Bimbo Bakeries USA (BBU), already the largest baker in the
BBU said it will invest more than $1 billion in the
The acquisition is subject to regulatory review. The reported price, $959 million, was only a third of what Sara Lee, based in
Bimbo called the acquisition “highly complementary across product lines, bakeries and geographies.” While Bimbo’s past acquisitions have left it with many whole-grain and specialty breads, Sara Lee is heavily into white bread and buns, including its Soft & Smooth whole-grain white bread. And Sara Lee’s production plants are focused in the
Bimbo will use the Sara Lee name for fresh-baked products around the world except for Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Grupo Bimbo first established itself in the
In 2002, Bimbo acquired the Western U.S. baking business of George Weston Ltd., adding such brands as Oroweat bread and buns, Entenmann’s sweet baked goods, Thomas’ English muffins and bagels and Boboli pizza breads. In 2009, Grupo Bimbo purchased Weston’s remaining U.S. fresh baked goods business, adding brands such as Arnold, Brownberry, Freihofer’s and Stroehmann and making Bimbo Bakeries USA the largest bakery company in the U.S. Company headquarters were moved to the former Weston offices in Horsham, Pa.
When the Sara Lee deal is complete, the combined company will have more than 28,000 associates, will operate 75 bakeries in 31 states and will serve the entire
Parent Grupo Bimbo is one of the world's largest baking companies with over 102,000 associates and operations in 17 countries throughout the