“Through Bimbo Open Door, we seek to innovate and scale initiatives that allow us to continue surprising our consumers with products that satisfy their consumption habits,” said Raúl Obregón, chief transformation officer of the world’s largest bakery manufacturer and a leader when it comes to best business practices related to ethics, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, leadership and more.
“We are excited to connect with innovative entrepreneurs who, like us, are looking to nourish a better world.”
Bimbo launched the platform last year, which saw 11 bakery and snacks startups from Mexico, Peru, Colombia, US, UK and Singapore undergo an exciting journey of exploration, training and collaboration.
The entrepreneurs received mentorship from Bimbo execs and access to the company’s enviable global infrastructure. The finalists who made it through the Demo Day - presenting their business plan to a forum of bakery executives - advanced to ‘Behind the Door’ to define opportunities for future collaborations with the company.
Do you qualify?
This year’s cohort will receive the same attention but must be focused on the cookie and energy bar sector:
- For kids: innovation oriented towards cutting-edge ingredients, advanced production technologies and interactive packaging. The goal is to combine fun and wellbeing in products aimed at children.
- Permissive indulgence: focused on unique ingredients and inventive production processes that preserve the product’s better-for-you qualities while offering indulgence.
- Artisanal: centred on culinary techniques and creative presentations that maintain the homemade essence and nostalgia.
The businesses must already bring in annual sales of more than $250,000 and be able to demonstrate validated products, operations or an expansion plan in the Americas or Europe.
Companies that align with Bimbo’s sustainability strategy will be prioritised. Proposals will be evaluated on the ability to promote products with simple recipes, nutritional diversity or plant-based ingredients, alongside a business model that supports the environment and communities.
Participants have until 6 October to register and must be able to set aside the day-to-day responsibility of their businesses to participate in the 12-week programme in Mexico.
A matchless opportunity
“Bimbo Open Door was born with the dream of transmitting the experiences and knowledge of Grupo Bimbo to companies with potential for expansion through differentiated value proposals,” said Constantino Matouk, global VP of Bimbo Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of Grupo Bimbo based in Horsham, Pennsylvania.
“In the first edition, we received more than 250 requests from startups and scale-ups from more than 20 countries.
“Our focus for this new cycle is to connect with more entrepreneurs to share knowledge and seek opportunities for future collaboration.”