04 mayo /17

AT THE HALL OF FAME (EL NORTE EN PRIMERA PLANA DE NEGOCIOS CON FOTO DEL LIC. JUAN GONZÁLEZ MORENO )Gruma founder, the lateRobertoGonzálezBarrera, was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the United States tortilla industry by the Tortilla Industry Association.Juan González Moreno, our founder’s son and current President and CEO of the companywas at the ceremony.The Hall of Fame honors entrepreneurs recognized in the United States for having created companies, for their product research and innovation, equipment and ingredients, among other contributions to the field.

UNITED STATES, HUNGRY FOR GRUMA TORTILLAS (EXCÉLSIOR 1-3) Tortillas have become driver forGrumato grow in places like the United States where, the company indicates, they are gaining ground in all sales channels. Tortillas are not only eaten by Mexicans living there, but by all kinds of people. “We’re expecting to grow 2%, which means an increase in our market shares relative to volume. In monetary terms we’re expecting to grow about 4%”, said Raúl Cavazos,Gruma CFO during a conference with analysts studying tortilla performance in the US. During the first three months of the year, “Gruma sales volume in the United States rose 2%; corn flour sales increased 2%, as the tortilla business rose 2%, driven by both channels, retail and food service channels,” stated Mr. Cavazos during the conference …

IPC ISSUERS SURPASS THE TRILLION-PESO MARK IN INCOME. (EL ECONOMISTA PP-4) The issuers in the IPC (Price and Quotations Index) did not consider financial groups with they reported joint revenue in the amount of 1.11 trillion pesos in the first quarter of the year. This constituted an 18.19% improvement vs. the first quarter of 2016, when revenue was 939,523 millions of pesos. Income reported by BMV (Mexican Exchange) issuers experienced its greatest growth as of 4Q11, according to information from Santander Mexico…Gruma appears on that table at 15,831 (income 1Q16), and 17,677 (1Q17).

05 May /17

ENTRE LÍNEAS/RECOGNITION (EL FINANCIERO.COM MTY) His outstanding work and important contributions to the tortilla industry in United States led the Tortilla Industry Association (TIA) to inductDon Roberto González Barrera, founder of Gruma (Azteca Milling and Mission Foods) into its Hall of Fame.Gruma is a world leader in corn flour, tortilla and wrap production present in more than 125 countries with 80 plants around the world. During a ceremony held in Las Vegas, the US business community recognized the contributions made by the industrialist born in Cerralvo, in the Mexican state of Nuevo León. During the ceremony,Juan González Moreno, president and CEO of Gruma (Azteca Milling and Mission Foods), expressed the González Moreno family’s gratitude for this distinction awarded to their father who together with their grandfatherRoberto M. González Gutiérrez, created 68 years ago what is now the world leader in corn flour, tortilla and wrap production.

08 May /17

TRENDS (EL ECONOMISTA 7)GRUMA.Gruma’s performance in the US and Mexico resulted in 1,296 millions of pesos in net profits.

10 May /17

PUBLICLY TRADED ENTITIES WARN ABOUT NAFTA (REFORMA 3) (EL NORTE (ON LINE) 0) Large publicly traded companies warned that a US break from NAFTA or a disadvantageous result for Mexico from negotiations could have an adverse impact on their operations and financial standing. This warning was issued to avoid potential complaints from investors.  Mexico’s securities legislation establishes that companies listed in the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) must update their potential risks even when there is a low to marginal possibility of these risks actually happening. BMV listed companies complied with the requirement in their 2016 Annual Reports (published in late April), but already showed NAFTA and immigration issues. A review of the reports published byGruma, Kuo, Grupo Elementia, Nemak, Sigma, Bachoco, and Vitro, among others, showed that all of these companies are already citing one or both of these issues as “risk factors” to their operations.Gruma revealed the risk posed by the new US immigration policy to its sales in that country.

MASECA WILL SUPPORT THE CIUDAD MUJER PROGRAM (LA TRIBUNA DE HONDURAS) On behalf of President of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernández, the First Lady of Honduras, Ana García de Hernández, participated in the signing of an agreement in whichDemahsa’sflagship product,Maseca, will support the government’s Ciudad Mujer project. During the thirtieth anniversary ofMaseca in Honduras held in Choloma (Cortés), the First Lady said, “We are grateful for your support for the Ciudad Mujer program that provides a place where Honduran women can create opportunities.” The First Lady highlighted that during its 30 years in the countryDerivados de Maíz de Honduras S.A (Demahsa) and itsMaseca brand have generated jobs, opportunities, and provided Honduran families with wholesome nutritional tortillas.

12 May /17

TRUST IN MEXICO: PRIVATE SECTOR TO CHANNEL $31,430-MILLION DOLLARS (EL HERALDO DE MÉXICO pp-26-27) (REFORMA 5) (EL SOL DE MÉXICO 3) (EL NORTE (ON LINE) 0) 50 owners of the largest Mexican companies are digging deep into their pockets stating they cannot turn their backs on the country, and therefore will not discontinue their investments because this is the only way to stand up to the threats made by US President Donald Trump. During the annual meeting of the Consejo Mexicano de Negocios (CMN; Mexican Business Council), its president Alejandro Ramírez Magaña announced that 50 Mexican companies will reduce their investments 6.1% this year, due to the negative effects of volatility generated after Donald Trump took office, and the uncertain future of trade relations with the United States. Total investments from these 50 Mexican companies account for more than half the amount committed during the first 3 years of the energy reform, stated Ramírez Magaña, before guests Enrique Peña Nieto, president of Mexico; Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal, minister of Economy; and José Antonio Meade, Minister of Treasury. Also present were Bernardo Quintana, president of ICA; Antonio del Valle Perochena, president of Grupo Kaluz; Eduardo Tricio Haro, president of Grupo Lala; Emilio Azcárraga Jean, president of Grupo Televisa;Juan González Moreno, president ofGruma; Armando Garza Sada, president of Grupo Industrial Alfa; Blanca Treviño, president of Softtek, among others.

18 May /17

MARIO MALDONADO / HISTORIAS DENEGOCEOS (EL UNIVERSAL 3) After posing a potential threat to Mexican enterprises in United States, president Donald Trump has become a real danger. This was evidenced by Mexican bottler FEMSA’s recent decision to stop its acquisition of Coca-Cola bottlers on US ground.  What did investors have to say about the news? They celebrated! Their stock earned close to 2% in the Mexican Exchange (BMV)… Although FEMSA is one of the first Mexican companies to think twice about investing in United States, other companies still bet on the neighboring country. One of them is another bottler: Arca Continental, which agreed with the Coca-Cola Company to operate the state of Texas and a few parts of Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arkansas. Likewise, firms such as Televisa, Grupo Mexico, and Cinemex have decided to acquire US companies or enter the United States market in this Trump era.  Meanwhile other Mexican multinational businesses likeGruma, Bimbo, Mexichem, and Alfa are already earning a good part of their income in the United States …

19 May /17

THE BEST CFO’s IN MEXICO (FORBES MÉXICO 8-48-52) Mexican Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) have quite a daunting task ahead of them in the immediate future. Donald Trump’s administration has added elements of disruption and uncertainty of unknown results to an already complex and changing outlook.  After analyzing almost 150 companies (the ones that release enough information) to rank “the best CFOs in Mexico” it was determined that only three of them adopted a conservative position and had no financial debts at the end of 2016:Maseca, Sanborns, and La Comer.Gruma’sRaúl Cavazos Morales ranked fourth in this list with a 72-point score in the financial management index.

 DE JEFES. (EL FINANCIERO 17) More Mexican women in Japan. The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) is promoting a greater presence of Mexican companies in Japan. The director of JETRO in Mexico told us that food companies are showing the greatest interest in doing so.Gruma is already selling products in Japanese 7-Eleven stores.

22 May /17

CAPITANES (REFORMA 3) (EL NORTE (ON LINE) 0) Good neighbor. If you happen to be in the US capital this week take a spin around 17th Street and Constitution Avenue, the home of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington D.C., where the Good Neighbor Award will be presented next Wednesday May 24^th.Gruma captainJuan González Moreno will be distinguished with the Private Sector Leadership Award for heading the most successful operation of any Mexican company in the US. This category of the Good Neighbor Award is also recognizing Mr. González Moreno’s support for the Hispanic community in the US, and the 2016 creation of the Mexico-United States Center at the Southern Methodist University of Texas. The Public Sector Leadership Award went to Ildelfonso Guajardo, Mexican Minister of Economy, and to Rick Perry, US Secretary of Energy. Congratulations!

GRUMA CORP IS NOT AT RISK BY NAFTA (REFORMA 6) (EL NORTE (ON LINE) 0)GrumaCorp, a subsidiary ofGruma in the US, pointed out that the new policies of the Donald Trump administration have proven favorable. “Since it is a US company with plants all over the country, the policies of the new government appear to favor investment and growth”, said aGruma Corp.release, adding that the company uses local raw materials to produce its foods in 26 plants across the country where it sells them. Of these plants, 20 produce tortilla and fried snacks under theMission brand, while another six plants produce corn flour under theMaseca brand. “Due to current cost advantages only a small percentage (less than 4 percent) of our sales come from a few Mexican plants (...), but capacity is sufficient to produce 100 percent through our plants in the US.”

23 May /17

MARIO MALDONADO/HISTORIAS DE NEGOCEOS (EL UNIVERSAL 3) Mexico is all the rage in Australia. Not only because of the growing number of Mexican restaurants and products sold all over the 7.7 million sq. kilometers of the country to its 24 million de inhabitants, but because a growing number of Australians are crossing the Pacific to visit Mexico and seek business opportunities… The most relevant sectors for Australian firms in Mexico are construction (51% share); manufacturing industries (20%); real estate and leasing services (15%); professional, scientific and technical services (6%); and mining (5%)… Mexican companies with a presence in Australia include food producersGruma and La Costeña, in addition to Metalsa, and auto parts manufacturer Katcon…

 NL HAS DRAWN 16 BILLION DOLLARS IN FDI (MILENIO DIARIO DE MONTERREY 0) SINCE 1999 to date, Nuevo León has attracted 16 thousand 731 millions of dollars in direct foreign investment (FDI) from United States, according to figures published by the Federal Ministry of Economy. United States is the country that contributes the most FDI to the state of Nuevo León (NL) followed by the Netherlands, with barely 10 thousand 500 millions of dollars invested in Nuevo León. Today, Monterrey is home to transnational conglomerates like cement giant Cemex, Femsa (Coca-Cola Latin America), Alfa, Axtel, Vitro, Selther,Gruma (foods), and Banorte (financial services)”, indicated the agency that seeks to promote Mexico’s technological industry.

24 May /17

IN VERSIONES (MILENIO DIARIO 26) Good Corn. TheUnited States Good Neighbor Award, sponsored by the Organization of American States, will be presented today toGruma Director,Juan González Moreno, who will be distinguished in theLeadership in the Private Sectorcategory, after headingoperations of the most successful Mexican company in the US. Additionally, the award highlightsMr.González Moreno’ssupport for the Hispanic community in the USand the creation of the Mexico-Texas Center at the Texas Southern Methodist University in 2016.

 NOMBRES, NOMBRES Y NOMBRES. (EL HERALDO DE MÉXICO pp-33) (MILENIO DIARIO DE MONTERREY 0) Today, OAS headquarters in Washington will host the Annual Binational Meeting of the US-Mexico Chamber of Commerce headed by Alberto Zapanta. During the meeting, “Good Neighbor Awards” will recognize leaders that have contributed to promoting mutually beneficial relations between Mexico and United States. José Zozaya at the helm of KCSM will participate as president of the Board of Directors. Ildefonso Guajardo will receive the award for the public sector together with the Secretary of Energy of the US, Rick Perry.JoséAntonio González Moreno ofGruma will be distinguished for hisLeadership in the Private Sector and Miguel Márquez will be recognized for his leadership as Governor of Guanajuato.

26 May /17

PORTAFOLIO / GRUMA CEO IS RECOGNIZED IN THE US. (REFORMA 1 CON FOTO DE LIC. JUAN GONZÁLEZ MORENO)  (EL NORTE (ON LINE) 0 CON FOTO DE LIC. JUAN GONZÁLEZ MORENO) (LA JORNADA 22)JuanGonzález Moreno, president and CEO of Gruma, received the 2017 "Good Neighbor" Award from the US Chamber of Commerce for his support of the Hispanic community and for creating the Mission Foods Texas-Mexico Center, committed to improving Mexico-Texas-US relations.

 EL SEMÁFORO. (EL FINANCIERO 2) Green. The United States Chamber of Commerce presentedJuan González Moreno, president and CEO ofGruma, with the 2017 “Good Neighbor” Award, which recognizes the contribution of this Mexican businessman to improving relations between México, United States, and the State of Texas in particular, through the creation of the Mission Foods Texas-Mexico Center.

 ALICIA SALGADO / CUENTA CORRIENTE. (EXCÉLSIOR 5) Fund Talks. #CharlaAmena.Juan González Moreno, president and CEO ofGruma, and US secretary of energy, Rick Perry, both were distinguished with the 2017 Good Neighbor Award presented by the president of the US Chamber of Commerce Albert Zapanta during a gala dinner at OAS headquarters in Washington. This award goes to personalities who have contributed to developing the Hispanic community in United States, and to creating the Mission Foods Texas-Mexico Center, the main purpose of which is to improve Mexico-Texas-US relations.

THE 2017 GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARD GOES TO THE PRESIDENT OF GRUMA (MILENIO TV)Tania Díaz:The United States Chamber of Commerce presented the 2017 Good Neighbor Award toGruma president and CEO, Juan González Moreno, for his support of the Hispanic community in the Unites States, aw well as for his contribution to create theMission Foods Texas-Mexico Center, which is committed to improving relations between both nations.

29 May /17

JESÚS RANGEL/ESTIRA Y AFLOJA (MILENIO DIARIO 26) The Secretary of Energy of the United States, Rick Perry, has contemplated projects with Mexico in the budget for 2018. These include electricity projects in the Falcon and De la Amistad dams, studies on renewable energy and gas deposits in the Gulf of Mexico, and together with Canada, the North American Energy Information Center. Meanwhile,Juan Antonio González Moreno president and CEO ofGruma, is considering investments for 109 millions of dollars in the United States.Grumasales in that country exceeded 2 thousand million dollars in 2016; i.e., 54 percent of its total global sales … “Mexico and United States are good neighbors and must continue to be so,” saidGonzález Moreno. Meanwhile the former governor of Texas highlighted the “vital” economic importance of maintaining “strong bilateral relations” between both countries. “At the Department of Energy we’re expecting to further our work relations with Mexico”… Thus both personalities share a common interest linked to bilateral business, although under current circumstances there are political aspects in favor of strengthening bonds between both countries beyond the wall proposed by president Donald Trump, and Nafta negotiations. That was the message during the 2017 Good Neighbor Award ceremony of the Mexico United States Chamber of Commerce Wednesday night.