Roberto González Barrera and his father, Roberto M. González Gutiérrez, establish GRUMA in Cerralvo, Nuevo León, Mexico. Its creation solves the problem of the conservation of nixtamal (processed corn meal) in the production of tortillas, the staple food of the Mexican people. Thus begins a long road toward improving the nutrition of Mexicans. 

Molinos Azteca becomes the first plant in the world to produce nixtamalized corn flour. It starts up operations with 45 employees working in three shifts to produce around 150 tons of corn flour per month.

Both the quality and the production process of the nixtamalized corn flour are perfected during this period. 

The MASECA brand is born. The name of this revolutionary product is coined by Roberto González Barrera from two words in Spanish: masa ‘dough’ and seca ‘dry,’ which is to say, ‘dehydrated corn flour’. 

A second plant is built in Acaponeta, Nayarit. The operation of this plant represents two fundamental challenges: to achieve efficient, uniform industrial production, and to persuade clients and distributors to accept corn flour as a raw material for their foodstuffs, principally tortillas.

A period of nationwide expansion for GRUMA. Seven new corn flour mills are established.

MASECA begins to position itself as a quality staple food product.

Considerable technological development.

The internationalization of GRUMA begins. Operations start up in Costa Rica in 1973.

At mid-decade, GRUMA arrives in the United States, acquiring the Mission Foods plant in California. 

TECNOMAÍZ, S.A de C.V. is founded. Through this subsidiary, GRUMA begins to design, manufacture, and sell machinery for the production of tortillas and corn flour snacks.

GRUMA acquires ten plants in the United States. 

GRUMA’s first corn flour mill in the United States is built in Edinburg, Texas, under the name Azteca Milling. 

The GUERRERO brand, much appreciated by the Hispanic population in the United States, is acquired.

By the end of the decade, GRUMA has consolidated its position as an international company.

In 1990 GRUMA constructs a megaplant for tortilla production in Los Angeles, California. It is now the largest in the world, with a daily production capacity of 14 million units. 

GRUMA’s production level allows it to strengthen its presence in Central America, as it expands its operations into Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. 

GRUMA enters the South American market, acquiring Molinos Nacionales (MONACO), the second-largest producer of corn and wheat flour in Venezuela, and consolidating its position as an important food company with leading Brands. 

In 1994 an Initial Public Offering of GRUMA shares is made on the Mexican Stock Exchange (Bolsa Mexicana de Valores, or BMV). 

In 1998 GRUMA shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GMK.

After maintaining commercial relations for the sale of tortillas from the United States, GRUMA establishes its first tortilla plant in Europe, in the city of Coventry in England. With its famous wraps, it gains the preference of British palates.

2004

Encouraged by its success in the United Kingdom, GRUMA decides to expand its business in Europe, acquiring a small wheat flour tortilla factory in Holland and a corn flour mill in Ceggia, Italy, near Venice.

2006

Following an exhaustive analysis, GRUMA enters the Asian market with the establishment of a wheat flour tortilla plant in Shanghai, China, becoming the Mexican company with the largest investment in that country.

Pride Valley Foods is acquired in Seaham, England, and the conquest of the flatbread market begins. 

In the Oceania region, GRUMA acquires Rositas Investments, which produces wheat flour tortillas and corn chips for the Australian market.

2007

Construction begins on a new plant in Melbourne, Australia, under the name OZMex, which produces wheat flour tortillas and corn flour taco shells. 

In order to strengthen its Asian presence, GRUMA acquires a plant specializing in flatbreads (pita bread, pizza base, naan, and wheat flour tortillas) in Malaysia.

2008

GRUMA launches a range of social and environmental initiatives. In Mexico, the Sustainable World Program promotes reforestation projects, environmental awareness campaigns, and entertainment events focused on reducing waste through the reuse and recycling of materials. In the United States, Mission Foods launches an environmental initiative to install energy-efficient lighting and equipment in some of its plants. In Europe, Mission Foods supports various non-profit organizations dedicated to aiding needy sectors of the population through fund raising and food donations. 

GIMSA, Molinera de México, and PRODISA, the three companies that make up Gruma México, receive recognition as Socially Responsible Companies from the Mexican Center for Philanthropy (Centro Mexicano para la Filantropía, or CEMEFI). 

In response to the growing trend of obesity in the United States, Mission Foods introduces its Life Balance line under the MISSION brand. On the other hand, GRUMA launches CALIDAD brand, a low-price brand to support low income consumers economy.

 2009

The MISSION brand is launched in Australia with an attractive portfolio of products. A plant with state-of-the-art technology is inaugurated in Australia. 

GRUMA sets a new sales record in its history. 

GRUMA receives the Global Business Excellence award granted by the magazine World Finance. 

GRUMA celebrates its 60th birthday.

2010

In Panorama City, California, GRUMA inaugurates a plant specially designed to comply with the highest standards in sustainability and care of the environment. The plant’s technology ensures the efficient use of energy, water, and residues and reduces harmful emissions in both the industrial and administrative areas of the new installations, which are equipped with solar panels and water and energy savings systems.

In the United Kingdom, MISSION brand launches its Flatbreads of the World line, strengthening GRUMA´s position in the production of flatbreads.

A plant to produce corn grits and flour with installed annual capacity of 65,000 tons is acquired in Altera Ukraine.

GRUMA is the official sponsor of the 2010 World’s Fair held in Shanghai, in which 57 international organizations and 192 different countries participate. Mexican cuisine is promoted through the MISSION brand in the Mexican pavilion.

2011

We increased and strengthened our global presence through a clear expansion strategy that consisted of the acquisition of four plants:

*  Gruma strengthens its presence in the U.S.; It acquires assets of the "Albuquerque Tortilla Company" for 100 million pesos.
*  In Russia, Gruma acquired the leading plant producing corn and wheat tortillas, and snacks "Solntse Mexico" for $7 million.
*   Gruma acquired the tortilla plant “Casa de Oro Foods" in United States for $ 20million.

* Gruma buys a mill corn in Turkey for  $15.5 billion dollars called Semolina.  It is important to point out  that the new mill in Turkey is equipped with the most advanced milling technology for grits, a product used in the manufacturing of beer, cereals  and snacks. To penetrate this market we already had a corn mill in Italy and another in Ukraine, which  both manufacture grits as well.

 2012

Death of the Founder and Chairman of Board of Gruma, Don Roberto González Barrera.   Heartfelt tributes were performed in his native Cerralvo, Nuevo León; Monterrey, Nuevo Leon and the Mexico city, in this event attended by community of business, financial and political of Mexico.   In Mexico City and Monterrey,  The President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, highlighted not only the talent and the enterprising character of the CEO of Gruma and Banorte-Ixe group, also his great love for Mexico.

The Shareholders of Gruma appointed Lic. Juan Gonzalez Moreno as Chairman of Board.   It ushers in a new era for Gruma, the world leader in the production of corn flour and Tortillas

Gruma purchases shares of ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND benefitting all its shareholders.  The company closed the operation worth $ 450 million dollars

2013

For the second consecutive year, Gruma is recognized by Great Place To Work as the best company to work in Mexico. The company also received the award 'Credibility and Respect".   This award is for companies that achieve an efficient communication two-way with its partners. The Great Place to Work Institute concluded that Gruma Mexico meets the high standards to be considered the best "great place to work" of Mexico to comply with features such as a work place where employees "trust in their leaders, they are proud of what they do and they like the people with  they work".

In Washington, United States, Juan González Moreno, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of GRUMA, receives the "Good Neighbor-2013" award granted by the United States Chamber of Commerce. "Is a great pride for me to receive this award, and it is more because my father, Don Roberto González Barrera, received it 15 years ago," said the Executive. The award was presented in recognition of the vision and engagement that has kept Gruma for more than 35 years strengthening commercial relations between Mexico and United States.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Gruma makes history in the Malaysian Book of Records for producing the longest wrap, which reached a length of 248 meters. The initiative involved more than 1,500 Malaysian consumers.

Gruma refinance credit for US $400 million and improves cost and debt profile. The company obtained 2 syndicated loans, one for $220 million, and another PS. $2,300 million. Loans are for a term of 5 years with an average life of 4.2 years and start from write-downs in December 2014, in both cases.   This refinancing allows the elimination of  any risk  of debt maturing in the short term and significantly improves its maturity profile and has achieved significant savings in interest rates of about 200 basis points relative to the refinanced debt.