For decades, Grupo Bimbo and Bimbo Bakeries USA (BBU) have been committed to improving health and wellness, protecting the environment, supporting our communities and valuing our associates around the world.

To further maximize our impact, this year Grupo Bimbo launched Nourishing a Better World, our new Purpose-driven Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Program which is comprised of bold ambitions in three key areas:

• Baked for You (Health): Bring better nutrition to millions by providing more diverse nutrients in simpler recipes.
• Baked for Life (People): Support our associates and help our communities thrive.
• Baked for Nature (Planet): Fight the degradation of nature by becoming champions of zero-carbon, zero-waste and regenerative agriculture. 

BBU has an important role to play in making these global ambitions a reality. Check out the highlights from the year!

Baked for You

BBU offers products for every eating occasion- breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and on-the-go. We are committed to providing our consumers with positive nutrition in every choice, more wholegrain and plant-based ingredients at every price point, and access to clear information about our products and healthier diets.

These actions are part of our Nourishing a Better World journey to reach our 2030 goals of:

• Provide nutritionally balanced, plant-based products to help our consumers build better diets.
• Reduce ingredients & increase nutrients in all our recipes to provide the best nutritional experience.

In addition to our Mainstream and Premium Breads, Buns and Rolls such as Arnold, Brownberry, Sara Lee, Bimbo and Ball Park being free from artificial colors and flavors, in 2022 BBU also launched seven new healthier option products that include positive nutrition like whole grains, plant-based fibers, fruits and veggies:

• Thomas’s Muffin Tops
• Oroweat Keto Buns
• Arnold, Brownberry and Oroweat Keto Seeded Bread
• Arnold, Brownberry and Oroweat Keto Sandwich Thins
• Arnold, Brownberry and Oroweat Keto Wrap
• Sara Lee White Bread Made with Veggies
• Grandma Sycamore Pumpkin Spice Bread

Baked for Life

We want everyone to have access to our bread, bagels, buns, English muffins and sweet baked goods, even those that can’t afford to purchase them. Through our partnership with Feeding America, we donated over 20 million pounds of food to local food banks this year thanks to the efforts of our frontline associates who work diligently to get our surplus product to food banks across the nation.

In addition to product donations to feed those who need it most, BBU continued its Diversity, Equity and Belonging journey and invested $800,000 in nonprofit organizations focused on advancing economics, education and health in Black and underserved communities. The nonprofits are comprised of regional and national organizations that impact the communities where we live and work. The nonprofit organizations include:

• UNCF (United Negro College Fund)
• Careers Through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP)
• Chicago Urban League
• Chicago Scholars
• Los Angeles Cleantech Incubators (LACI)
• HoPe: Hispanic Organization Promoting Education
• 100 Black Men of the Bay Area
• Inspiration Corporation
• The Women’s Center
• Urban League MetroBoard
• 100 Black Women – ATL
• Jacksonville Jaguars & USO of Greater Jacksonville
• One Colorado
• Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey
• Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta
• American Jewish Committee
• Black McDonald’s Operators Association

2022 was a big year not only helping local communities and partners but celebrating our associates for all their hard work. This year, BBU kicked off our very first #BBUPROUD Days, a companywide effort to show appreciation for associates’ daily commitment to the business. Over 1,000 associates participated in the two-week festivities that included recognition gifts, prizes celebration lunches and peer-to-peer recognition.

Baked For Nature

As part of the world’s largest baking company, we strive to be leaders in sustainability, recognizing our obligation to protect and preserve our planet for generations to come.

ENERGY STAR® Highlights

This year, BBU received the 2022 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year—Sustained Excellence award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy in recognition of its company-wide commitment to energy management strategy and leadership in the baking industry.

The Sustained Excellence honor is given, at the EPA’s discretion, to organizations that have consistently earned Partner of the Year for several years in a row.

In addition to Partner of the Year, Grupo Bimbo and BBU earned the EPA ENERGY STAR certification for 18 of its bakeries, the highest number in the baking industry and in any industrial sector with production facilities in the U.S. This certification signifies that the bakeries perform in the top 25 percent for energy efficiency among similar facilities nationwide and meet strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA.

The bakeries that have earned EPA's ENERGY STAR certification include Auburn (NY), Dubuque (IA), Escondido (CA), Fergus Falls (MN), Gastonia (NC), Kent (WA), La Crosse (WI), London (KY), Oconomowoc (WI), Olean (NY), Phoenix (AZ), Placentia (CA), Reading (PA), Salt Lake City (UT), San Luis Obispo (CA), Zanesville Bimbo QSR Airport (OH), Zanesville Bimbo QSR Eastpointe (OH), and Viceroy (Concord, Ottawa) issued by the Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN).

Electric Vehicles

Along with a focus on innovation and efficiency in the bakeries, BBU also expanded the growth of electric vehicles in its fleet. In 2022, BBU added over 100 electric trucks to its existing fleet of 1,500 alternative-fueled vehicles comprised of propane, compressed natural gas, and hybrids. As a result, this year, a total of 265 tons of CO2 were reduced tied to the electrification of BBU’s fleet.

In 2022, BBU gained momentum throughout the year and made significant progress on a variety of fronts: we expanded our brand portfolio with nutritious options, strengthened our culture by continuing to Value the Person and continued to accelerate our sustainable actions. In 2023, we will continue to live Our Purpose of Nourishing a Better World every day by making more progress in these areas.