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In May, due to its outstanding work and important contribution to the tortilla industry in the United States, the Tortilla Industry Association (TIA) inducted Mr. Roberto González Barrera, founder of Gruma (Azteca Milling and Mission Foods), in its Hall of Fame. The outstanding members of the TIA Hall of Fame are renowned American Union businessmen, who have established important companies on US territory and contributed to the tortilla industry through research and innovation, in the creation of products, equipment and ingredients.
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During the ceremony, Juan González Moreno, Gruma Chairman and CEO, expressed his appreciation on behalf of the González Moreno family for this distinction for his father, who 68 years ago, with his grandfather, Roberto M. González Gutiérrez, created what is today the world leading producer of corn flour, tortillas and wraps.
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On May 25, because of the great support that US Gruma subsidiaries have provided to the Hispanic community in the American Union, through Mission Foods and Azteca Milling, and due to their contribution in the creation of the Mission Foods Texas-Mexico Center, the main objective of which is to improve Mexico-Texas-United States relations, the US Chamber of Commerce granted the “2017 Good Neighbor Award” to the Gruma Chairman and CEO, Juan González Moreno. Since its creation, over four decades ago, the US Chamber of Commerce has given this recognition to ministers, ambassadors, governors, congressmen, former presidents, CEOs, chairmen, and others who have significantly promoted the relationship between both countries.
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On September 3, in solidarity and support to Hurricane Harvey victims in Houston, Texas, through its US subsidiary Mission Foods, Gruma donated 26 tons of food products, as for example, corn flour tortillas and chips, delivered through the Houston Food Bank and the Red Cross. Mission Foods aid arrived in Houston in 3 company trailers and Gruma employees were in constant communication and coordination with the city authorities, in case more support was needed in the following days.
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Also in September, and in solidarity and support to the victims of the earthquake measuring 7.1 degrees on the Richter scale, that mainly affected Mexico City, Puebla, Morelos and the State of Mexico, Gruma sent its so called tortimóviles, or mobile tortilla shops, to make hot tortillas at the official shelters. Each one of the Gruma tortimóviles can autonomously make 36 thousand hot tortillas a day, because they each have their own power plant, gas, water, Maseca corn flour, wrapping paper and tortilla conservation coolers. On the other hand, the tortimóviles sent to Oaxaca, to support September 7 earthquake victims, stayed there throughout the emergency period.
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In the face of said natural disasters, Juan González Moreno, Gruma Chairman and CEO, said that just as in other emergencies in Mexico, where the company has provided support, the tortimóviles will continue operating until the contingency is over.
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On October 22, Gruma inaugurated a modern plant in Russia. The plant, inaugurated by Juan González Moreno, Gruma Chairman and CEO, has the highest food quality and safety standards of the industry, as well as last generation environmentally friendly technology, to produce over 50 thousand tons of wheat flour tortillas and snacks a year, using raw materials and grains grown in Russia. Products made at that plant will be distributed throughout Russia and exported to the Community of Independent States (CIS), to be sold in retail chain outlets, fast food establishments and restaurants.
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During that same month, and after the agreement of the Mexican government with the most important e-commerce company of the world, The Alibaba Group, corn tortillas and chips produced by Gruma in China, under its global Mission Brand, are traded on the websites of that important Chinese company (Tmall.com, Taobao.com, Alibaba.com), with over 423 million international buyers and a USD$ 485 billion turnover in 2016.
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On November 20, the company’s new US plant was opened in Dallas, Texas. It will produce 30 million tortillas a day. “With this plant, Gruma is consolidated as the global leader in the production, selling and distribution of tortillas in the United States. It also reaffirms its commitment to offer its customers and consumers healthy World Class products, to meet their taste and preferences”, said the Gruma Chairman and CEO, Juan González Moreno. “This new plant is equipped with last generation technology and operates with strict quality and sustainability standards”, he added.
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The plant has enough capacity to continue growing and, at full capacity, it will produce over 10 billion wheat and corn flour tortillas a year, tortilla chips and flat breads under its global Mission Brand, as well as under its national brands, such as Guerrero and Calidad, to supply the states of Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kansas and North Texas. |
