| 1) |
When and where was GRUMA born? |
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The origins of GRUPO MASECA go back to the city of Cerralvo in the
state of Nuevo León, 52 years ago. This enterprise was founded by Don Roberto M.
González Gutiérrez and his son, our current Chairman of the Board, Don Roberto
González Barrera.
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| 2) |
Where can we find GRUMA products? |
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In Mexico, the United States, Central America,
Venezuela and England.
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| 3) |
Does GRUMA only manufacture corn flour? |
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No, we also produce bread, canned food, snacks, corn and wheat
tortillas, hearts of palm, rice, oat and pasta, among other food products in
countries where we hold operations.
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| 4) |
Do you sell tortilla-making machinery? |
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Yes, we also sell beaters for preparing the dough, which are
manufactured by our technological subsidiary TECNOMAÍZ. GRUMA has developed
tortilla-making machines that can produce from 50 up to 1,200 tortillas per
minute.
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| 5) |
What are GRUMA’s strategic guidelines as an enterprise? |
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To
offer quality products and services.
To
duly understand and meet our customers needs.
To
significantly strengthen the value of our brands through efficient and effective
marketing, distribution and customer service efforts.
To strengthen our competitive advantages
through technological and market research.
To get
immersed only in those markets where long-term added values can be achieved
through economies of scale.
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| 6) |
How many GRUMA facilities have quality process certification? |
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Currently
25 plants have been certified and they are committed to continuing their
improvement.
GIMSA (Mexico) has 18 certified facilities.
GRUMA Corporation tortilla division (United States) has four plants already been
certified ISO-9002; in the corn flour division the plants of Edinburg and
Plainview (both in the US) have been certified. In the tortilla and bread
divisions in Mexico the Monterrey facility has also been
certified.
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| 7) |
Does GRUMA invest in technology? |
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Yes. Since it was created GRUMA has allocated
an important share of its earnings to researching and developing new
technologies. This philosophy has turned GRUMA into the leader of the corn flour
industry with a technology 100% of its own.
As a
result of our interest in technological development, GRUMA has the capacity to
manufacture 20 different types of whiter, better-yielding flours that outdo the
competition.
The
enterprise has developed tortilla-making machinery that elaborates a greater
amount of finished product and thus cut costs significantly. If compared with
traditional machinery, GRUMA´s can make up to 1,200 tortillas per minute,
whereas the output of normal machines in Mexico is of 40 or 50 tortillas only in
the same lapse.
With
such an advanced technology, the company has trimmed down variable production
costs in corn and wheat tortillas by 36% and 25% respectively in the last 10
years. This very same machinery has been successfully applied at GRUMA´s
facilities in the United States, Mexico and Central America, thus outrunning the
strict environmental and production regulations in
force.
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| 8) |
Does GRUMA run stock in the Mexican Stock Exchange? |
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Not only in Mexico but in the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as
well.
In
Mexico its key codes at the quotation board are MASECA B and GRUMA B; in the
NYSE the keys are MSK and GMK.
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| 9) |
Does GRUMA provide for support to install tortilla stores? |
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Yes,
by means of Grupo Industrial Maseca (GIMSA), our subsidiary in Mexico, there is
a support program for those people interested in beginning their tortilla
business. Further inquiries at the telephone number 01-800-6273221 (toll-free)
or visit www.gimsa.com in the segment of
Services.
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