My Global Hustle

Few companies from emerging markets have grown into successful multinational enterprises. One business that has is the packaged-goods company Grupo Bimbo. Founded in Mexico in 1945 by Lorenzo Servitje, the publicly traded company now holds the title of the world’s largest baker, with sales exceeding $10 billion in 2010. Just over half of those sales came from outside its home market—namely China; many Latin American countries, including Argentina and Brazil; and the United States. The company trades under several well-known brands, including Entenmann’s and Thomas’ in the United States, and the ubiquitous Bimbo brand in Latin America.