Barcel USA Awarded the Nielsen 2014 U.S. Breakthrough Innovation Award for Takis

COPPELL, Texas, July 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer product companies launch thousands of new product lines every year. But a selected few achieve game-changing success in innovation and category achievement. Barcel USA, a subsidiary of Mexico City-based Grupo Bimbo, is a proud recipient of the Nielsen's 2014 U.S. Breakthrough Innovation Award for its Takis snack line, an honor only given to 14 companies across all consumer categories.

"Since our Takis Fuego was first introduced in the United States in 2006, the snack has exploded in popularity, especially among teenagers," said Ruben Herrera, Vice President of Barcel USA. "Although the product was initially launched in the U.S. for the growing Hispanic market, teens of all ethnicities have been captivated by the innovative shape and unique flavor of Takis. We are proud to receive this prestigious award, and we will continue to seek ways to innovate and lead this new category segment – rolled corn tortilla chips."

Currently, Takis has five line flavors including Fuego, Fajitas, Nitro, Guacamole, Salsa Brava and a limited edition flavor Xtra Hot. Also, Barcel USA has other exciting lines of products, including Barcel Potato Chips and Speedsters, another well-rounded concept with distinctive flavor within its popular portfolio of salty snacks and peanuts.

In winning the U.S. Breakthrough Innovation Award, Barcel USA demonstrated high marks in Nielsen's three main requirements: distinctiveness, relevance and endurance. Although Barcel USA does not release its sales numbers, according to Nielsen, winning products must generate a minimum of $50 million in first-year sales in the U.S. market while sustaining at least 90 percent of those sales in year two. Because of the tremendous success of the Takis brand, Barcel USA opened a production facility in Coppell, Texas in 2012 to accommodate the increased U.S. demand.  Distributed in major metropolitan areas, Takis continues to grow and expand across other areas in the United States.

"There's nothing that come close to Takis on the market today," said Herrera. "Our innovative and intense flavors combined with our authentic history make Takis truly a one-of-a-kind chip in the marketplace."

About Grupo Bimbo

"2014-2015: United Nations Decade of Sustainable Energy for All"

Grupo Bimbo is the leading baking company in the world. It has more than 128,000 associates and in 2013 generated US$13.786 billion in sales. It has 169 plants in 21 countries over the world, throughout 3 continents. It produces over 10,000 products under more than 100 household brands in categories such as sliced bread, buns and toast. It also has an extensive distribution network in Mexico and one of the largest of the American continent. Grupo Bimbo's shares have traded on the Mexican Stock Exchange since 1980 under the ticker symbol BIMBO. In 2014-2015, decreed by the UN as the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All, Grupo Bimbo reaffirms its commitment to the environment by bringing their environmental sustainability programs to all the countries where it operates.

For more information about Grupo Bimbo, visit:
Online: www.GrupoBimbo.com
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/GrupoBimbo
On Twitter: @Grupo_Bimbo

SOURCE Barcel USA