Grupo Bimbo: Sales Rose 15,8 Percent in Q1/2009

Mexico City / MX. (gb) Grupo Bimbo S.A.B. de C.V., one of the world´s top breadmakers, said first-quarter 2009 profit rose as the acquisition of George Weston Limited´s U.S. operations boosted sales. Net income increased to 1,02 billion MXN from 814,7 million MXN in the year-earlier period, the Mexico City-based company said in a statement. Bimbo more than doubled the amount of delivery routes it has in the U.S. and gained the Arnold, Bobili, Brownberry and Thomas brands after last year´s 2,4 billion USD purchase of Weston´s U.S. business. Those brands accounted for about 2,2 billion USD in sales for Weston last year.

Bimbo´s sales climbed 46 percent to 28,3 billion MXN on price increases. Excluding the Weston acquisition, sales rose 15,8 percent. Sales in South and Central America rose 32 percent to 3,11 billion MXN. Mexican sales, which accounted for almost half of total revenue, gained 5,9 percent to 13,8 billion MXN.