U.S – Grupo Bimbo, a Mexican multinational company with a presence in 33 countries of America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, has divested its baking x-ray technology subsidiary Kanan Smart Solution to food quality control system manufacturer Mekitec Group, a leading manufacturer of X-ray food inspection systems in a share transaction.
The deal includes a software development team and local sales and service operations in Mexico.
Grupo Bimbo has been using Mekitec’s x-ray systems powered with Kanan’s software solutions in its bakeries for five years. The company has an annual sales volume of 15 billion dollars.
Raul Obregon, chief information and transformation officer at Grupo Bimbo said their company has a relentless commitment to quality and not only want to adopt the best technology for quality assurance out there, but also partnerships that allow them to co-create the future of food inspection with top technology developers.
Ensuing the share transaction, Grupo Bimbo’s venture arm Bimbo Ventures will become a significant shareholder of Mekitec and will support the Finnish company in accelerating its growth.
Kanan Smart Solution focuses on the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and x-ray inspection technology to detect foreign objects and assure the safety of bakery products.
The inspection software company has a revenue of $1.8 million and 13 employees in Mexico, with presence also in the US, Ecuador and France.
“AI is transforming food inspection and enabling our customers to deliver ever better products to their customers. We’re excited that together with Mekitec, we’ll be one of the creators of the next generation of inspection, starting with baking,” Pablo Sánchez, CEO of Kanan and principal at Bimbo Ventures, expressed.
Based in Finland, Mekitec provides food quality control systems for individual food production lines based on x-ray technologies, serving customers in a variety of industries including bakery, confectionery, dairy, frozen food and meat.
As stated in FoodBev, the deal will see Mekitec strengthen its x-ray inspection capabilities for baking companies and boost its market position throughout Latin America. With an increased focus on baking solutions, Mekitec will continue to offer traceability and quality control solutions for sustainable food production.
“Traceability and artificial intelligence are significant drivers for the future of food safety. This acquisition is of major strategic importance for Mekitec, enabling us to lead the industry development globally. Having Bimbo Ventures as a partner and Grupo Bimbo as a customer means that our product development will always be fully aligned with the industry needs.”
Lebermuth 100% SQF score
The Lebermuth Company, a family owned company that develops and supplies fragrances, flavors, and essential oils, has received the highest possible score of 100% on its 2021 SQF audit.
The august South Bend, IN-based company informed that the achievement was especially impressive since it was the unannounced audit carried out by accredited auditors every three years.
“This is a fantastic achievement for Lebermuth and required hard work and effort from every member of the team from top to bottom; each and every day. We are proud of our accomplishment and are committed to maintaining an accredited SQF facility” said Robin Haney, quality systems specialist.
The SQF Food Certification program incorporates an intensive, rigorous, and credible detailed audit of a food manufacturing facility. The inspections are conducted by ASI Food Safety, an accredited SQF auditor. SQF compliant companies must demonstrate their manufacturing facility meets high-quality food standards to minimize hazards and food safety risks.
The Lebermuth Company maintains a HACCP-based food safety and quality system with supporting programs and procedures for sanitation, chemical control, personnel training, and transportation programs that provide assurances to customers.
It has spent more than 100 years formulating a legacy in essential oils, which are the building blocks of its custom fragrance and flavor creations.
