Grupo Bimbo buys General Mills Argentina

General Mills has reached an agreement to sell its Argentina bakery and foodservice business to Grupo Bimbo, one of the world’s leading baking companies, subject to regulatory approval.

General Mills will continue to operate its growing retail food business in Argentina, including the La Salteña brand. The sale includes the General Mills bakery and foodservice business and all associated facilities, equipment, land and inventory in Argentina – as well as employment contracts for the production and salaried staff. General Mills bakery and foodservice employs about 360 people and the company expects job impact to be minimal.

Sean Walker, president of General Mills Latin America, says: “Having assessed our performance in the current business environment, we have determined that we need to prioritize other growth opportunities within our Latin American portfolio.”

General Mills has operated the bakery and foodservice business in Argentina since 2001, when it took over the business as part of its Pillsbury acquisition. The portfolio includes breads, pastries, small baked goods and Medialunas, the Argentinian version of croissants. General Mills expects to complete the transaction by May 2.