September 1

TOP 25 CFOs. (MUNDO EJECUTIVO 34-39)

Currently, in times of economic crisis resulting from the contingency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, CFOs play a critical role in companies, centering their activities on three key measures: 1. Stabilize the company in the short term. 2. Exit the crisis as soon as possible. 3. Create a strategy that allows companies to grow after the COVID-19 crisis. In an atypical year, where the spread of the coronavirus put the world in a health emergency, it stressed the importance of an efficient CFO, as the person responsible for taking the organization to a safe harbor. Companies rework their action plans as they face the global economic crisis under the helm of their CFOs. Gruma CFO Raúl Cavazos Morales was listed in the ranking.

September 2

FITCH RATIFIES GRUMA RATING. (EL NORTE ONLINE (NUEVO LEÓN) 0) (REFORMA ONLINE 0) (MURAL ONLINE (JALISCO) 0)

On Monday, Fitch affirmed Gruma’s national scale rating at “AAA (mex),” the short-term national scale rating at “F1 + (mex)”, and its international scale notes in foreign and local currency at “BBB,” all with a stable outlook. In a press release, the credit rating agency noted that affirmation of the ratings reflects Gruma’s solid business position as one of the main producers of corn flour and tortillas in the world, with recognized brands in its main markets, along with its geographic diversification.

THE 300 LEADERS / 125-140. (LÍDERES MEXICANOS [THE MEXICAN LEADERS] 265-268-273-274)

Ranking. Juan González Moreno, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Gruma and Gimsa. In 1949, Gruma was founded as Molinos Azteca by Roberto González Gutiérrez and Roberto González Barrera, grandfather and father of the current President and CEO; in 1998; he was appointed President of Azteca Milling in the United States; in 2006, Gruma begins operations in Asia and Oceania, under the leadership of Juan González Moreno; in 2012, he took over as Gruma President and CEO; in 2017, Gruma opened a new plant in Dallas, Texas in the U.S.; in 2019, it was recognized as one of the 20 companies in Mexico that make efforts to improve the health of its workers. Gruma was recently recognized as one of the few companies that care about their workers’ health according to the We Want Active Mexicans (Queremos Mexicanos Activos) and Movement for a Healthy Life (Movimiento por una Vida Saludable) organizations.

September 4

OVERALL 2020 LEADER RANKINGS. (EL FINANCIERO 12) The 100 companies and the 100 leaders with the best reputation in Mexico, 8^th Edition. Overall 2020 leader rankings. Ranking: Juan González Moreno,Gruma,ranked 72 in 2019 and 47 in 2020 with a 4,448 score.

September 5

JUAN GONZÁLEZ MORENO RECOGNIZED AMONG LEADERS WITH THE BEST REPUTATION. (MILENIO ONLINE 0) (ECONOMÍAHOY.MX ONLINE 0)

Juan González Moreno, the president and CEO of Gruma, was recognized as one of Mexico’s main business leaders by Merco, the benchmark corporate monitor in Ibero-America that has assessed the reputation of companies since 1999. This year, it conducted a special measurement of Mexican companies in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CEO of the Mexican company known as a global leader in the production of corn flour, tortillas, and wraps worldwide, ranked 47 in the 8^th edition titled “The 100 companies with the top-ranked reputation leaders in Mexico in 2020.” In line with the Mexican businessman’s recognition as one of the top-ranked reputational leaders in Mexico, Gruma was also ranked among the companies with the best reputation in the country, in the 12^th ranking in the food sector, alongside companies like Bimbo, Nestlé, PepsiCo, and Bachoco.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED? (REGIO.COM ONLINE (NUEVO LEÓN) 0)

September 4, 1626: Governor Martín de Zavala founded San Gregorio de Cerralvo, honoring Viceroy Rodrigo Pacheco y Osorio, Marquis of Cerralbo. Now known as Cerralvo, Nuevo León, the town is known for its high culture and business fertility, as the cradle of several national industries, such as Grupo Gruma and Banorte.

September 10

MAURICIO FLORES / PEOPLE BEHIND THE MONEY. (LA RAZÓN 16) (LA RAZÓN DE MÉXICO ONLINE 0)

Yesterday, the Mexican Business Council led by Antonio del Valle held an interesting and rewarding meeting with the Secretary of Public Safety, Alfonso Durazo, when the leading business organization was able to freely and openly address the safety and security situation faced by the nation, the progress in the training and actions taken by the National Guard in light of the highest crime rates (and strategies to mitigate them) and, above all, the creation of public-private collaboration. Some of the participants attending the Mexican Business Council meeting included Blanca Treviño (Softek), María Asunción Aramburuzabala (Tresalia Capital), Javier Arroyo (Farmacias Guadalajara), Pablo Azcárraga (Posadas), Emilio Azcárraga (Televisa), Alberto Baillères (Bal), Enrique Coppel (Grupo Coppel), Antonio Cosío (Grupo Brisas), Carlos Danel (Gentera), Pablo Escandón (Nadro), Adrián Sada, Rogelio Zambrano (Cemex), Rolando Vega (Seguros Atlas), Eduardo Tricio (Lala), Alberto Torrado (Alsea), Daniel Servitje (Bimbo), Fernando Senderos (Desc), Manuel Rivero (BanRegio),Juan González (Gruma), Jorge Esteve (ECOM), José Antonio Fernández (Femsa), Agustín Franco (Infra), Armando Garza (Alfa), Juan Ignacio Garza (Xignu), Carlos González (La Comer), Héctor Hernández Pons (Herdez), and Ángel Losada (Gigante).

September 12

BREAD AND TORTILLAS, THE ONLY TWO STAPLES MEXICANS HAVE CONSISTENTLY KEPT ON THEIR TABLES DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. (EL ECONOMISTA ONLINE 0)

Meat consumption fell during the health crisis caused by COVID-19; however, tortillas and bread were positioned like kings on Mexican families’ tables, reflecting falling revenues and rising unemployment rates caused by the pandemic, according to the National Institute of Public Health. Tortillas in Mexico are still made primarily with nixtamalized corn dough, which represents 65% of the mix, with 35% of corn flour tortilla production market share divided as follows: 25% held by Maseca, 8% held by Minsa, 1% held by Harimasa, 0.50% held by Cargill, 0.40% held by Macsa, and 0.20% held by Blancas.

September 15

LARGE NATIONAL COMPANIES REPORTING STRONGER REVENUE FROM OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY. (MILENIO DIARIO 17) (MILENIO ONLINE 0)

Mexican companies are increasingly recognized internationally, as brands like Bimbo, Gruma,Cemex, and América Móvil cross borders beyond the United States, the country’s main commercial partner, to reach countries such as India, Malaysia, and Hungary, to the extent that income for their products or services sold abroad exceed their revenues in Mexico. In an interview, Bursamétrica Casa de Bolsa analyst Julián Fernández explained that an important part of internationalization is that companies that make their products in Mexico and export them abroad see a direct impact on their income, which allows them to generate their payroll in Mexico. A clear example can be found in the case of Gruma, the largest corn flour manufacturer worldwide. The company, founded in 1949, currently generates 75% of its revenues outside of Mexico. The company, led by Juan González Moreno,continues to open markets in new regions in Europe and Asia and explore opportunities in other regions across the globe.

September 17

MOLINO DE ACANCEH OFFERS TORTILLAS WITH THE COLORS OF THE MEXICAN FLAG. (POR ESTO! YUCATÁN ONLINE 0)

In this town during the month of September, even tortillas become patriotic, like those sold at the “Akum” tortilla factory owned by the Aké Chan family. This is a unique way to please your customers by offering them tricolor tortillas to celebrate their national holidays. These tortillas are made with yellow corn and Maseca,for white tortillas, corn and chipotle for the red tortillas, and corn with chaya for the green ones. The product is captivating customers, especially these days.

September 18

THE EUGENIO GARZA SADA CENTER LAUNCHES SOCIAL CAPITALISM INITIATIVE. (MILENIO ONLINE 0) (VANGUARDIA MX ONLINE (COAHUILA) 0)

The Eugenio Garza Sada Center and the Group of 10 companies presented the Social Capitalism Initiative (ICS) created to promote an economic model that contributes to the common good and creates equal economic development in Nuevo León. The initiative also seeks to demonstrate the value of entrepreneurship in society, especially during this historical point in time. The initiative is sponsored by or Alfa, Cemex, Cuprum, Cydsa, DeAcero, Femsa, Finsa, Frisa, Garza Ponce, Gruma, Lamosa, Proeza, Soriana, Treviño Elizondo, Vitro, and Xignux, in addition to business foundations and the Tecnológico de Monterrey, UDEM, U-ERRE, and UANL universities.

September 20

MEXICANS CONSUME 30% MORE TORTILLAS DURING NATIONAL FESTIVALS. (MILENIO ONLINE 0)

According to a Kantar México, Worldpanel Division analysis, Mexicans traditionally celebrate Independence Day with their family members; 42% of households generally host the celebrations, while 23% go to a relative’s home to celebrate; few celebrated away from home ... It should be noted that tortillas made with nixtamalized corn flour, such as Maseca,also provide folic acid, iron and are enriched with vitamins and minerals, which in addition to helping to maintain a healthy diet, help prevent anemia, diseases such as colon cancer or spina bifida, while also helping reduce high blood sugar and cholesterol levels...

September 28

INCREASED CORN PRODUCTION FORECAST. (PALABRAS CLARAS (CLEAR WORDS) XALAPA ONLINE (VERACRUZ) 0)

Although the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) published downward revisions in its September report, it forecast optimistic estimates for agricultural production in the U.S. and worldwide, including Mexico grain and cereal harvests for the fall/winter crop cycle. The Mexican Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) forecast 29.09 million tons for the agricultural year 2020, 7.3% higher than the previous year’s cycle, with 27.10 million tons harvested. It is worth noting that, even with the possible increase in the price of corn, companies like Gruma,a world leader in the production of corn flour, tortillas, and wraps, would not be affected, thanks to its prior hedging contracts that allow it to purchase grains at agreed prices, explained Alik García, an analyst at Intercam Casa de Bolsa, by stating that “Gruma hedged all of its supplies for 2020 last year.” She added that the company could benefit from the exchange rate when the Mexican peso loses ground against the U.S. dollar because, although it is a Mexican company, 56% of its sales and 62% of its EBITDA come from the United States.

September 30

4T AND COMPANIES PLAN TO REDUCE CORN IMPORTS TO MEXICO BY FIVE MILLION TONS. (IMAGEN AGROPECUARIA ONLINE 0)

The Fourth Transformation (4T) Government and large transnationals want to use With Corn for Mexico to reduce the nation’s dependence on corn by 4.9 million tons (t) by 2024 and “lead the country to corn food safety.” The initiative includes the Office of the President of the Republic, the SADER, large national and transnational companies, buyers, agricultural producers, and development and private banks. The list of companies includes Bayer, Cargill, Bachoco, Pilgrims, Kellogg’s, Grupo Bimbo, Purina, Gruma, Nestlé, Syngenta, Corteva Agriscience (Pioneer), and Su Karne.