Grupo Bimbo reinforces its commitment in Central America with new baking plant in El Salvador
The launch of NOVABES expands Grupo Bimbo‘s supply capacity for the bread, pastry, and tortilla categories, and consolidates the country as a key hub within its regional operations network.
EL SALVADOR – Grupo Bimbo, the world’s largest baking company, has officially opened its state-of-the-art baking plant, NOVABES, in the municipality of Apopa, marking a major milestone in its Central American expansion.
The inauguration marks the completion of a project first announced in April 2024, with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by government officials, underscoring the firm’s confidence in El Salvador’s business climate under President Nayib Bukele.
The new facility represents Grupo Bimbo’s most significant investment in the region, designed to boost production by 50% and create over 600 direct jobs upon full operation.
Spanning production areas, raw material storage, logistics hubs, a 4,000-square-meter distribution center, and administrative offices, NOVABES incorporates cutting-edge technology to enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability.
Initial output will focus on pastries, sweet breads, and tortillas to meet rising regional demand, serving local markets as well as Central and South America.
NOVABES is also the first Grupo Bimbo bakery to operate under the Free Trade Zone regime for food in El Salvador, a milestone that strengthens the country’s logistical competitiveness and facilitates access to new markets in Central America.
The opening of this bakery represents a clear commitment to regional development.
Its construction and operation have boosted formal employment, developed local skills, and increased participation by local suppliers and service providers, contributing to the area’s economic growth.
Grupo Bimbo’s Regional CEO, Sebastián Reynoso, highlighted the plant as a strategic hub after two years of site evaluations across the region, praising El Salvador’s security improvements, skilled workforce, and pro-business environment.
With over 30 years in the country and operations in six nations, the company now operates five bakeries here, reinforcing its role in economic development.
The project aligns with Bimbo’s global sustainability standards, including advanced logistics and eco-friendly practices.
NOVABES incorporates practices aimed at more efficient, responsible operations, integrating industrial innovation and a long-term vision at every stage of its operations.
This expansion arrives amid El Salvador’s growing appeal to foreign investors, with Bimbo citing judicial and social stability as key factors.
Expected to reach full capacity soon, NOVABES will enhance supply chains and support agribusiness growth, benefiting thousands indirectly through jobs and local sourcing.
As the Mexican giant, operating in 34 countries, continues its footprint, this move solidifies El Salvador as a Central American production powerhouse.
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