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Gruma

OVERALL

Owned
MEX
Rating
Criticisms

Corn flour and tortilla maker

The world's #1 corn flour and tortilla maker.

GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V.   MEX     website   email   facebook   twitter

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V.
Business Ethics 10/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 10/100 in the Food Products category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 18 Nov 2022). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global (2022)
Business Ethics 6.1% in Food and Agriculture Benchmark
The 2021 Food and Agriculture Benchmark assessed 350 keystone companies across the entirety of the food system, from farm to fork. It covers three dimensions where transformation is needed: nutrition, environment and social inclusion. This company ranked #273/350, with a total score of 6.1/100.
Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2021)
Social Lack of micronutrients in Mexico
While Mexico has one of the highest obesity rates in the world, certain micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron deficiency, continue to be a public health concern. In response the Mexican government passed laws for the mandatory fortification of both wheat and maize the early 2000s. Changing Markets' 2019 report, 'Daily Bread', reveals that companies making tortillas and breads are often not using flour that complies with the law. The report found that out of the seven tortilla products tested in their study from Gruma, none contained adequate levels of iron or zinc - despite Gruma stating that: "we produce a food staple with high nutritional value for the general health and welfare of our consumers".
Source: Changing Markets (2019)
Business Ethics Corruption in Mexico
This New York Times article from 1996 explains how Gruma's cornflour brand Maseca benefited enormously from Government policies aimed at nothing less than changing the way Mexicans eat, substituting corn flour mass-produced by Maseca for the fresh corn dough that had been the staple for generations. Gruma CEO Roberto Gonzalez Barrera was lifelong friends with Carlos Salinas de Gortari, who was President of Mexico from 1988 to 1994.
Source: New York Times (1996)
Business Ethics Non-GMO products in USA
This company has products that have been verified as compliant with the Non-GMO Project Standard, North America's only independent verification for products made according to best practices for GMO avoidance.
Source: Non-GMO Project (2021)
Business Ethics Social Responsibility claims
This company has social Responsibility claims on its website in the areas of minimising enviromental impact, nutrition and community support.
Source: company website (2021)
Environment CDP Forests Score of C
In 2022, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts towards removing commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation from its direct operations and supply chains. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Forests Score of C.
Source: CDP (2022)
Environment CDP Climate Change Score of C
In 2022, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change Score of C.
Source: CDP (2022)
Social Modern Slavery statement
California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
Source: company website (2018)
Social Misleading labeling class action
Gruma is defending a proposed class action (July 2013) over the labeling of its tortilla products. Lawyers for the proposed class contend food packaging with "All Natural" on it are false and misleading because they contain GMOs (genetically modified organisms), namely corn that is grown from genetically-modified seeds. The case was awaiting the FDA's determination as to whether GMOs can be defined as "natural." The FDA refused to do so and the case against Gruma was dismissed in 2014.
Source: news article (2013)
Social CDP Water Security Score of C
In 2022, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to manage and govern freshwater resources. Responding companies are scored on six key metrics: transparency; governance & strategy; measuring & monitoring; risk assessment; targets & goals; and value chain engagement. This company received a CDP Water Security Score of C.
Source: CDP (2022)
Business Ethics Blog: Five Reasons to Hate GRUMA
This blogger, author of 'Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America' gives 5 reasons to hate Gruma: Lying about having invented processed corn flour; putting thousands of tortillerias out of business; subsidies from corrupt Mexican government officials; trying to monopolise the American market; their products are terrible.
Source: blog site (2012)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Public company
Founded 1949
Revenue 3.9 billion USD (2018)
Employees 20,600 (2018)
Subsidiaries Gruma Oceania Pty Ltd 

Mexican food makers

Local subsidiary of the world's #1 corn flour and tortilla maker. Gruma bought Australian corn chips company Rositas in 2006.

Contact Details

Address Monterrey, Mexico
Website www.gruma.com/en.aspx

Products / Brands

Mission Foods
Mission Mexican
Mission Flat Bread
Mission Indian
Mission Chips/Crisps


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