Food processing and distributing giantGeorge Weston Ltd., Toronto, said it expects during the first quarter of 2009 to sell its U.S. fresh bread and baked goods business toGrupo Bimbo, S.A.B. de C.V., Mexico City, for $2.5 billion. The assets are part of Weston Foods Inc. and include the Arnold,Brownberry, Entenmann's, Freihofer, Stroehmann and Thomas brand names and assets.
Weston said it will retain other U.S. baking food interests, including Interbake Foods, which produces biscuits, cookies, cones and wafers; andMaplehurst Bakeries, a Brownsburg, Ind., frozen products business.