Grupo Bimbo opening its first plant in Brazil's Federal District, investing US$29M to increase production of several of its bread, tortilla products

Nevin Barich

PRAGUE, The Czech Republic , February 16, 2012 (press release) – A leader in the baking industry in the Brazilian market, Bimbo do Brasil confirms it is opening its first plant in the Federal District, being it the eighth plant in the country. Product distribution will increase for the products: Pullman, Nutrella, Ana Maria and Crocantíssimo, within the Center-Western region.

São Paulo, February 15, 2012- Bimbo do Brasil, a company of Grupo Bimbo, a leading worldwide baking company, among the most important ones of the food segment of Brazil and the world, will open its first factory in the Center-Western region of, Brazilia, with an investment of US$ 29 million.

The new plant, located at Polo Industrial JK, will produce the entire line of white bread, canapés, Rap10, Pullman brand cakes, in addition to the Nutrella brand "tostadas". Bimbo will now count on 8 factories in Brazil with this initiative.

The inauguration ceremony took place on February 15 and was headed by the Governor of the Federal District, (Brasilia), Agnelo Santos Queiroz Filho, the Ambassador of Mexico to Brazil, Alejandro De La Peña Navarrete, and the CEO of Grupo Bimbo, Daniel Servitje. The new plant will have 3 production lines equipped with high-tech modern machinery and it shall have an area of 20.000 square meters.

The first head office of the company in the Center-West will improve the distribution logistics of the local cities and will extend quantities of fresher products to the local consumers of the States of Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Federal Dsitrict, Pará, Tocantins, and Minas Gerais

Initially, there will be more than 195 associates who will serve the areas of production, administration and sales at the new Bimbo factory do Brasil in Brasilia. This initiative has also envisioned the extension of the company's businesses and the access to a wide-ranging portfolio of the company in order to consolidate the already well-known brands in the region such as Pullman, Nutrella, Ana Maria and Crocantíssimo. The inauguration of the Bimbo plant in Brasilia is an important framework for the Company as this is a environmentally friendly factory model equipped with cutting-edge machinery.

"Brazil is a strategic country for the worldwide growth of Grupo Bimbo. It is a very attractive market that is developing on a permanent basis. The Company is strongly betting on Latin America, which is a key region for our business", said Daniel Servitje, CEO of Grupo Bimbo.

Among the philosophies of Grupo Bimbo are its concern for the environment and sustainability. To voice these actions, Bimbo Brasil will take the initiatives to Brasilia with innovating and ecologically correct solutions. Bimbo Brazil implemented the following at the Brasilia plant:
o Separation of waste with 95% recycling. The remaining 5% is used for controlled dumps and other specific treatments;
o Special lighting that will result in a 50% reduction of energy consumption;
o Ceiling with thermal insulation to maintain a pleasant temperature inside the factory;
o Utilization of the heat from the chimney to heat water;
o Later generation equipment that will result in a better use of energy; for example, frequency variations;
o Station to treat 100% of the effluents;
o Permeable flooring with 14 water cesspools;
o Utilization of sun light;
o Bimbo do Brasil is also sponsoring the reform of the do Gama (Prainha) District Park. The objective is to offer a structure that will guarantee safety and improve the Park's management according to the sustainability principles: Better sun orientation, materials that offer thermal and acoustic comfort, re-utilization of waste water, utilization of rainwater by placing it on the already damaged areas.

Bimbo always thinks about the consumer's health and it is not only offering just another product. Consumers of Bimbo are eager to include increasingly more healthy and nutritious habits to their everyday lives. Diets, health and quality of life are increasingly going hand in hand. This "threesome" suggests a key transformation for society, for human beings. Bearing this in mind, Bimbo do Brasil is taking the lead and is supporting many essential and delicious changes in nutrition. The consistent concern of the Group to offer natural, healthy and delicious products is increasingly more aligned to the philosophy of the company.

Bimbo, with its eight factories in operation in Brazil located in São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Pernambuco, Bahia, Minas Gerais and now in Federal District, is reaffirming its commitment to make tasty products rich in nutrients available to the Brazilian consumer. Besides, the Company is constantly investing in market search to offer relevant and appropriate innovations to the profile of the Brazilian family, and to offer products to satisfy the palates of the consumer. An example of this is the Institute of Innovation and Nutrition (IIN) for Latin America with its head office in the plant of São Paulo.

Through this channel Bimbo is establishing a network of exchange of ideas and knowledge and is seeking to respond dynamically to the opportunities and challenges. Strategically, the IIN integrates the Grupo Bimbo Network of Studies and Development Centers in the world, with its head offices in Mexico and in the United States.

The objective of the Institute is the permanent search for innovation and development with a focus on health and the current needs of the consumers by giving priority to nutritional quality.

The IIN allows:
o The development of innovating products that meet the highest levels of quality and food safety:
o The encouragement of alliances with the scientific and academic community in order to support studies and extend scientific and technological knowledge;
o The internal network of exchange of ideas and knowledge among all the Study Centers of Grupo Bimbo to respond to market opportunities and challenges in the most dynamic way;
o Training people in the different technological platforms by involving specialized professionals.

Additional Information:

At the new plant the Brasilia factory will produce a comprehensive line of bread in slices, snack bread, "Bisnaguinhas" and Tortillas of the Pullman brand; a line of breads for food services and "Tostadas" of the Nutrella brand.

Products manufactured in the Brasilia plant:
o PULLMAN SPECIAL BREADS: Whole wheat bread 500g; 100% whole wheat bread with 12 grains 500g; Whole wheat bread, 9 grains 400g;
o PULLMAN LIGHT BREADS: Multigrain Light Bread 500g; 100% Light Whole Wheat Bread with linseed and quinoa 350g; 100% Light whole wheat bread with 12 grains 350g; Whole wheat Light bread 400g; Light Bread with 7 grains 400g;
o PULLMAN WHITE BREADS: Traditional Bread 500g; Baby Traditional Bread 350g;
o PULLMAN SNACK BREADS: Hamburger buns 260g and Hotdog buns 220g;
o PULLMAN "BISNAGAS": "Bisnaguito" Pullman 300g.
o NUTRELLA "TOSTADAS": Whole wheat and Classic;
o SNACK BREADS AND "TORTILLA": Items for food services.

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