Grupo Bimbo, the Mexican bakery giant, has become a shareholder in Zero Carb Company (ZCC), a start-up based in the Netherlands. The financial details of the deal have not been disclosed. With this partnership, ZCC aims to expand the distribution of its gluten-free bread with the help of Grupo Bimbo’s global footprint and extensive distribution network. ZCC plans to explore new distribution opportunities in various countries. This joint venture start-up consists of Wiltink, a Dutch bakery, and Box NV, a Wageningen venture builder.
Under the licensing agreement, Wiltink will be the first business to market ZCC’s bread, branded as Yam Keto, in the Benelux countries. The CEO of ZCC, Roel Orsel, expressed his excitement about the partnership, highlighting the potential of their tasty gluten-free, zero carb bread to revolutionize the bread category. Grupo Bimbo’s involvement in Europe has been growing, with recent acquisitions in Romania and the UK.
In January, Grupo Bimbo entered the Romanian market by acquiring bakery company Vel Pitar. Additionally, the company purchased UK-based baker St Pierre Groupe a few months earlier. In terms of capital expenditure, Grupo Bimbo plans to invest significantly in 2023 after spending $1.2bn in 2022. The group’s CFO aims for a capital expenditure of $1.7bn to $2bn this year.
