September 1

TWO TONS OF FLOUR WERE USED TO MAKE AND DELIVER TORTILLAS TO 5,000 FAMILIES IN TIHUATLÁN. (NOROESTE ONLINE (SINALOA) 0) More than 5,000 families in 50 neighborhoods benefited by receiving one kilo of tortillas made with two tons of flour just days after Hurricane Grace ravaged the region. The Fifth City Councilor, Yazmin Gómez Ramírez, noted that this work was coordinated by sole trustee Ángela Marín Hernández and the Third City Councilor of Civil Protection, Benito Solís Quintana, who traveled to the different neighborhoods to deliver this benefit to the families living in these areas. She said this was possible thanks to the negotiations with regional Civil Protection liaison, Rocío Pineda Márquez, to set up a Maseca module in the Plan de Ayala sector in Zapotalillo, where thousands of kilos of tortilla were made and distributed to families in 50 neighborhoods across Tihuatlán, Veracruz.

September 2

FINANCIAL MARKETS (EN LOS TIEMPOS DE LA RADIO) Alfredo Huerta: Fitch upgraded GRUMA’s credit rating to BBB+ with a stable outlook in both local and foreign currency given its stable financial profile, strong cash flow generation and highly controlled leverage ratio.

September 4

GRUMA’S FINANCIAL STABILITY DRIVES UP ITS FITCH RATING. (MILENIO ONLINE 0) (SDP NOTICIAS.COM ONLINE 0) Fitch upgraded Mexican company Gruma’s international scale ratings in foreign currency. The company is a global leader in the production of nixtamalized corn flour, tortillas and wraps. In its rating action commentary, the rating agency upgraded Gruma’s IDR from ‘BBB’ to ‘BBB+.’ Fitch also affirmed Gruma’s National Long-Term rating at ‘AAA(mex)’ and National Short-Term Rating at ‘F1+(mex)’. The Rating Outlook is Stable. “The upgrade reflects Gruma’s track record of maintaining a solid financial position.” 

September 7

#CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION: CONCERNS AT THE MEXICAN STOCK EXCHANGE. (EL CEO ONLINE 0) Who is who? / And speaking of the Mexican Stock Exchange Group’s activities, it continues to generate revenue from data. Its offer includes the so-called Sensitivity and Risk Indicators that contain information about the issuers’ marketability and profitability, among other data. It is interesting to note that through July, the issuers leading the marketability index are Grupo México, Gfnorte, Walmart, América Móvil, Cemex, Femsa, Gruma,Alfa, GAP and Asur. Furthermore, in terms of liquidity, Grupo México holds the #1 position, followed by Walmex, Gfnorte, América Móvil, Cemex, Femsa, Naftrac, Gruma,GAP, and Alfa.

September 12

MASECA INSTALLED A TORTIMÓVIL (MOBILE TORTILLA-PRODUCTION UNIT) IN HIDALGO. (MILENIO NOTICIAS (12:00 A 18:00)) (MILENIO NOTICIAS (06:00 A 12:00) (MILENIO NOTICIAS (06:00 A 12:00) Rodrigo Rico: Maseca installed a Tortimóvil (Mobile Tortilla-Production Unit) in the Tula de Allende, Hidalgo Sports Unit to assist victims of the recent floods. The mobile tortilla-production unit has been making fresh tortillas in the area since September 8, which are then distributed by personnel from the Secretariat of National Defense throughout the affected areas and in the shelter dining rooms.

September 13

GRUMA IS AMONG THE MEXICAN COMPANIES WITH THE STRONGEST GLOBAL PRESENCE. (EXCÉLSIOR ONLINE 0) Expansión magazine recognized Gruma,known as one of the most profitable companies on the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) and one with the greatest resilience to volatility in financial markets and economic shocks, as one of the Mexican companies with the strongest presence worldwide. Currently, Gruma,a leader in the production of nixtamalized corn flour, tortillas and wraps, has a presence in 112 countries, through its global brands Maseca and Mission,and leading local brands in the markets it serves, such as Guerrero in the United States, and TortiRicas and Tosty in Costa Rica. The company has 75 production plants across the globe. The business led by Juan González Moreno is part of Expansión Magazine’s “Top 100 Global Mexican Companies” list based on diversification in the markets it serves, value chain integration to guarantee efficiency and productivity, eliminate competition, build strong supplier and consumer relations, and reduce regulatory restrictions.

September 14

THEY LAUNCH EXTRA SOFT CORN FLOUR SO CONSUMERS CAN MAKE TORTILLAS AT HOME. (EL PERIÓDICO ONLINE (GUATEMALA) 0) Gruma launched Extra Soft Maseca to satisfy consumer needs by offering them Suave, the ideal flour that homemakers love because it is unlike any other product on the market. Maseca Extra Soft is 100% pure natural corn flour made with a specialized process to provide the ideal, finer consistency that makes tortillas softer.

September 20

GRUMA IS AMONG THE TOP 10 FOOD COMPANIES WITH THE BEST REPUTATION. (EXCÉLSIOR 1-3) (EXCÉLSIOR ONLINE 0) (Story on the front page of the Money section with a picture of JGM) The Mexican company Gruma was ranked among the Top 10 companies with the best corporate reputation in the food industry, according to Merco, the benchmark corporate monitor in Latin America. In its ninth edition of the ranking, Merco completed five assessments of the Companies and Leaders with the Best Corporate Reputation in Mexico in 2021, using 16 sources. The methodology is verified through an independent review by KPMG under ISAE 3000. For this 2021 edition, in which Gruma,a leader in the production of nixtamalized corn flour, tortillas and wraps, was ranked 80 (17 positions above last year’s ranking), Merco conducted an in-depth analysis by sending 4,874 surveys to 1,094 executives at large companies, 69 business professors, 96 economics journalists, 88 financial analysts, 80 representatives of consumer associations, and 70 trade union representatives. The ranking was also divided by sectors. Gruma was ranked within the top 10 companies with the best corporate reputation in the food industry. The list also considers leaders with the best reputation. Gruma President and CEO Juan González Moreno was ranked 37 in this year’s edition, ten positions above the 2020 ranking.

September 22

BMV (THE MEXICAN STOCK EXCHANGE): 9 OF 145 COMPANIES PREPARE DIVIDENDS FOR 2021 AND 2022. (EL CEO ONLINE 0) Of the 145 companies listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV), only nine (not including REITs) have announced the dates on which they will distribute their tax year 2020 profits among shareholders via dividends. Some companies began to distribute last year’s profits in 2021 and will complete the process in 2022 because they were forced to suspend or extend the distribution period due to the pandemic’s effects on their businesses. Other issuers such as Sempra, Gruma,Grupo Carso and Fomento Económico Mexicano (FEMSA) will pay retained earnings through dividends to shareholders between September 2021 and April 2022. The Walmex and Gruma boards determined periodic payments.

September 25

GRUMA’S MISSION FOODS DIVERSIFIES TO SERVE CONSUMERS IN THE UNITED STATES. (MILENIO ONLINE 0) (SDP NOTICIAS.COM ONLINE 0) (MSN ONLINE 0) (THE WORLD NEWS ONLINE 0) (NOTICIAS DE MÉXICO ONLINE 0) More than one year after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mission Foods,one of Mexican company Gruma’s main subsidiaries,is ready to continue satisfying the needs of consumers in the United States, the company’s largest market outside of Mexico that represents more than 50% of its income. The United States is a country that requires continuous innovation to satisfy the food preferences and needs of the thousands of migrants from different nationalities living in that country. Therefore,Gruma launched two new products on the market through Mission Foods in the middle of this month to meet the needs of those looking to consume healthy food without sacrificing taste. We are talking about the new gluten-free Almond Flour and Cauliflower Flour tortillas that combine the authentic flavors and textures of Mission Foods. These new offers are now available to consumers in select stores, becoming available nationwide in late 2021.

September 28

THE TOP 100 BUSINESS LEADERS IN MEXICO. (EXPANSIÓN 4-89-112) Updating the list of the Top 100 Business Leaders in Mexico is not an easy task. Each year, a handful of names are added and eliminated from the list that, in this edition, has registered increased activity due to the pandemic. However, 2021 is becoming a year of recovery. The wealth accumulated by the 100 business leaders stands at around USD 220 billion, 44% higher than in 2020 when the pandemic hit their fortunes. Gruma president Juan A. González Moreno ranked 20 in the 2021 Ranking.

September 29

G10 DONATES MXN 5 MILLION TO REHABILITATE SCHOOLS. (EL NORTE ONLINE (NUEVO LEÓN) 0) (REFORMA ONLINE 0) (EL HERALDO DE MÉXICO ONLINE 0) (POSTA ONLINE 0) (MILENIO ONLINE 0) (MSN ONLINE 0) (TELEDIARIO ONLINE MONTERREY (NUEVO LEÓN) 0) Today, the G10 companies donated MXN 5 million to rehabilitate 25 schools for a total of 39 schools including those serving students in the morning and afternoon shifts. This is part of the “Sponsor a School” project, promoted by Governor-elect Samuel García and the Comunidar Foundation, that improves the conditions of public schools damaged by the pandemic. The G10 comprises Alfa, Cemex, Cydsa, Deacero, Femsa, Frisa, Gruma, Lamosa, Proeza, Soriana, Vitro and Xignux.