Stewart Systems, Plano, Texas, and AMF Bakery Systems, Richmond, Va., have separated common ownership of the companies and are back to operating as independent entities as of Dec. 31, 2008.

Dunedin Holdings S.à.r.l., a subsidiary of George Weston Ltd., Toronto, agreed to sell its U.S. fresh bread and baked products business to Grupo Bimbo, S.A.B. de C.V., Mexico City, for gross and net cash proceeds of about $2.5 billion USD, including about $125 million of interest bearing assets. The assets being sold are part of Weston Foods Inc., Dunedin's principal U.S. operating subsidiary, and include Arnold, Brownberry, Entenmann's, Freihofer, Stroehmann and Thomas' brands. Dunedin will retain Interbake Foods and Maplehurst Bakeries-its other U.S. baking interests. Completion of the transaction is subject to U.S. antitrust legislation and approval by a majority of Grupo Bimbo's shareholders.

Sara Lee North American Fresh Bakery, Downers Grove, Ill., is launching new labels to help consumers make informed choices about nutrition. The “nutritional spotlight” will appear on all breads, buns and bagels beginning this month in its Soft & Smooth^™ line. Nutritional information will include calories, total fat, sodium and sugars per serving on all products; percentage of daily recommended folic acid per serving on all Sara Lee white breads, buns and bagels; percentage of daily recommended fiber per serving on all Sara Lee wheat and whole wheat breads, buns and bagels; and grams of whole grains recommended per serving on all Sara Lee white, wheat and whole wheat breads and buns.

PureCircle, Florham Park, N.J., announced an exclusive global strategic collaboration with flavor company Firmenich, Geneva, Switzerland, on the heels of the FDA's GRAS-status approval of rebiana (Reb A), at 95 percent purity and above, as a general-purpose sweetener for food and beverages. Under the collaboration agreement, Firmenich and PureCircle will combine their efforts to offer natural flavor and sweetening solutions to category leaders in the global food and beverage market.

Flowers Foods Inc., Thomasville, Ga., has made a contribution to AIB International's School of Baking in honor of Heeth Varnedoe III, retired president and C.E.O. Varnedoe, who retired in 1997 after 37 years with Flowers, played an important role in helping develop the company's management team and was actively involved in the baking industry.

The American Bakers Association launched its new grassroots action webpage opposing the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), also known as the “card check legislation.” EFCA would allow employees to organize unions by filling out union authorizing cards (known as card check), which publicly acknowledges their intent, instead of voting by secret ballot. Also, if a union is organized, labor and management would have 120 days to negotiate a binding contract. If that deadline is not met, arbiters from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service would present a contract that neither labor nor management can negotiate or vote on for two years.