General Mills, Inc. is an American
Fortune 500The Fortune 500 is an annual list compiled and published by Fortune magazine that ranks the top 500 U.S. closely held and public corporations as ranked by their gross revenue after adjustments made by Fortune to exclude the impact of excise taxes companies collect. The list includes publicly and...
corporationA corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
, primarily concerned with
foodFood is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
products, which is headquartered in
Golden Valley, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 20,281 people, 8,449 households, and 5,508 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,982.3 people per square mile . There were 8,589 housing units at an average density of 839.5 per square mile...
, a suburb of Minneapolis. The company markets many well-known brands, such as
Betty CrockerBetty Crocker AKA: batter witch is a cultural icon, as well as brand name and trademark of American Fortune 500 corporation General Mills. The name was first developed by the Washburn Crosby Company in 1921 as a way to give a personalized response to consumer product questions. The name Betty was...
,
YoplaitYoplait is a brand of yogurt produced by a company owned by two French holdings, SODIAAL and PAI Partners.-History:In 1964, 100,000 French farmers merged their regional dairy cooperatives to sell nationally. In 1965, two co-ops, "Yola" and "Coplait", merged, becoming "Yoplait"...
,
ColomboColombo Yogurt originated from a family business run by Rose and Sarkis Colombosian, Armenian immigrants who lived in Andover, Massachusetts. Yogurt was first commercially produced and sold in the United States in 1929 by the Colombosians, whose family business later became Colombo Yogurt. The...
, Totinos, Jeno's, Pillsbury,
Green GiantGreen Giant and Le Sueur are brands of frozen and canned vegetables owned by General Mills. The mascot of Green Giant is the Jolly Green Giant....
,
Old El PasoOld El Paso is a brand applied to a range of Mexican-style foods, including dinner kits, tacos and tortillas, sauces, condiments, rice and refried beans.Old El Paso products are marketed across the globe. The brand is owned by General Mills...
,
Häagen-DazsHäagen-Dazs is a brand of ice cream, established by Jewish-Polish immigrants Reuben and Rose Mattus in the Bronx, New York, in 1961. Starting with only three flavors: vanilla, chocolate, and coffee, the company opened its first retail store in Brooklyn, New York, on November 15, 1976...
,
CheeriosCheerios is a brand of breakfast cereal by General Mills introduced on May 1, 1941 as the first oat-based, ready-to-eat cold cereal. Originally named CheeriOats, the name was changed to Cheerios in 1945 because of a trade name dispute with Quaker Oats. The name fit the "O" shape of the cereal pieces...
,
Lucky CharmsLucky Charms is a brand of cereal produced by the General Mills food company of Golden Valley, Minnesota, United States. It first appeared in stores in 1964. The cereal consists of two main components: toasted oat-based pieces and multi-colored marshmallow bits in various shapes, the latter making...
and
Wanchai FerryWanchai Ferry is a range of Chinese cuisine produced by General Mills. It consists of two product lines – recipe kits, which contain the sauces, flavouring and dry ingredients to make up a complete recipe when added to the consumer's choice of fresh ingredients, and in the United States they have...
. Their brand portfolio includes more than 100 leading U.S. brands and numerous category leaders around the world.
History
The company can trace its history to the
Minneapolis Milling Company, founded in 1856 by Illinois Congressman
Robert SmithRobert Smith was a U.S. Representative from Illinois, nephew of Jeremiah Smith and Samuel Smith of New Hampshire....
, which leased power rights to mills operating along
Saint Anthony FallsSaint Anthony Falls, or the Falls of Saint Anthony, located northeast of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, was the only natural major waterfall on the Upper Mississippi River. The natural falls was replaced by a concrete overflow spillway after it partially collapsed in 1869...
on the
Mississippi RiverThe Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
Cadwallader C. WashburnCadwallader Colden Washburn was an American businessman, politician, and soldier noted for founding what would later become General Mills and working in government for Wisconsin. He was born in Livermore, Maine, one of seven brothers that included Israel Washburn, Jr., Elihu B. Washburne, William D...
acquired the company shortly after its founding and hired his brother, William D. Washburn to assist in the company's development. In 1866, the Washburns got into the business themselves, building the Washburn "B" Mill at the falls. At the time, the building was considered to be so large and output so vast that it could not possibly sustain itself. However, the company succeeded, and in 1874 he built the even bigger Washburn "A" Mill.
In 1877, the mill entered a partnership with John Crosby to form the Washburn-Crosby Company. In that same year, Washburn sent William Hood Dunwoody to England to open the market for spring wheat. Dunwoody was successful and became a silent partner. Dunwoody would become immensely wealthy and went on to endow a Minneapolis hospital,
Dunwoody InstituteDunwoody College of Technology is a private, non-profit vocational college in Minneapolis, Minnesota.In addition to associate 2-year college programs Associate of Applied Science , Dunwoody also offers a Bachelor of Science in Applied Management for students with an associate degree.Dunwoody offers...
(now
Dunwoody College of TechnologyDunwoody College of Technology is a private, non-profit vocational college in Minneapolis, Minnesota.In addition to associate 2-year college programs Associate of Applied Science , Dunwoody also offers a Bachelor of Science in Applied Management for students with an associate degree.Dunwoody offers...
), and a charitable home in Pennsylvania,
Dunwoody VillageDunwoody Village is a non-profit Continuing Care Retirement Community located in Newtown Square, a western suburb of Philadelphia. The community is built on the grounds of an campus that has a rich history of family ownership which reaches back to the time of the American Revolution.-William Hood...
.
In 1878, the "A" mill exploded. There was a flour
dust explosionA dust explosion is the fast combustion of dust particles suspended in the air in an enclosed location. Coal dust explosions are a frequent hazard in underground coal mines, but dust explosions can occur where any powdered combustible material is present in an enclosed atmosphere.- Conditions for...
that resulted in the deaths of 17 workers and also destroyed five nearby buildings. Construction of a new mill began immediately. Not only was the new mill safer but it also was able to produce a higher quality flour. The old grinding stones were replaced with automatic steel rollers. These new rollers were the first used throughout the world. These new rollers also were capable of producing more nutritious flour.
Winter WheatWinter wheat is a type of wheat that is planted from September to December in the Northern Hemisphere. Winter wheat sprouts before freezing occurs, then becomes dormant until the soil warms in the spring. Winter wheat needs a few weeks of cold before being able to flower, however persistent snow...
Flour was replaced by this new flour.
In 1924, the company stepped in to take over a failing Twin Cities radio station,
WLAGWLAG is a radio station broadcasting a Sports radio format featuring programming from ESPN Radio. WLAG is licensed to serve the community of La Grange, Georgia, USA. The station is currently owned by Eagle's Nest, Inc.-History:...
, renaming it WCCO (from Washburn-Crosby Company). General Mills itself was created in 1928 when Washburn-Crosby President James Ford Bell directed his company to merge with 26 other mills.
Beginning in 1929, General Mills products contained box top coupons, known as
Betty CrockerBetty Crocker AKA: batter witch is a cultural icon, as well as brand name and trademark of American Fortune 500 corporation General Mills. The name was first developed by the Washburn Crosby Company in 1921 as a way to give a personalized response to consumer product questions. The name Betty was...
coupons, with varying point values, which were redeemable for discounts on a variety of housewares products featured in the widely distributed Betty Crocker catalog. The coupons and the catalog were discontinued by the company in 2006. A similar program, Box Tops for Education, in which coupon icons clipped off various General Mills products can be redeemed by schools for cash, started in 1996 and is still active.
General Mills became the sponsor of the popular radio show
The Lone RangerThe Lone Ranger is a fictional masked Texas Ranger who, with his Native American companion Tonto, fights injustice in the American Old West. The character has become an enduring icon of American culture....
in 1941. The show was then brought to television, and, after 20 years, their long-term sponsorship came to an end in 1961.
When
NASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
astronautAn astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
Scott CarpenterMalcolm Scott Carpenter is an American engineer, former test pilot, astronaut, and aquanaut. He is best known as one of the original seven astronauts selected for NASA's Project Mercury in April 1959....
launched into space on
MercuryIn January 1960 NASA awarded Western Electric Company a contract for the Mercury tracking network. The value of the contract was over $33 million. Also in January, McDonnell delivered the first production-type Mercury spacecraft, less than a year after award of the formal contract. On February 12,...
capsule Aurora 7 in 1962, he was carrying with him the first solid
space foodSpace food is food products, specially created and processed for consumption by astronauts in outer space. The food has specific requirements of providing balanced nutrition for the health of individuals working in space, while being easy and safe to store, prepare and consume in the machinery...
—small food cubes developed by Pillsbury’s research and development department. Taking Pillsbury scientists more than a year to develop, space food cubes were followed by other space-friendly foods, such as non-crumbly cake, relish that could be served in slices, and meat that needed no refrigeration.
The first venture General Mills took into the toy industry was in 1965. The company bought Rainbow Crafts, which was the manufacturer of
Play-DohPlay-Doh is a modeling compound used by young children for art and craft projects at home and in school. Composed of flour, water, salt, boric acid, and mineral oil, the product was first manufactured in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA as a wallpaper cleaner in the 1930s...
. General Mills' purchase of the company was substantial because it brought production costs down and tripled the revenue.
Beginning in 1959, General Mills sponsored the famous Rocky and His Friends television show, which later prompted The Bullwinkle Show in 1961. Until 1968, Rocky and Bullwinkle were featured in a variety of advertisements for General Mills.
General Mills came out with their
"Monster Cereals"General Mills monster-themed breakfast cereals are five current and formerly distributed breakfast cereal brands in North America. The series includes Count Chocula, Franken Berry, and Boo Berry, and the discontinued Fruit Brute and Fruity Yummy Mummy.-History:In 1971, the first two cereals in the...
in the 1970s. Two of the cereals, Frute Brute and Yummy Mummy, were discontinued from the "Monster Cereal" line in the 1980s.
In 1970, General Mills acquired a five-unit restaurant company called
Red LobsterRed Lobster is a U.S. chain of seafood restaurants. It also operates in Canada, the UAE and Japan . It is aimed at the mid-level "casual dining" segment of the market...
and expanded it nationwide. Soon, a division of General Mills titled General Mills Restaurants developed to take charge of the Red Lobster chain. In 1982, General Mills Restaurants founded a new Italian-themed restaurant chain called
Olive GardenOlive Garden is an American restaurant chain specializing in Italian-American cuisine. It is a subsidiary of Darden Restaurants, Inc., which is headquartered in an unincorporated area in Orange County, Florida, near Orlando. Olive Garden operates more than 730 locations globally.- History :The...
. Another themed restaurant,
China CoastChina Coast was a casual dining American restaurant chain specializing in Chinese food. Founded in 1990 in Orlando, Florida, the company began a rapid and ill-fated national expansion in 1993, ultimately resulting in its demise. At the time of its closing in 1995, it operated 51 locations in the...
, was added before the entire group was spun off to General Mills shareholders in 1995 as
Darden RestaurantsDarden Restaurants, Inc. is a multi-brand restaurant operator headquartered in an unincorporated area in Orange County, Florida, near Orlando. The firm owns several casual dining restaurant chains, most notably Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Red Lobster...
.
During the same decade, General Mills ventured further, starting the General Mills Specialty Retail Group. They acquired two clothing and apparel companies,
TalbotsTalbots is a specialty retailer and direct marketer of women’s classic clothing, shoes and accessories. Established in 1947, the company sells items such as the blazer, trench, white shirt, ballet flats and pearls....
and
Eddie BauerEddie Bauer Holdings Inc. is a holding company that operates the Eddie Bauer clothing store chain, headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, United States. EBH was formed after Eddie Bauer's former parent company, Spiegel, Inc., went bankrupt in 2003...
. The acquisition was short-lived. Talbots was purchased by a Japanese company, then known as
JUSCOis the acronym for Japan United Stores Company, a chain of "general merchandise stores" and the largest of its type in Japan. The various JUSCO companies are subsidiaries of ÆON Co., Ltd.....
, and the Spiegel company purchased Bauer. Spiegel later declared bankruptcy, yet Bauer still remains, albeit in a smaller presence in the United States today.
From 1976 to 1985, General Mills went to court as the parent company of
Parker BrothersParker Brothers is a toy and game manufacturer and brand. Since 1883, the company has published more than 1,800 games; among their best known products are Monopoly, Cluedo , Sorry, Risk, Trivial Pursuit, Ouija, Aggravation, and Probe...
, which held the rights on the brand name and gaming idea of the board game
MonopolyMarvin Gardens, the leading yellow property on the board shown, is actually a misspelling of the original location name, Marven Gardens. The misspelling was said to be introduced by Charles Todd and passed on when his home-made Monopoly board was copied by Charles Darrow and thence to Parker...
, claiming that the so called
Anti-MonopolyAnti-Monopoly is a board game made by San Francisco State University Professor Ralph Anspach, in response to Monopoly. The game was originally to be produced in 1973 as Bust the Trust but the title was changed to Anti-Monopoly.-Gameplay:...
game of an economics professor infringed their trademark. The dispute extended up to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled against them, saying that while they have exclusive rights to the game Monopoly, they can not prevent others from using the word "
monopolyA monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity...
" in the name of a game. During the 1980s, General Mills sold Parker Brothers to
KennerKenner Products was a toy company founded in 1947 by three brothers, Albert, Phillip, and Joseph L. Steiner, in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, and was named after the street where the original corporate offices were located, which is just north of Cincinnati's Union Terminal.Kenner introduced its...
.
In 2001, the company purchased Pillsbury, although it was officially described as a "merger."
Since 2004, General Mills has been producing more products targeted to the growing ranks of health-conscious consumers. The company has chosen to switch its entire
breakfast cerealA breakfast cereal is a food made from processed grains that is often, but not always, eaten with the first meal of the day. It is often eaten cold, usually mixed with milk , water, or yogurt, and sometimes fruit but sometimes eaten dry. Some cereals, such as oatmeal, may be served hot as porridge...
line to
whole grainWhole grains are cereal grains that contain cereal germ, endosperm, and bran, in contrast to refined grains, which retain only the endosperm. Whole grains can generally be sprouted while refined grains generally will not sprout. Whole-meal products are made by grinding whole grains in order to make...
. According to nutritionists, whole grains are a much healthier choice when choosing grain products. The company also started manufacturing their kid-targeted cereals with less sugar. General Mills has reduced the level of sugar to all cereals advertised to children to 11 grams.
General Mills' recent marketing to children included the advergame Millsberry, a virtual city that included games featuring General Mills products. The site launched in August 2004 and ran through December 2010. It was finally retired on December 31, 2010.
As of December 31, 2010, General Mills was ranked #166 in the Fortune 500 and was the third-largest food company in the United States.
Engineering milestones
- 1930s: General Mills engineer, Thomas R. James, creates the puffing gun, which inflates or distorts cereal pieces into puffed up shapes. This new technology was used in 1937 to create Kix cereal and in 1941 to create Cheerioats (known today as Cheerios).
- 1939: General Mills engineer Helmer Anderson creates the Anderson sealer. This new device allowed for bags of flour to be sealed with glue instead of just being tied with a string.
- 1956, General Mills creates the tear-strip for easily opening packages
- 1962: NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
astronaut Scott CarpenterMalcolm Scott Carpenter is an American engineer, former test pilot, astronaut, and aquanaut. He is best known as one of the original seven astronauts selected for NASA's Project Mercury in April 1959....
carries solid space foodSpace food is food products, specially created and processed for consumption by astronauts in outer space. The food has specific requirements of providing balanced nutrition for the health of individuals working in space, while being easy and safe to store, prepare and consume in the machinery...
, developed by Pillsbury, aboard Aurora 7. Taking Pillsbury scientists more than a year to develop, the space food cubes were followed by other space-friendly foods, such as non-crumbly cake, relish that could be served in slices, and meat that needed no refrigeration.
Corporate governance
, General Mills senior leadership team include:
- Kendall J. Powell
Kendall J. Powell is an American businessman who has served as chief executive officer of General Mills since September, 2007. Since joining the Minnesota based company in 1979, he has held various positions, including President and Chief operating officer. He also serves on the board of medical...
: Chief Executive OfficerA chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
; Chairman of the BoardThe Chairman of the Board is a seat of office in an organization, especially of corporations.Chairman of the Board may also refer to:*Chairman of the Board , a 1998 film*Chairmen of the Board , a 1970s American soul music group...
- Y. Marc Belton: Executive Vice President, Worldwide Health, Brand and New Business Development
- John Church: Senior Vice President, Supply Chain
A supply chain is a system of organizations, people, technology, activities, information and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer. Supply chain activities transform natural resources, raw materials and components into a finished product that is delivered to...
- Michael L. Davis: Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources
Human resources is a term used to describe the individuals who make up the workforce of an organization, although it is also applied in labor economics to, for example, business sectors or even whole nations...
- Peter C. Erickson: Senior Vice President, Innovation, Technology and Quality
- Ian R. Friendly: Executive Vice President; Chief Operating Officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
, U.S. Retail
- Donal L. Mulligan: Executive Vice President; Chief Financial Officer
The chief financial officer or Chief financial and operating officer is a corporate officer primarily responsible for managing the financial risks of the corporation. This officer is also responsible for financial planning and record-keeping, as well as financial reporting to higher management...
- Christopher D. O’Leary: Executive Vice President; Chief Operating Officer, International
- Roderick A. Palmore: Executive Vice President; General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
, Chief Compliance and Risk ManagementRisk management is the identification, assessment, and prioritization of risks followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of unfortunate events or to maximize the realization of opportunities...
Officer
- Jeffrey J. Rotsch: Executive Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Channel Development
- Christina L. Shea: Senior Vice President, External Relations; President, General Mills Community Action and Foundation
General Mills brands
Breakfast cereals include Basic 4, Boo Berry, Buc Wheats,
CheeriosCheerios is a brand of breakfast cereal by General Mills introduced on May 1, 1941 as the first oat-based, ready-to-eat cold cereal. Originally named CheeriOats, the name was changed to Cheerios in 1945 because of a trade name dispute with Quaker Oats. The name fit the "O" shape of the cereal pieces...
and its variants,
ChexChex is a brand of breakfast cereal, introduced in 1937 and currently manufactured by General Mills. It was originally owned by Ralston Purina, and the Chex name reflects the "checkerboard square" logo of Ralston Purina. The product line was part of the spinoff of the Ralston portion of Ralston...
and its variants,
Cinnamon Toast CrunchCinnamon Toast Crunch is a brand of breakfast cereal produced by General Mills and Nestle. The cereal was first produced in 1984...
,
Cocoa PuffsCocoa Puffs is a brand of chocolate-flavored puffed grain breakfast cereal, manufactured by General Mills. Introduced in 1958, the cereal consists of small orbs of corn, oats and rice that have been flavored with cocoa. Essentially, Cocoa Puffs are Kix cereal with added chocolate flavoring...
,
Cookie CrispCookie Crisp is a breakfast cereal introduced in 1977 by Ralston Purina and attempts to recreate “the great taste of chocolate chip cookies and milk.” It is currently manufactured by General Mills in the United States since Ralston Purina’s spin-off of cereals in 1997 and Cereal Partners in other...
, Count Chocula,
Crazy CowCrazy Cow was a breakfast cereal produced by General Mills during the 1970s. The cereal was somewhat of a novelty item in that it had an unusual trait. The round, multi-grain cereal pellets were coated with an excipient of a drink mix. When milk was added, it would dissolve the powdered coating,...
, Fiber One, Franken Berry,
French Toast CrunchFrench Toast Crunch is a breakfast cereal launched in 1995 artificially flavoured to taste like French toast, by the General Mills company.The cereal pieces originally looked like mini slices of French toast, but General Mills changed the cereal to a style similar in appearance to Cinnamon Toast...
, General Mills Kaboom, Gold Flakes,
Golden GrahamsGolden Grahams is a brand of breakfast cereal owned by General Mills. It consists of small toasted square shaped cereal pieces made of whole wheat and corn. The taste is a mix of honey and brown sugar...
, Chocolate
Golden GrahamsGolden Grahams is a brand of breakfast cereal owned by General Mills. It consists of small toasted square shaped cereal pieces made of whole wheat and corn. The taste is a mix of honey and brown sugar...
,
Hidden TreasuresHidden Treasures was a short-lived breakfast cereal by General Mills. Introduced in 1993, alongside Sprinkle Spangles. The cereal consisted of sweetened corn squares that all looked the same, but were meant to be filled with a fruity filling; either cherry, orange or grape. Additionally, some...
,
Honey Nut ClustersHoney Nut Clusters aka CLUSTERS is a breakfast cereal manufactured by General Mills, which refers to the cereal as "crispy wheat & rice flakes with delicious honey nut flavored clusters." The manufacturer also points out on the package that it is a "low fat part of your heart healthy diet". A...
,
Jurassic ParkJurassic Park is a 1990 science fiction novel written by Michael Crichton. Often considered a cautionary tale on unconsidered biological tinkering in the same spirit as Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, it uses the mathematical concept of chaos theory and its philosophical implications to explain the...
Crunch, Kix,
Lucky CharmsLucky Charms is a brand of cereal produced by the General Mills food company of Golden Valley, Minnesota, United States. It first appeared in stores in 1964. The cereal consists of two main components: toasted oat-based pieces and multi-colored marshmallow bits in various shapes, the latter making...
,
Oatmeal CrispOatmeal Crisp is a cereal brand from General Mills. It consists of flattened oatmeal flakes glazed with a sugary coating. There were six types: Raisin, Almond, Triple Berry, Apple Brown Sugar, Maple Nut, and Vanilla Yogurt...
, Raisin Nut Bran,
Reese's PuffsReese's Puffs is a breakfast cereal manufactured by General Mills. Originally consisting of Hershey's chocolate with Reese's peanut butter flavored corn puffs, the two flavors were later separated as individual puffs in the same cereal. The cereal is based on the original candy...
,
TotalTotal is a range of breakfast cereals made by General Mills for the United States market. It consists of whole grain wheat flakes. Some varieties of Total supply 100% of the US Department of Agriculture's recommended daily allowance for each of the following different vitamins and dietary...
,
TrixTrix is a brand of breakfast cereal made by General Mills for the North American and by Nestlé for the European, South American and Asian markets. The cereal consists of fruit-flavored, sweetened, ground-corn pieces. They started out as round cereal pieces, but in 1992, they were changed to puffed...
, and
WheatiesWheaties is a brand of General Mills breakfast cereal. It is well known for featuring prominent athletes on the exterior of the package, and has become a major cultural icon...
.
Baking goods include
Betty CrockerBetty Crocker AKA: batter witch is a cultural icon, as well as brand name and trademark of American Fortune 500 corporation General Mills. The name was first developed by the Washburn Crosby Company in 1921 as a way to give a personalized response to consumer product questions. The name Betty was...
,
BisquickBisquick is a pre-mixed baking product sold by General Mills under their Betty Crocker brand, consisting of flour, shortening, salt, and baking powder ....
, Gold Medal Flour,
Jus-RolJus-Rol is a British manufacturer of frozen pastry, and related products such as sausage rolls and vol-au-vents. The company is owned by General Mills and based in Berwick-Upon-Tweed....
, Knack & Back, La Salteña, Pillsbury, V. Pearl, and
Wanchai FerryWanchai Ferry is a range of Chinese cuisine produced by General Mills. It consists of two product lines – recipe kits, which contain the sauces, flavouring and dry ingredients to make up a complete recipe when added to the consumer's choice of fresh ingredients, and in the United States they have...
. General Mills also produces fruit snacks like
Fruit by the FootFruit by the Foot is a fruit snack made by Betty Crocker. Fruit by the Foot was introduced in 1991 and is still in production.Fruit by the Foot is very similar to Fruit Roll-Ups , in its presentation of being rolled up within itself, but differs in taste, dimension and consumption methods...
, Fruit Gushers,
Fruit Roll-UpsFruit Roll-Ups is a brand of fruit snack that debuted in grocery stores across the United States in 1983. Research for the product began in 1975. Fruit Roll-Ups are manufactured by General Mills and distributed under the Betty Crocker brand in the United States and the Uncle Tobys brand in Australia...
, and Fruit Shapes.
The company's grain snacks include
Bugles, Cascadian Farms,
Chex MixChex Mix is a type of snack mix that includes Chex breakfast cereal as a major component. There are several commercially produced varieties of Chex Mix, as well as non-commercial, homemade versions of the snack. Though contents vary, the mixes generally include an assortment of Chex cereals,...
,
Gardetto'sGardetto's is a brand of snack mix owned by General Mills, who also owns the similar Chex Mix. The Gardetto Family Bakery was founded in 1931 in Wisconsin by Baptiste and Diane Gardetto and acquired by General Mills in 1999 however, according to the packaging the year was 1932...
, Nature Valley, and Fiber One bars. It also produces
Häagen-DazsHäagen-Dazs is a brand of ice cream, established by Jewish-Polish immigrants Reuben and Rose Mattus in the Bronx, New York, in 1961. Starting with only three flavors: vanilla, chocolate, and coffee, the company opened its first retail store in Brooklyn, New York, on November 15, 1976...
ice creamIce cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
outside of the US. Its meal products include
Betty CrockerBetty Crocker AKA: batter witch is a cultural icon, as well as brand name and trademark of American Fortune 500 corporation General Mills. The name was first developed by the Washburn Crosby Company in 1921 as a way to give a personalized response to consumer product questions. The name Betty was...
, Diablitos Underwood,
Green GiantGreen Giant and Le Sueur are brands of frozen and canned vegetables owned by General Mills. The mascot of Green Giant is the Jolly Green Giant....
,
Hamburger HelperHamburger Helper is a line of packaged food products primarily consisting of boxed pasta bundled with a packet or packets of powdered sauce/seasonings. The contents of each box are combined with browned ground beef, water and milk to create a complete dish. The product line also features products...
,
Old El PasoOld El Paso is a brand applied to a range of Mexican-style foods, including dinner kits, tacos and tortillas, sauces, condiments, rice and refried beans.Old El Paso products are marketed across the globe. The brand is owned by General Mills...
, and
Wanchai FerryWanchai Ferry is a range of Chinese cuisine produced by General Mills. It consists of two product lines – recipe kits, which contain the sauces, flavouring and dry ingredients to make up a complete recipe when added to the consumer's choice of fresh ingredients, and in the United States they have...
. It also produces
organic foodOrganic foods are foods that are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.For the...
s like Cascadian Farms and Muir Glen. Other brands include Frescarini,
LatinaLatina is the feminine form of the term Latino.Latina may also refer to:*Province of Latina, a province in Latium , Italy**Latina, Lazio, the capital of the province of Latina**Latina Nuclear Power Plant*Latina , a district of Madrid...
, Totinos, Jeno's,
Progressothumb|A can of Progresso [[brand]] [[bread crumbs]].Progresso foods is an American company that was founded by Sicilian born Vincent Taormina in 1905 and specializing in canned Italian food products, mostly soup and beans, sold since 1949. Up until the 1970s, it was a family-owned company...
,
ColumboColombo Yogurt originated from a family business run by Rose and Sarkis Colombosian, Armenian immigrants who lived in Andover, Massachusetts. Yogurt was first commercially produced and sold in the United States in 1929 by the Colombosians, whose family business later became Colombo Yogurt. The...
, and
YoplaitYoplait is a brand of yogurt produced by a company owned by two French holdings, SODIAAL and PAI Partners.-History:In 1964, 100,000 French farmers merged their regional dairy cooperatives to sell nationally. In 1965, two co-ops, "Yola" and "Coplait", merged, becoming "Yoplait"...
(51%).
Company locations
As of May 25, 2008, 79 facilities for the production of a wide variety of food products were being operated. Of these facilities, 49 are located in the United States, 12 in the Asia/Pacific region (8 of which are leased), 5 in Canada (2 of which are leased), 7 in Europe (3 of which are leased), 5 in Latin America and Mexico, and 1 in South Africa. Principal production facilities are located in
Albuquerque, New MexicoAlbuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
; Belvidere, Illinois;
Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
; Carlisle, Iowa; Carson, California; Cedar Rapids, Iowa;
Covington, GeorgiaCovington is a city in Newton County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 13,118. The city is the county seat of Newton County...
; Golden Valley, Minnesota; Great Falls, Montana; Hannibal, Missouri; Irapuato, Mexico; Kansas City, Missouri; Lodi, California;
Milwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
;
Murfreesboro, TennesseeMurfreesboro is a city in and the county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 108,755 according to the United States Census Bureau's 2010 U.S. Census, up from 68,816 residents certified during the 2000 census. The center of population of Tennessee is located in...
; New Albany, Indiana; Reed City, Michigan; Vineland, New Jersey; Wellston, Ohio; and a branch in
West Chicago, IllinoisWest Chicago is a city in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 23,469 at the 2000 census. It was formerly named Turner Junction after its founder, John B. Turner, president of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad in 1855...
. International bakeries and food service facilities include Arras, France; Berwick, United Kingdom; Cagua, Venezuela; Guangzhou, China; Rooty Hill, Australia; and San Adrian, Spain. General Mills also has an IT division at Mumbai, India. Their prominent brand in India is Pillsbury although they have just opened an ice cream parlour of Häagen Dazs Ice creams in the capital city of Delhi.
See also
- DSV Alvin
Alvin is a manned deep-ocean research submersible owned by the United States Navy and operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. The vehicle was built by General Mills' Electronics Group in the same factory used to manufacture breakfast cereal-producing...
, deep-ocean research submersible owned by the United States Navy. Constructed by General Mills.
- Washburn "A" Mill, a former General Mills production facility that now houses the Mill City Museum.
- Betty Crocker Kitchens
The Betty Crocker Kitchens are the test kitchens at the world headquarters of General Mills in Golden Valley, Minnesota.- External links :*...
- List of food companies
External links