March 1

MEXICAN COMPANIES UNDER FIRE. (EXCÉLSIOR PP-1-2) (Story with a pass to the Front Page) (EXCÉLSIOR ONLINE) (MSN ONLINE) (DINERO EN IMAGEN ONLINE) (EL ECONOMISTA) (MUNICIPIOS PUEBLA ONLINE) (RÍO 19 ONLINE (SAN LUIS POTOSÍ)) (CÓDIGO 13 ONLINE (CHIHUAHUA))

Mexican companies that have invested in Russia and Ukraine are under fire. The armed conflict has forced companies such as Bimbo and Gruma to temporarily suspend their operations in Ukraine, resulting in lower sales. On the other hand, some Mexican companies, such as Orbia, Kidzania and Nemak, continue to operate in Russia. Humberto Calzada, the chief economist for Rankia Latin America, explained: “The Mexican companies operating in Ukraine will not be seriously affected since they have low market shares in the country. Clearly, they will be affected if they stop operating the plants; however, this will have a low impact.” For its part, Gruma noted that its operations in Ukraine represent 0.6% of its sales, as the company currently operates 76 plants with 22,500 employees and has only one factory with 500 employees in Ukraine.

March 3

MEXICAN COMPANIES CLOSE OPERATIONS DUE TO THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE. (LA VERDAD ONLINE (SONORA))

The conflict and Russian military deployment in Ukraine have affected the entire world in different ways. Mexican companies are no exception since Gruma, one of the world’s largest producers of flour and corn tortillas, was forced to suspend the operation of its factory in that country temporarily. “The plant has 500 employees, and they are all Ukrainians, so we have not had to repatriate any of our employees,” said the Gruma spokesperson, who described the situation as “complex,” although he clarified that sales in Ukraine only represent 0.6% of the company’s total sales. 

March 15

GRUMA PLANT IN OPERATION. (REFORMA 6) (EL NORTE ONLINE (NUEVO LEÓN)) (REFORMA ONLINE) (MURAL ONLINE (JALISCO))

Grupo Maseca (Gruma) continues to operate the only plant it has in Russia. The unit began operations in the city of Stupino, near Moscow, in 2017, with a USD 50 million investment and is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to produce wheat and corn tortillas.

JOSÉ YUSTE / BUSINESS ASSETS. (EXCÉLSIOR 2) (DINERO EN IMAGEN ONLINE)

Mexican companies had entered Russia. It was the 11^th largest economy in the world, with 146 million inhabitants, and was perceived as an appealing market to the Mexicans. Bimbo, Gruma,Mexichem, Nemak and Kidzania began operations in Russia. Gruma,directed by Juan González Moreno,was another company affected [by the war]. It stopped its operations in Ukraine because of the war. It had 500 workers in the plant. It produced grits and corn flour.

CORN TORTILLA, A NUTRITION ALLY FOR OLDER ADULTS Excelsior.com Milenio.com

The nutritional needs of older adults are very similar to those of newborns. Hence, it is essential to look for foods that provide all the necessary nutrients for their daily diet, such as corn tortillas, said Araceli Martínez Coronado, a nutritionist certified by the Mexican Association of Nutritionists. She mentioned the different varieties available in the market, including those made with nixtamalized corn flour, such as the flours offered by Maseca or Minsa, which are fortified with vitamins B1, B2 and B3, A, C, D, and E, and help people improve their memory and eyesight while strengthening their immune system in general.

March 20

GRUMA IS AMONG THE TOP TEN MULTILATINA FOOD COMPANIES WITH SALES ABROAD.(SDP NOTICIAS.COM ONLINE) (MILENIO ONLINE)

Mexican food company Gruma is considered one of the best companies in Latin America, according to the latest ranking published by the pan-regional magazine América Economía. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, various changes have occurred in the business sectors of Latin America, and only the most solid companies, such as Gruma,have been able to maintain their business and move forward in the face of the economic effects. According to the ranking of the largest multilatina companies in Latin America, Gruma,the world leader in the production of nixtamalized corn flour, tortillas and wraps, is positioned as one of the most relevant companies in the region. In this sector with greater geographical coverage, Gruma ranks 10th with the 73 factories it operates in 16 countries and its presence in more than 100 countries across the globe; 74% of its sales were registered outside of Mexico. The list ranking the 500 largest companies in Latin America positioned the Mexican company led by Juan González Moreno in the 107th position in the general ranking.

THEY AGREE TO PROMOTE GRAIN SUPPLIES WITH FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY CERTIFICATIONS. (INFO RURAL ONLINE)

To guarantee the food safety and quality of the grains produced in Guanajuato, the Secretariat of Agri-Food and Rural Development (SDAyR) entered into an agreement with agro-industrial companies to certify their supplies with Good Storage Practices, with the “Guanajuato Zona Premium” Program. In this first approach, SDAyR and the agro-industrial companies agreed on the need to carry out these actions to offer good quality food and protect production processes. Gruma-Maseca, Harinera Pirineos, Grupo Trimex, AB InBev Zona Middle Americas, PepsiCo, and Grupo Nu-3 attended the meeting.

March 27

GRUMA IS COMMITTED TO THE MEXICAN FARMLAND. (EXCÉLSIOR ONLINE)

The Mexican company, Grupo Maseca (Gruma),joined the “Guanajuato Zona Premium” collaboration program with the Secretariat of Agri-Food and Rural Development (SDAyR) of Guanajuato to guarantee the food safety and quality of the grains produced in the state. The agreement signed by other agro-industrial companies, such as Harinera Pirineos, Grupo Trimex, AB InBev Zone Middle Americas, PepsiCo, and Grupo Nu-3, will promote the collaborative work done by the companies with the producers and federal authorities to ensure that the grains used in the elaboration of their products are stored in certified collection centers, as part of their commitment to Good Storage Practices.