Latest news with #Yucatan
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Grupo Bimbo sets out Mexico-wide capex plans
Mexican bakery giant Grupo Bimbo plans to make investments worth more than $2bn across seven states in its domestic market through 2028. Baja California, Yucatán, Mexico City, Nuevo León, Querétaro, Puebla, and the State of Mexico will benefit from the Grupo Bimbo projects, according to a government statement, which did not identify the specific plants operated by the company to receive the investments. The programme will generate more than 2,000 direct jobs and 10,800 indirect jobs, the government said. Under the government's Plan Mexico initiative, José Manuel González Guzmán, the president of Grupo Bimbo's operations in Mexico, outlined in the same statement how the investment "aims to increase the productive and technological capacity of its various plants, modernise its fleet of electric delivery vehicles, [and] promote the circular economy with sustainable packaging". He was quoted as saying: "I believe that Mexico, with this Plan Mexico, will continue to grow in the coming years. This alliance we have, this strengthening of the economy, we must have confidence in it." Grupo Bimbo had not responded to Just Food's request for more details on the planned investment projects and the facilities involved at the time of writing. Ximena Escobedo Juárez, head of the Productive Development Unit and the Office of the Ministry of Economy, listed the municipalities in Mexico that will benefit from the investments. They are: Mexicali and Tijuana in Baja California; Mérida in Yucatán; Azcapotzalco in Mexico City; Salinas Victoria in Nuevo León; El Marqués in Querétaro; the capital of Puebla; and Toluca and Lerma in the State of Mexico. Meanwhile, Reuters' coverage of the investment programme last week also included comments from González on US tariffs, made during a press conference by Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum. "We believe that we will not be affected if any tariffs are imposed by the US," González was quoted as saying by the news agency. Elsewhere, Grupo Bimbo has been expanding through M&A. It struck an acquisition for packaged breads supplier Karamolegos Bakery Romania, based in Ilfov, Bucharest, earlier this year. And late last year, it snapped up Slovenia bakery business Don Don. The company also struck an acquisition in Brazil last September for the bakery group Wickbold. Posting its first-quarter results in April, Grupo Bimbo said net sales reached a 'record' of 103.7bn pesos ($5.5bn), or 10.8% growth year-on-year. In Mexico, Q1 sales rose 1.7% to 38bn pesos. Group operating income dropped 1.8% to 6.5bn pesos, while adjusted EBITDA rose 8% to 12.8bn pesos. Net income declined 26.6% to 1.7bn pesos. It was a mixed bag of results for the 2024 fiscal year. Net sales rose 2.1% to 408.3bn pesos, while operating income decreased 6.5% to 33.1bn pesos. Adjusted EBITDA climbed 1% to 55.4bn pesos but net income retreated 18.9% to 12.5bn pesos. "Grupo Bimbo sets out Mexico-wide capex plans" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Gizmodo
5 days ago
- General
- Gizmodo
Archaeologists Discover Tomb of Maya King Who Founded a 460-Year Dynasty
A team led by University of Houston archaeologists Arlen Chase and Diane Chase—a married couple about to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary—has discovered the fourth-century CE tomb of an ancient Maya ruler. Talk about a power couple. The Maya ruler in question was Te K'ab Chaak, the first ruler of Caracol, an important Maya city that ruled the southern part of the Yucatan Peninsula from 560 through 680 CE before it was abandoned by the 10th century. Caracol is now the largest Maya archaeological site in modern-day Belize. Te K'ab Chaak rose to the throne in 331 CE and started a royal dynasty that would last over 460 years. Around 350 CE, he was buried at the base of a royal family shrine along with mortuary objects such as jadeite jewelry, a mosaic jadeite mask, carved bone tubes, Pacific spondylus shells, and pottery vessels. The pottery featured scenes including a ruler receiving offerings, the Maya god of traders, and bound captives. Te K'ab Chaak died at an 'advanced age,' according to a University of Houston statement, with no remaining teeth and standing at around 5 feet 7 inches (170 centimeters) in height. The tomb is one of three major burials excavated in the Caracol Northeast Acropolis dating to around 350 CE and raising questions about the contact between Mayans and people in the ancient city of Teotihuacán. By 300 CE, Teotihuacán—around 746 miles (1,200 kilometers) away in modern-day Mexico—had already become a large city and trading hub, and the mid-fourth century saw early contact between the two peoples. 'One question that has perplexed Maya archaeologists since the 1960s is whether a new political order was introduced to the Maya area by Mexicans from Teotihuacan,' Diane Chase said in the statement. 'Maya carved stone monuments, hieroglyphic dates, iconography, and archaeological data all suggest that widespread pan-Mesoamerican connections occurred after an event in 378 AD referred to as 'entrada.'' She adds, however, that archaeological data from Caracol indicates that the situation was 'far more complicated.' The two other burials include a cremation and another tomb. Archaeologists excavated the tomb in 2009. It was covered in hematite and belonged to a woman who was buried with a spondylus bead necklace, pottery vessels, mirror fragments, and two Pacific spondylus shells. The cremation emerged the following year, along with burial goods and practices of central Mexican tradition, including pottery vessels, green obsidian blades, and a carved projectile tip typical of Teotihuacan warriors. Archaeologists suggest that the deceased individual was probably a Caracol royal family member who followed central Mexican ritual practices, if not a royal Maya envoy to Teotihuacan. 'Both central Mexico and the Maya area were clearly aware of each other's ritual practices, as reflected in the Caracol cremation,' said Arlen Chase. In other words, early Maya rulers clearly had Mesoamerican-wide contacts decades before the supposed 'entrada.' 'The connections between the two regions were undertaken by the highest levels of society, suggesting that initial kings at various Maya cities—such as Te K'ab Chaak at Caracol—were engaged in formal diplomatic relationships with Teotihuacan,' he added. Moving forward, the team will continue to investigate the objects and skeletal remains found in Te K'ab Chaak's burial chamber. To absolutely no one's surprise, the Chases' son is also an archaeologist.
Fox News
6 days ago
- Science
- Fox News
Texas husband-wife team finds 'priceless' royal tomb filled with 1,700-year-old treasures
A Texas archaeologist couple recently unearthed the ancient tomb of a legendary king in Central America — a feat that's been over 40 years in the making. Arlen Chase and Diane Chase, both professors at the University of Houston, uncovered the 4th-century tomb at the Caracol archaeological site in Belize. The university shared the discovery on July 10. (See the video at the top of this article.) Caracol was a major Mayan city established in the 300s A.D. The tomb belonged to Te' K'ab Chaak, the earliest ruler of the city and the founder of its royal dynasty – and it's the first confirmed royal tomb found at the site. "Now in ruins, this metropolis was a major political player in Maya history, dominating the southern part of the Yucatan Peninsula from 560 through 680 AD before its abandonment by 900 AD," the University of Houston said in its press release. Teʼ Kʼab Chaak's tomb was filled with treasures, including 11 pottery vessels and carved bone tubes. Excavators also found a mosaic death mask made of jadeite, along with jewelry made from the same type of gemstone. The Chases are the foremost scholars on Caracol, and this latest excavation is just one of many they've conducted. Their son, Adrian, is also an archaeologist and discovered Caracol's decentralized water system. "The true value of the materials is in what they can tell us about the ancient culture." Judging from the ruler's remains, the Chases also found that Te' K'ab Chaak was 5'7 in height and died at an advanced age. He also had no remaining teeth. Speaking to Fox News Digital, Arlen Chase called the recently unearthed artifacts "priceless." "Professional archaeologists will not put a dollar value on the items they dig up … That being said, the true value of the materials is in what they can tell us about the ancient culture," the expert described. "In this case, most of the individual artifacts are unique, but together they not only tell a story about the individual who once owned them but also enable us to provide a date for the burial." Arlen Chase said the artifacts date to 350 A.D. and "include a full range of vessel types for this time period," including two from the Highlands of Guatemala and shells from the Pacific Ocean. Both these types of treasures, he noted, were the "result of long-distance trade." Arlen Chase also confirmed that archaeologists identified the burial "based on the size of his chamber, the presence of jadeite mosaic death mask and earflares, and everything being covered in cinnabar." Diane Chase told Fox News Digital that the ceramic vessels in particular really showed off Teʼ Kʼab Chaak's status and wealth. "The two Pacific spondylus shells near his head, the jadeite earflares, the carved jadeite tubular beads, and the mosaic jadeite death mask also show his ability to obtain long-distance prestige items," she noted. A car trip between Teotihuacan and Caracol today would take over 23 hours. Ancient people would have had to walk at least 153 days to complete the journey, making the burial offerings particularly special. Above all, Diane Chase noted that finding a ruler's burial is "extremely unusual, and important." She said, "This is the first one we have discovered within the ancient city of Caracol." She added, "Even more important, he is the first ruler of the Caracol dynasty with some 30 other rulers following him (according to the hieroglyphic[s]) before the city was abandoned."
Forbes
13-07-2025
- Forbes
Culinary Traditions Travel Company Lets Taste Take The Lead
Mother and daughter duo behind Culinary Traditions travel company. Chef Iliana de la Vega and Isabel ... More Torrealba. Ilán Sánchez When you picture Mexico what do you see? It is quite possible that whatever you are imagining right now, barely skims the surface of what Mexico can offer a newcomer, especially in terms of the people, the food, and the culture on a whole. Mexico is so very complex and varied in every way, that the mother/daughter duo behind Culinary Traditions, has made it their mission to dispel what you think you know, add to it, then douse you with a yearning to fall in love with what you discover on one of their many, highly-curated trips. Led by award-winning Chef Iliana de la Vega, and daughter, journalist Isabel Torrealba, the company started in 2015 as Mexican Culinary Traditions. Rebranded this year for its tenth anniversary, they've begun to offer locations outside of Mexico. The duo runs anywhere between 15-18 trips a year to: Mexico City, Oaxaca, Merida, Yucatan, and, as of 2024, Chile. The goal is to soon add Argentina as well. The goal of the travel company has been to share the many riches of Mexican culture-- especially things that often get overlooked--as well as to help debunk some of the many misconceptions. Sure, you will find tacos, truly excellent tacos; and surely, you will find tequila, but there are so many more gems to Mexican cuisine and culture, it is a shame when the surface is barely scratched. This is where de la Vega and Torrealba come in. When you read just one of their sample itineraries, you'll quickly see the level of depth explored and realize this is no spring break jaunt to Tijuana. There's an endless array of chiles found at markets throughout Mexico. One of the experiences ... More Culinary Traditions hosts is cooking with Chef de la Vega where she teaches guests how to cook with them. Culinary Traditions Did you know Mexico has a rich and evolving wine culture? The tour though Mexico City includes wine-tasting with a Mexican wine sommelier; historical walking tours; a canal ride and farm tour lunch in Xochimilco to learn about the ancient Chinampa farming tradition; and what many travelers on the tours anticipate, a day to shop for ingredients then cook with Chef de la Vega. 'I'm so proud of many things from Mexico,' Chef de la Vega said. 'I want to be able to show that the perception of Mexico--the cuisine, the people--the traditions, and the culture, has been limited." In 2022, de la Vega became the first winner of James Beard's Best Chef: Texas category (previously the Southwest division), which, not only opened many eyes to the state's expanding culinary experiences but brought a new flock of foodies to Austin, and to her restaurant El Naranjo, specifically. The restaurant first opened in Oaxaca in 1997 with her husband, Ernesto; however, political unrest in the region in the early 00s caused them to uproot their family to the United States. Once settled in in the U.S., Chef de la Vega taught 'Latin Food Ways' at the San Antonio branch of the Culinary Institute of America during the family's first few years. In 2012, she and her husband reopened El Naranjo in Austin after running a food truck of the same name for two years. The highlight of the Mexico tours is shopping and cooking with Chef de la Vega. Culinary Traditions Girl Power More recently, de la Vega's eldest daughter, Ana Torrealba, became the restaurant's Chef-De-Cuisine, giving de la Vega more time to host the tours she guides with daughter Isabel as well as spend time teaching and consulting. For example, de la Vega works with university's like Stanford each year to freshen up their dining hall options and teach campus staff about seasonal ingredients and how to incorporate new recipes. When talking to Isabel about the unique work they do through Culinary Traditions, she doesn't discount that it is fun and wonderful, but admits it is indeed a lot of work. 'All of that back and forth can wear you down,' Isabel said. 'Your brain has to be on for a long portion of the day and even leading up to the trip, you're doing all the groundwork to get it going,' she added. Every setting during the Culinary Traditions tours is picture worthy, making each dining excursion a ... More memorable occasion that's deep in history, and rich in experience. Culinary Traditions The amount of planning, correspondence, and coordinating with vendors and hotels, chefs and restaurants, tour guides and drivers, takes countless hours months before the touring season begins. Then, when the tour is in high-gear, there's the physical demands of actually being with each group all day or on call for upwards of 15 hours a day for the duration of each week-long tour. Nevertheless, she too gets to feel like a traveler discovering new things no matter how many times the trip repeats. There's always some new restaurant or museum or facet of the trip that she looks at through fresh eyes. As a matter of fact, as an amateur photographer, Torrealba has the pleasure of adding countless new images to her own growing collection while using them to market and brand the trips for Culinary Traditions. ' As the photographer on many of the trips, she gets to explore in a different way than when she is otherwise, operationally, crunching numbers, enrolling travelers; and making sure each tour runs smoothly. 'Even I, as a Mexican, born and raised, am still learning. I still encounter things I've never seen before," Isabel said. 'Mexico is not just one homogenous thing. That's something I try to communicate. The food is not just one thing; the food, the people, the country; It is a complex place.' The trips occur between September and April, then during the rainy season, between May and August, Isabel and de la Vega are in administrative mode, updating the website, enrolling travelers, and investigating new restaurant or museum locations for the upcoming series of trips. 2025 will be the second year in a row they've offered an experience in Chile, working in part with celebrated Chef Pilar Rodríguez. As a women-owned and led team, the duo tries to highlight as many women chefs as possible, so when Chef Rodriguez came aboard, they were thrilled. Rodríguez was the first woman recognized as a United Nations Tourism Ambassador in gastronomy and wine; she was also recently named one of the '50 Most Powerful Women in Chile'. Her restaurant, Food & Wine Studio, was also highlighted in The New York Times ' '52 Places to Go in 2024". A Family Affair When it comes to working with family there are those who think absolutely not, and others who have found it inordinately rewarding. This mother/daughter team seem to be of the latter camp and actually count themselves lucky. 'In the early years, I remember sometimes being frustrated when I wanted to implement something new and we didn't always agree,' Isabel said. 'I was young and she had more experience. But that's changed and now I feel free to make decisions and I know she trusts my judgement and vision.' It is truly an honor to be able to work and learn from my mom. I've learned so much about food, hard work, discipline, professionalism, and the importance of kindness working by her side.--Isabel Torrealba Thick as thieves, mother/daughter duo Isabel Torrealba and Chef de la Vega discuss what it is like ... More running a business as a family. Ilán Sánchez And Chef de la Vega noted, 'When we are traveling we spend a lot of time together, it's not a 9-5 work relationship, it's 24 hours to spend with another grown-up human being. Love and respect have been key to have a good relationship.' It's a privilege to get to be that close and getting to know her not only as my daughter, but also as a colleagued. During the last 10 years that we have been traveling together with the culinary tours, I have seen her grow in many aspects, towards life, goals, work, ethics, and all. --Chef Iliana de la Vega Make Yourself at Home cookbook author Janae Royston recently traveled with Culinary Traditions to Mexico City. Of the trip, she noted, 'It was an incredible way to experience Mexico City and the wide range of cuisines and culture, which is my favorite thing about travel and deeply influences what I like to cook at home.' Over the last decade, Culinary Traditions has seen many repeat travelers; some who have even signed up for each tour offered in the company's portfolio. There are others who have been following Chef de la Vega since she first opened El Naranjo in Oaxaca. Further still, there are travelers anticipating new destinations and awaiting all the ways they can taste their way through another rich culture and cuisine.
Reuters
28-06-2025
- Climate
- Reuters
NHC sees 40% chance of cyclone for system over Yucatan Peninsula and Bay of Campeche
June 28 (Reuters) - A low pressure area over the southwestern Yucatan Peninsula has a 40% chance of developing into a cyclone and is emerging over the Bay of Campeche, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Saturday. "By Monday, this system should move inland over eastern Mexico, ending its chances of development. Regardless of development, locally heavy rains are possible over portions of Belize, Guatemala, and southeastern and eastern Mexico during the next few days," according to the NHC's latest advisory.
