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FORT WORTH, TEXAS (April 18, 2008) – Ninnie Baird always shared with her neighbors. To continue that tradition, and to celebrate 100 years as a dinner table staple, Mrs Baird’s is launching its “Pass the Bread Program,” a large scale partnership with local food banks. During 2008, Mrs Baird’s will donate up to 500,000 loaves of bread to 25 local food banks in the communities where Mrs Baird’s products are sold. “Our member food banks are very excited about the Mrs Baird’s Pass the Bread,” said Barbara Anderson, State Director of the Texas Food Bank Network. “Our food banks do not usually receive fresh bread. Five hundred thousand loaves of Mrs Baird’s bread will go a long way in feeding thousands of hungry people, including many children.” Pass the Bread will kick off on April 22nd at TARRANT AREA FOOD BANK in Fort Worth, not far from the home where Ninnie Baird began baking bread for her neighbors in 1908. Mrs Baird’s will then visit a total of 25 food banks during a four month period. These food banks are located across the Mrs Baird’s territory in states including Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri. TARRANT AREA FOOD BANK serves 300 hunger-relief charities in 13 counties. “2008 is a year of celebration for us and we think it’s important to be a good neighbor to those that have supported us for the past century,” said Ellen Quiros, Mrs Baird’s brand manager. “While we’ve partnered with food banks over the years, this is by far the largest and most organized donation program in the company’s history. And it’s not just about giving away food; we want to educate people about how they can help alleviate hunger in their communities and to mobilize our associates.” At each food bank visit, the Mrs Baird’s Pass the Bread caravan will donate a large amount of fresh bread as well as hold a community event to educate our customers about the important role their local food bank plays in alleviating hunger. The amount of bread each food bank will receive will be based on need and annual food distribution. In total, Mrs Baird’s will donate up to a half-million loaves of bread. Consumers can find information about the program on displays in their local grocery stores. Pass the Bread is also supported by TV advertising and expanded information on www.MrsBairds.com. Mrs Baird’s began in 1908 when Ninnie Baird started baking bread in her Fort Worth kitchen as a way to support her eight children. As the business grew, so did Ninnie’s efforts to support those less fortunate in the community, efforts that have been part of the Mrs Baird’s tradition for 100 years. In addition to the Pass the Bread program, the Mrs Baird’s 2008 centennial anniversary includes celebrations at each of its bakeries, a state proclamation presented by Texas Governor Rick Perry, the introduction of several innovative new products, new packaging and the annual Visits with Santa program at the Fort Worth bakery. MRS BAIRD’S is produced by Bimbo Bakeries USA (BBU). Bimbo Bakeries USA operates 13 bakeries and distributes leading brands such as Oroweat, Mrs Baird’s, Thomas', Entenmann's, Tia Rosa, Francisco, Bimbo and Marinela. BBU operates approximately 3,000 sales routes and has approximately 7,000 U.S. associates. Bimbo Bakeries USA is headquartered in Fort Worth and is the U.S. Division of Mexico's Grupo Bimbo, one of the world's largest baking companies with over 91,000 associates and operations in 18 countries throughout the Americas, Asia and Europe. Its stock has been trading on the Mexican Stock Exchange since 1980 under the ticker BIMBO. TARRANT AREA FOOD BANK, located in Fort Worth and celebrating 25 years as a regional nonprofit clearinghouse for donated food, distributes more than 1,000,0000 pounds of food a month to its network of 300 hunger-relief programs in 13 counties. The counties served, in addition to Tarrant, include Johnson, Hood, Parker, Palo Pinto, Wise, Denton, Cooke, Erath, Bosque, Hamilton, Hill and Somervell. Each month the network distributes emergency food to more than 30,000 families and serves more than 500,000 meals and snacks on agency sites. This network of food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters and other social services agencies serves low-wage workers and their families, economically disadvantaged children in childcare and after-school programs, elderly and chronically ill or disabled individuals on fixed incomes, family violence victims, homeless families, laid-off workers and others in need.
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