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{{Infobox_Company
| company_name = General Mills, Inc.
| company_logo = [[File:General Mills logo.svg|center|100px|General Mills logo]]
| company_type = [[Public company|Public]] ([[New York Stock Exchange|NYSE]]: '''[http://www.nyse.com/about/listed/lcddata.html?ticker=GIS GIS]''')|
| company_slogan = The Company of Champions
| foundation = [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis, MN]] (1866)
| location = [[Golden Valley, Minnesota]], [[United States|USA]]; manufacturing facilities around the world
| key_people = [[Ken Powell]], CEO
| industry = [[Food processing]]
| products = [[Cake mix|Baking mix]]es, [[Breakfast cereal]]s, [[yogurt]], refrigerated [[dough]], [[soup]], [[pizza]], [[snack food]]s, [[ice cream]], [[soy]] products, [[vegetable]]s, [[flour]], and [[#Breakfast cereals|other food products...]]
| revenue = {{increase}}$13.652 billion [[USD]] (2008)<ref name=zenobank/>
| num_employees = 29,500 (2008)<ref name=zenobank>{{cite web |url=http://zenobank.com/index.php?symbol=GIS&page=quotesearch |title=Company Profile for General Mills Inc (GIS) |accessdate=2008-10-03}}</ref>
| homepage = [http://www.generalmills.com/ www.generalmills.com]
}}
'''General Mills, Inc.''' ({{NYSE|GIS}}) is an American [[Fortune 500]] [[corporation]], primarily concerned with [[food]] products, which is [[headquartered]] in [[Golden Valley, Minnesota]], a suburb of [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]]. The company markets many well-known brands, such as [[Betty Crocker]], [[Yoplait]], [[Colombo Yogurt|Colombo]], [[Totinos]], [[Jeno's]], [[Pillsbury Company|Pillsbury]], [[Green Giant]], [[Old El Paso]], [[Häagen-Dazs]], [[Cheerios]], [[Lucky Charms]] and [[Wanchai Ferry]]. Their brand portfolio includes more than 100 leading U.S. [[brands]] and numerous category leaders around the world.<ref>http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/health_wellness/Nourishing_Lives.pdf</ref>
==History==
[[Image:The Leading Flour-A0327-01.jpeg|thumb|left|upright|Advertisement, late 1880s]]
The company can trace its history to the [[Minneapolis Milling Company]], founded in 1856 by Illinois Congressman [[Robert Smith (Illinois)|Robert Smith]], which leased power rights to mills operating along [[Saint Anthony Falls]] on the [[Mississippi River]]. [[Cadwallader C. Washburn]] 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.<ref>http://www.angelfire.com/journal/pondlilymill/edgar.html</ref> Dunwoody was successful and became a silent partner. Dunwoody would become immensely wealthy and went on to endow a Minneapolis hospital, [[Dunwoody College of Technology|Dunwoody Institute]], and a charitable home in Pennsylvania, [[Dunwoody Village]].
In 1878, the "A" mill exploded. There was a flour [[dust explosion]] 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 Wheat]] Flour was replaced by this new flour.
In 1924, the company stepped in to take over a failing [[Minneapolis – Saint Paul|Twin Cities]] radio station, [[WLAG]], renaming it [[WCCO (AM)|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.
[[Image:Washburn Crosby.jpg|thumb|Postcard image of the Gold Medal Flour factory in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]] around 1900]]
Beginning in 1929, General Mills products contained box top coupons, known as [[Betty Crocker]] coupons, with varying point values, which were redeemable for discounts on a variety of house wares products featured in the widely distributed Betty Crocker catalog. The coupons and the catalog were discontinued by the company in 2006.
General Mills became the sponsor of the popular radio show ''[[The Lone Ranger]]'' in 1941. The show was then brought to television, and, after 20 years, their long-term sponsorship came to an end in 1961.
When [[NASA]] [[astronaut]] [[Scott Carpenter]] launched into space on [[Project Mercury|Mercury]] capsule [[Aurora 7]] in 1962, he was carrying with him the first solid [[space food]] – 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.<ref name="autogenerated1">[http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/company/GeneralMills_History_I_I.pdf 4677_Text2_17<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
[[Image:Mississippi-Minneapolis-20081005.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Former site of General Mills today on the [[Mississippi River]] at Minneapolis]]
The first venture General Mills took into the toy industry was in 1965. The company bought Rainbow Crafts, which was the manufacturer of [[Play-Doh]]. 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 [[General Mills monster-themed breakfast cereals|“Monster Cereals”]] in the 1970s. Two of the cereals, Frute Brute and Yummy Mummy, were discontinued from the “Monster Cereal” line in the 1980s.{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}}
In 1970, General Mills acquired a five-unit restaurant company called [[Red Lobster]] 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 Garden]]. Another themed restaurant, [[China Coast]], was added before the entire group was spun-off to General Mills shareholders in 1995 as [[Darden Restaurants]].
During the same decade, General Mills ventured further, starting General Mills [[Specialty Retail Group]]. They acquired two clothing and apparel companies, [[Talbots]] and [[Eddie Bauer]]. The acquisition was short-lived. Talbots was purchased by a [[Japan]]ese company, then known as JUSCO, and the [[Spiegel (catalog)|Spiegel]] company purchased Bauer. Spiegel later declared bankruptcy, yet Bauer still remains, albeit in a smaller presence in the United States today.
[[Image:Gold medal flour factory.jpg|thumb|[[Washburn "A" Mill]], the producer of Gold Medal Flour, now the [[Minnesota Historical Society]] Mill City Museum]]
From 1976 to 1985, General Mills went to court as the parent company of [[Parker Brothers]], which held the rights on the brand name and gaming idea of the board game [[Monopoly (game)|Monopoly]], claiming that the so called [[Anti-Monopoly]] 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 "[[monopoly]]" in the name of a game. During the 1980s, General Mills sold Parker Brothers to [[Kenner]].
In 2001, the company purchased [[Pillsbury Company|Pillsbury]], although it was officially described as a "merger." Some of the cereals had whole grain, but in late 2004, the company transitioned its entire [[breakfast cereal]] line to [[whole grain]] due to scientific research showing the positive impact eating whole grains has on one's health.
Since 2004, General Mills has been producing more products targeted to the growing ranks of health-conscious consumers. The company has chosen to switch all its cereals to whole grain. 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.<ref name="autogenerated1" />
<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2004-09-30-whole-grain_x.htm USATODAY.com - General Mills cereals go totally whole grain<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/company/history.aspx General Mills: Our History<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
===Engineering milestones===
[[File:2009-0722-GeneralMills-hq.jpg|thumb|right|300px|General Mills' corporate campus in Golden Valley.]]
* 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]] astronaut [[Scott Carpenter]] carries solid [[space food]], 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.<ref name="autogenerated1" />
==Corporate governance==
{{as of|2009|08}}, General Mills officers include:<ref>[http://pvg.generalmills.com/corporate/media_center/biographies.aspx General Mills: Biographies<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
* '''[[Ken Powell|Kendall J. Powell]]''': [[Chief Executive Officer]]; [[Chairman of the Board]]
* '''Y. Marc Belton''': [[Executive Vice President]], Worldwide Health, Brand and New Business Development
* '''John Church''': Senior Vice President, [[Supply Chain]]
* '''Mike Davis''': Senior Vice President, Global [[Human Resources]]
* '''Peter Erickson''': Senior Vice President, Innovation, Technology and Quality
* '''Ian R. Friendly''': Executive Vice President; [[Chief Operating Officer]], U.S. Retail
* '''Donal Leo Mulligan''': Executive Vice President; [[Chief Financial Officer]]
* '''Christopher D. O’Leary''': Executive Vice President; Chief Operating Officer, International
* '''Roderick A. Palmore''': Executive Vice President; [[General Counsel]], Chief Compliance and [[Risk Management]] Officer
* '''Jeffrey J. Rotsch''': Executive Vice President, Worldwide Sales and [[Channel (marketing)|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 cereal|Buc Wheats]], [[Bunuelitos]], [[Cheerios]] and its variants, [[Chex]], [[Cinnamon Toast Crunch]], [[Cocoa Puffs]], [[Cookie Crisp]], [[Count Chocula]], [[Crazy Cow]], Fiber One, [[Franken Berry]], [[French Toast Crunch]], General Mills Kaboom, [[Golden Grahams]],[[chocolate golden grahams]], [[Hidden Treasures (cereal)|Hidden Treasures]], [[Honey Nut Clusters]], Jurassic Park Crunch, [[Kix (breakfast cereal)|Kix]], [[Lucky Charms]], [[Oatmeal Crisp]], Raisin Nut Bran, [[Reese's Puffs]], [[Total (cereal)]], [[Trix (cereal)]], and [[Wheaties]]<ref>[http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/brands/category.aspx?catID=19412&groupID=19412<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Baking goods include [[Betty Crocker]], [[Bisquick]], Gold Medal Flour, [[Jus-Rol]], Knack & Back, La Salteña, [[Pillsbury]], V. Pearl, and [[Wanchai Ferry]]. General Mills also produces [[fruit snacks]] like [[Fruit by the Foot]], [[Fruit Gushers]], [[Fruit Roll-Ups]], and Fruit Shapes.
The company's grain snacks include [[Bugles]], Cascadian Farms, [[Chex]], [[Gardetto's]], [[Nature Valley]], and [[Fiber One]] bars. It also produces [[Haagen Dazs]] [[ice cream]]. Its meal products include [[Betty Crocker]], Diablitos Underwood, [[Green Giant]], [[Hamburger Helper]], [[Old El Paso]], and [[Wanchai Ferry]]. It also produces [[organic]] foods like Cascadian Farms and Muir Glen. Other brands include Frescarini, Latina, Totinos, Jeno's, Progresso, [[Colombo Yogurt|Columbo]], and [[Yoplait]].
== Company locations ==
As of May 25, 2008, 79 facilities for the production of a wide variety of food products were being operated <ref>[http://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/displayfilinginfo.aspx?FilingID=6041332-58404-61361&type=sect&dcn=0000950137-08-009268 - General Mills SEC Form 10K, filed July 11, 2008]</ref>. 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. Principle production facilities are located in [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]]; Belvidere, Illinois; [[Buffalo, New York]]; Carlisle, Iowa; Carson, California; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; [[Covington, Georgia]]; Golden Valley, Minnesota; Great Falls, Montana; Hannibal, Missouri; Irapuato, Mexico; Kansas City, Missouri; Lodi, California; [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]; [[Murfreesboro, Tennessee]]; New Albany, Indiana; Reed City, Michigan; Vineland, New Jersey; Wellston, Ohio; and a branch in [[West Chicago, Illinois]] which is now a Mill Museum. International bakeries and food service facilities include Arras, France; Berwick, United Kingdom; Cagua, Venezuela; Guangzhou, China; Rooty Hill, Australia; and San Adrian, Spain.
== See also ==
{{Companies portal}}
*[[DSV Alvin]], 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.
* [[List of food companies]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.generalmills.com General Mills homepage]
{{General Mills}}
{{Minnesota Corporations}}
[[Category:General Mills| ]]
[[Category:Breakfast cereal companies]]
[[Category:Lists of brands|General Mills]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1866]]
[[Category:Food production companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Multinational food companies]]
[[Category:Companies based in Minneapolis, Minnesota]]
| company_name = General Mills, Inc.
| company_logo = [[File:General Mills logo.svg|center|100px|General Mills logo]]
| company_type = [[Public company|Public]] ([[New York Stock Exchange|NYSE]]: '''[http://www.nyse.com/about/listed/lcddata.html?ticker=GIS GIS]''')|
| company_slogan = The Company of Champions
| foundation = [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis, MN]] (1866)
| location = [[Golden Valley, Minnesota]], [[United States|USA]]; manufacturing facilities around the world
| key_people = [[Ken Powell]], CEO
| industry = [[Food processing]]
| products = [[Cake mix|Baking mix]]es, [[Breakfast cereal]]s, [[yogurt]], refrigerated [[dough]], [[soup]], [[pizza]], [[snack food]]s, [[ice cream]], [[soy]] products, [[vegetable]]s, [[flour]], and [[#Breakfast cereals|other food products...]]
| revenue = {{increase}}$13.652 billion [[USD]] (2008)<ref name=zenobank/>
| num_employees = 29,500 (2008)<ref name=zenobank>{{cite web |url=http://zenobank.com/index.php?symbol=GIS&page=quotesearch |title=Company Profile for General Mills Inc (GIS) |accessdate=2008-10-03}}</ref>
| homepage = [http://www.generalmills.com/ www.generalmills.com]
}}
'''General Mills, Inc.''' ({{NYSE|GIS}}) is an American [[Fortune 500]] [[corporation]], primarily concerned with [[food]] products, which is [[headquartered]] in [[Golden Valley, Minnesota]], a suburb of [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]]. The company markets many well-known brands, such as [[Betty Crocker]], [[Yoplait]], [[Colombo Yogurt|Colombo]], [[Totinos]], [[Jeno's]], [[Pillsbury Company|Pillsbury]], [[Green Giant]], [[Old El Paso]], [[Häagen-Dazs]], [[Cheerios]], [[Lucky Charms]] and [[Wanchai Ferry]]. Their brand portfolio includes more than 100 leading U.S. [[brands]] and numerous category leaders around the world.<ref>http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/health_wellness/Nourishing_Lives.pdf</ref>
==History==
[[Image:The Leading Flour-A0327-01.jpeg|thumb|left|upright|Advertisement, late 1880s]]
The company can trace its history to the [[Minneapolis Milling Company]], founded in 1856 by Illinois Congressman [[Robert Smith (Illinois)|Robert Smith]], which leased power rights to mills operating along [[Saint Anthony Falls]] on the [[Mississippi River]]. [[Cadwallader C. Washburn]] 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.<ref>http://www.angelfire.com/journal/pondlilymill/edgar.html</ref> Dunwoody was successful and became a silent partner. Dunwoody would become immensely wealthy and went on to endow a Minneapolis hospital, [[Dunwoody College of Technology|Dunwoody Institute]], and a charitable home in Pennsylvania, [[Dunwoody Village]].
In 1878, the "A" mill exploded. There was a flour [[dust explosion]] 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 Wheat]] Flour was replaced by this new flour.
In 1924, the company stepped in to take over a failing [[Minneapolis – Saint Paul|Twin Cities]] radio station, [[WLAG]], renaming it [[WCCO (AM)|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.
[[Image:Washburn Crosby.jpg|thumb|Postcard image of the Gold Medal Flour factory in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]] around 1900]]
Beginning in 1929, General Mills products contained box top coupons, known as [[Betty Crocker]] coupons, with varying point values, which were redeemable for discounts on a variety of house wares products featured in the widely distributed Betty Crocker catalog. The coupons and the catalog were discontinued by the company in 2006.
General Mills became the sponsor of the popular radio show ''[[The Lone Ranger]]'' in 1941. The show was then brought to television, and, after 20 years, their long-term sponsorship came to an end in 1961.
When [[NASA]] [[astronaut]] [[Scott Carpenter]] launched into space on [[Project Mercury|Mercury]] capsule [[Aurora 7]] in 1962, he was carrying with him the first solid [[space food]] – 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.<ref name="autogenerated1">[http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/company/GeneralMills_History_I_I.pdf 4677_Text2_17<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
[[Image:Mississippi-Minneapolis-20081005.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Former site of General Mills today on the [[Mississippi River]] at Minneapolis]]
The first venture General Mills took into the toy industry was in 1965. The company bought Rainbow Crafts, which was the manufacturer of [[Play-Doh]]. 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 [[General Mills monster-themed breakfast cereals|“Monster Cereals”]] in the 1970s. Two of the cereals, Frute Brute and Yummy Mummy, were discontinued from the “Monster Cereal” line in the 1980s.{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}}
In 1970, General Mills acquired a five-unit restaurant company called [[Red Lobster]] 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 Garden]]. Another themed restaurant, [[China Coast]], was added before the entire group was spun-off to General Mills shareholders in 1995 as [[Darden Restaurants]].
During the same decade, General Mills ventured further, starting General Mills [[Specialty Retail Group]]. They acquired two clothing and apparel companies, [[Talbots]] and [[Eddie Bauer]]. The acquisition was short-lived. Talbots was purchased by a [[Japan]]ese company, then known as JUSCO, and the [[Spiegel (catalog)|Spiegel]] company purchased Bauer. Spiegel later declared bankruptcy, yet Bauer still remains, albeit in a smaller presence in the United States today.
[[Image:Gold medal flour factory.jpg|thumb|[[Washburn "A" Mill]], the producer of Gold Medal Flour, now the [[Minnesota Historical Society]] Mill City Museum]]
From 1976 to 1985, General Mills went to court as the parent company of [[Parker Brothers]], which held the rights on the brand name and gaming idea of the board game [[Monopoly (game)|Monopoly]], claiming that the so called [[Anti-Monopoly]] 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 "[[monopoly]]" in the name of a game. During the 1980s, General Mills sold Parker Brothers to [[Kenner]].
In 2001, the company purchased [[Pillsbury Company|Pillsbury]], although it was officially described as a "merger." Some of the cereals had whole grain, but in late 2004, the company transitioned its entire [[breakfast cereal]] line to [[whole grain]] due to scientific research showing the positive impact eating whole grains has on one's health.
Since 2004, General Mills has been producing more products targeted to the growing ranks of health-conscious consumers. The company has chosen to switch all its cereals to whole grain. 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.<ref name="autogenerated1" />
<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2004-09-30-whole-grain_x.htm USATODAY.com - General Mills cereals go totally whole grain<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/company/history.aspx General Mills: Our History<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
===Engineering milestones===
[[File:2009-0722-GeneralMills-hq.jpg|thumb|right|300px|General Mills' corporate campus in Golden Valley.]]
* 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]] astronaut [[Scott Carpenter]] carries solid [[space food]], 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.<ref name="autogenerated1" />
==Corporate governance==
{{as of|2009|08}}, General Mills officers include:<ref>[http://pvg.generalmills.com/corporate/media_center/biographies.aspx General Mills: Biographies<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
* '''[[Ken Powell|Kendall J. Powell]]''': [[Chief Executive Officer]]; [[Chairman of the Board]]
* '''Y. Marc Belton''': [[Executive Vice President]], Worldwide Health, Brand and New Business Development
* '''John Church''': Senior Vice President, [[Supply Chain]]
* '''Mike Davis''': Senior Vice President, Global [[Human Resources]]
* '''Peter Erickson''': Senior Vice President, Innovation, Technology and Quality
* '''Ian R. Friendly''': Executive Vice President; [[Chief Operating Officer]], U.S. Retail
* '''Donal Leo Mulligan''': Executive Vice President; [[Chief Financial Officer]]
* '''Christopher D. O’Leary''': Executive Vice President; Chief Operating Officer, International
* '''Roderick A. Palmore''': Executive Vice President; [[General Counsel]], Chief Compliance and [[Risk Management]] Officer
* '''Jeffrey J. Rotsch''': Executive Vice President, Worldwide Sales and [[Channel (marketing)|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 cereal|Buc Wheats]], [[Bunuelitos]], [[Cheerios]] and its variants, [[Chex]], [[Cinnamon Toast Crunch]], [[Cocoa Puffs]], [[Cookie Crisp]], [[Count Chocula]], [[Crazy Cow]], Fiber One, [[Franken Berry]], [[French Toast Crunch]], General Mills Kaboom, [[Golden Grahams]],[[chocolate golden grahams]], [[Hidden Treasures (cereal)|Hidden Treasures]], [[Honey Nut Clusters]], Jurassic Park Crunch, [[Kix (breakfast cereal)|Kix]], [[Lucky Charms]], [[Oatmeal Crisp]], Raisin Nut Bran, [[Reese's Puffs]], [[Total (cereal)]], [[Trix (cereal)]], and [[Wheaties]]<ref>[http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/brands/category.aspx?catID=19412&groupID=19412<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Baking goods include [[Betty Crocker]], [[Bisquick]], Gold Medal Flour, [[Jus-Rol]], Knack & Back, La Salteña, [[Pillsbury]], V. Pearl, and [[Wanchai Ferry]]. General Mills also produces [[fruit snacks]] like [[Fruit by the Foot]], [[Fruit Gushers]], [[Fruit Roll-Ups]], and Fruit Shapes.
The company's grain snacks include [[Bugles]], Cascadian Farms, [[Chex]], [[Gardetto's]], [[Nature Valley]], and [[Fiber One]] bars. It also produces [[Haagen Dazs]] [[ice cream]]. Its meal products include [[Betty Crocker]], Diablitos Underwood, [[Green Giant]], [[Hamburger Helper]], [[Old El Paso]], and [[Wanchai Ferry]]. It also produces [[organic]] foods like Cascadian Farms and Muir Glen. Other brands include Frescarini, Latina, Totinos, Jeno's, Progresso, [[Colombo Yogurt|Columbo]], and [[Yoplait]].
== Company locations ==
As of May 25, 2008, 79 facilities for the production of a wide variety of food products were being operated <ref>[http://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/displayfilinginfo.aspx?FilingID=6041332-58404-61361&type=sect&dcn=0000950137-08-009268 - General Mills SEC Form 10K, filed July 11, 2008]</ref>. 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. Principle production facilities are located in [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]]; Belvidere, Illinois; [[Buffalo, New York]]; Carlisle, Iowa; Carson, California; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; [[Covington, Georgia]]; Golden Valley, Minnesota; Great Falls, Montana; Hannibal, Missouri; Irapuato, Mexico; Kansas City, Missouri; Lodi, California; [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]; [[Murfreesboro, Tennessee]]; New Albany, Indiana; Reed City, Michigan; Vineland, New Jersey; Wellston, Ohio; and a branch in [[West Chicago, Illinois]] which is now a Mill Museum. International bakeries and food service facilities include Arras, France; Berwick, United Kingdom; Cagua, Venezuela; Guangzhou, China; Rooty Hill, Australia; and San Adrian, Spain.
== See also ==
{{Companies portal}}
*[[DSV Alvin]], 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.
* [[List of food companies]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.generalmills.com General Mills homepage]
{{General Mills}}
{{Minnesota Corporations}}
[[Category:General Mills| ]]
[[Category:Breakfast cereal companies]]
[[Category:Lists of brands|General Mills]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1866]]
[[Category:Food production companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Multinational food companies]]
[[Category:Companies based in Minneapolis, Minnesota]]