Bimbo Bakeries to build $75M facility in Rockwall Technology Park

(Rockwall) May 11, 2012 – The Rockwall Economic Development Corporation has brought another great deal to Rockwall with Bimbo Bakeries USA, the largest bakery company in the USA. Bimbo will build a 300,000‐square‐foot bakery facility in the Rockwall Technology Park.

The facility will be located between Discovery Boulevard, Data Drive and Springer Road in Phase II of the Rockwall Technology Park, located just south of Interstate 30 in Rockwall. The bakery is the largest new industrial build‐to‐suit project in the history of Rockwall.

The state‐of‐the‐art facility will add more than $75M to the Rockwall tax base and bring 130 new jobs, including assembly line and executives.

“This is an amazing accomplishment for Rockwall,” said Sheri Franza, President and CEO of the Rockwall Economic Development Corporation. “Rockwall is actively recruiting projects of this caliber, and we are especially
proud of this deal.”

The bakery will turn out products in its bread and buns lines. It will initially operate two large baking lines, but could support additional lines and products as they grow, said Franza.

Bimbo Bakeries USA owns the brands Arnold, Ball Park, Bimbo, Boboli, Brownberry, Earthgrains, Entenmann’s, Francisco, Freihofer’s, Marinela, Mrs. Baird’s, Oroweat, Sara Lee, Stroehmann, Thomas’, and Tia Rosa.

Groupo Bimbo, Bimbo Bakeries USA parent company, purchased Mrs. Baird’s Bakeries in Texas in 1998 and the combined operations were renamed Bimbo Bakeries USA. Bimbo Bakeries USA operates 33 bakeries and employs more than 15,000 associates nationwide.

The Rockwall Economic Development Corporation had this business deal wrapped up the first quarter of 2012.

“The project has moved smoothly and quickly through negotiations, and that only happens with cooperation from all parties involved and knowing that the project is right for Rockwall,” said Franza.

The bakery will be the first facility to occupy forty acres in Phase II of the Rockwall Technology Park. Phase I is almost completely full with 11 businesses ranging from light manufacturing to corporate headquarters. Phase III infrastructure is currently being considered in planning for the future, as it will be needed to accommodate additional businesses.

“We are in the midst of a truly amazing growth cycle in Rockwall, and to secure a business of this size is monumental for
our community,” said Franza.

“REDC’s mission is to broaden and diversify the Rockwall tax base, taking a significant burden off the residents of Rockwall. With the value of this project, Bimbo Bakeries will help do just that.”

Rockwall Economic Development Corporation

Rockwall Economic Development Corporation actively recruits corporate headquarters and industry operations nationwide. The City of Rockwall is a great location for companies looking to expand or relocate their businesses to one of the largest markets in the United States – the Dallas‐Fort Worth Metroplex. Rockwall offers training opportunities through five nearby university systems and provides a talent pool of highly skilled workers. With the expansion of
infrastructure in the Rockwall Technology Park and easy access to many transportation options, Rockwall is a smart business decision for companies looking to grow and prosper.