q/19 and consolidated annual reports for 2019 next week. All three of these companies belong to the Frequent Consumption market sector. For Gruma, we expect to see a marginal sales growth volume, driven by mid-digit growth in the United States. and mixed volume results in the other regions where it operates. We also expect to see mid-digit revenue and operating cash flow growth, with an expanded EBITDA margin. We do not believe the coronavirus situation will produce a negative impact on Gruma's results in the short-term since China represents 1% of its sales in 3Q/19.

February 27

THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE DRIVE 9% OF GRUMA CASH FLOWS. (EL NORTE 11) (REFORMA 21) (EXCÉLSIOR 2) (EL FINANCIERO 22) (24 HORAS 17) (EL HERALDO DE MÉXICO 32) (EL SOL DE MÉXICO 21)

During the fourth quarter of last year, Grupo Maseca increased its operating cash flow by 9% to stand at MXN 3.18 billion, supported by the results obtained by its different divisions, primarily in Europe and the United States...The company also benefitted by adopting International Financial Reporting Standard 16, as of January 2019. As for the last quarter of 2018, Gruma reported a 2% increase in sales, for a total of MXN 19.442 billion, and a 3% volume growth. The company’s operating profits were also up 3%, while its net income stood at 12%, for a total of MXN 1.235 billion. The story was also published in:

GRUMA'S NET INCOME UP 12% IN Q4/19. (GRUPO FÓRMULA EN LOS TIEMPOS DE LA RADIO [GRUPO FÓRMULA IN RADIO TIMES]).

Juan Manuel de Anda: In the fourth quarter of 2019, Gruma's net profit registered 12% growth YoY, for a total of MXN 1.235 billion.

GRUPO MASECA ANNOUNCES GROWTH.  (IMAGEN TV WITH FRANCISCO ZEA).

Grupo Maseca reported MXN 1.235 billion in net income in Q4/19, for 12% growth compared to the same period in 2018, mainly from its operations in Europe and the United States.  Its sales volume was up 3% YoY, for a total of 1,055 metric tons, with 72% of commercial operations outside of Mexico.

February 28

TORTILLA BOOM OUTSIDE OF MEXICO: GRUMA REPORTS HIGHER SALES IN THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE THAN IN MEXICO. (FORBES)

Sales reported by Gruma, the tortilla producer and marketer, were up 2%, to stand at MXN 19.442 billion in Q4/19, compared to the same period of the previous year, due to the growth in sales reported in the United States and Europe. The company’s consolidated sales volume was up 3% as a result of 28% growth reported by Gruma Europe and 3% reported by Gruma in the United States. Operations outside of Mexico represented 72% of consolidated results. The company’s net income was up 12%, to MXN 1.235 billion due to foreign exchange gains on loans, while consolidated Operating Flow (EBITDA) was up 9%, to stand at MXN 3.18 billion, and the EBITDA margin improved to 16.4% from 15.4% due to the adoption [of IFRS 16].

GRUMA NET INCOME REGISTERED 12% GROWTH (MILENIO NOTICIAS (10:00 AM TO 12:00 PM

Claudia Ovalle: In Q4/19, Gruma reported 12% net profit growth compared to the same period in 2018, with MXN 1.235 billion. According to its financial report, the Mexican multinational’s net sales between October and December stood at MXN 19.442 billion.

February 29

BANORTE, BENEDETTI'S, AND GRUMA SUPPORT WORK STOPPAGE. (MILENIO DIARIO 20) (EL HERALDO DE MÉXICO 14) (IMAGEN NOTICIAS WITH CIRO GÓMEZ LEYVA)

The global food company Gruma, with its subsidiary Maseca, announced that they will also respect the female workers' decision to join the #UnDíaSinNosotras [OneDayWithoutUs] movement, without this affecting those who chose to stay home. "Our employees can know that we stand with each of them, regardless of their decision,” said the company in a press release.

CORONA, TELCEL, AND AURRERÁ AT THE TOP OF THE RANKING OF MOST VALUABLE BRANDS. (EL DIARIO DE COAHUILA ONLINE 0)

Corona, Telcel, and Bodega Aurrerá ranked at the top of the list of most valuable brands nationwide, according to the 2020 edition of the BrandZ Top 30 ranking. Telcel was ranked number two, while Bodega Aurrerá took third place. These brands are followed by Cerveza Modelo, Televisa, Bimbo, Liverpool, Telmex, Banorte, Cemex, Tecate, Inbursa, Banco Azteca, Sol, Sanborns, Oxxo, Marinela, Maseca, Aeroméxico, Soriana, Elektra, Victoria, Superama, Chedraui, León, Pacífico, Tía Rosa, Lala, Suburbia, and Montejo.