These Popular U.S. Bakery Brands Are Owned By A Mexican Company

Sara Lee, Thomas', Entenmann's, and Ball Park buns are popular bakery brands with something in common: They're all owned by Bimbo Bakeries USA, the largest commercial baker in the United States. However, Bimbo Bakeries USA is not actually American-owned — just like how Smithfield Foods is owned by a Chinese company – and its parent company, Grupo Bimbo, is based in Mexico despite building a significant presence in the American market. In fact, according to the company, 83% of U.S. households have at least one of its products in their home.

Grupo Bimbo has slowly gained control of various brands through acquisitions, much like how the Italian candy giant Ferrero, acquired WK Kellogg's cereal business. The company took ownership of the Thomas' and Entenmann's brands in 2009, when it purchased Weston Foods' U.S. bakery business for $2.38 billion. Daniel Servitje, Grupo Bimbo's CEO at the time, called the Weston Foods purchase the most important transaction in the company's history, and it's easy to see why. This acquisition made the company's U.S. subsidiary the largest baker in the country. However, it didn't stop there — in 2011, Grupo Bimbo then acquired Sara Lee's North American fresh bakery business, further strengthening its position. For context, Sara Lee was the country's third-largest baker at the time, and the purchase also came with ownership of the Ball Park buns brand.

Grupo Bimbo continues to grow significantly in the United States and is outperforming its competitors. The company's Q3 2026 investor presentation showed that the company topped the bakery industry in four of six categories, based on year-to-date (YTD) sales growth, as of September 27, 2026. These categories included salty snacks, buns and rolls, breakfast, and premium bread. For salty snacks in particular, Grupo Bimbo's YTD sales were up 9.6% versus the industry's 1.3%, signaling that Grupo Bimbo's U.S. products are gaining ground against competitors. This growth has also boosted the company's overall North American sales, which rose year-over-year for the third straight quarter in Q3 2026.

Despite its success in the U.S. market, Grupo Bimbo remains as ambitious as ever. The company is doubling down on its investment in the U.S. in order to further expand its presence. In a May 2026 press release, it announced plans to invest about $1 billion in the U.S. between 2026 and 2028, and indicated in its Q3 2026 investor presentation that it is working to reduce its logistical costs – a major factor in the price of goods. These lower distribution costs may help the company keep its prices down, something that is especially important as inflation reduces consumer purchasing power.