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Inside General Mills archive

APRIL 2010

2011 ↓

Being green is easy for Green Giant   April 16, 2010
When it comes to making green claims for the upcoming 40th anniversary of Earth Day, the Green Giant message practically rolls off the tongue: “Green is more than part of our name. It’s how we think about everything we plant, produce and package.” 

Wheaties and baseball: a long, happy marriage    April 2, 2010
The brand's long association with baseball stretches back to Minneapolis’ long-gone Nicollet Park, where the phrase “Breakfast of Champions” was born.

MAY 2010

General Mills a ‘Top 5’ on Working Mother’s Best Companies for Multicultural Women list   May 27, 2010
Working Mother magazine  named General Mills as one of the 2010 Best Companies for Multicultural Women for the seventh consecutive year.

A gluten-free gift box   May 21, 2010
General Mills is offering a gift box filled with a sampling of several gluten-free foods, from Betty Crocker Gluten-Free brownie mix to Honey Nut Chex cereal.

'Flying Flapper' remembered on Wheaties May 11, 2010
When Elinor Smith Sullivan recently died, virtually every major newspaper obituary mentioned that she was once featured on the Wheaties cereal box back in 1934.

'Stirring Up Wishes' for a girl and her dog  May 10, 2010
Ten-year-old Catrina came to General Mills empty handed but left as a proud new owner of a golden retriever puppy, thanks to the Betty Crocker Stirring Up Wishes program with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Betty Crocker takes the gold at Edison Awards   May 6, 2010
Betty Crocker Gluten Free Dessert Mixes were honored with an award named for the grand master of innovation: Thomas Edison.

JUNE 2010

European facilities recognized for environmental systems   June 28, 2010
All five of General Mills' European plants have earned the continent's highest award in environmental management: “ISO 14001 certification,” which means they have met an internationally recognized set of standards used by organizations to improve their environmental performance.

Workplace honors continue to flow in   June 21, 2010
The Minneapolis Star Tribune and ComputerWorld have both given high marks to General Mills for its workplace environment. 

The Green Giant turns 50 this year in France  June 17, 2010
Of course, he’s better known there as Le Géant, an iconic character that most French consumers identify as a local, and he has much to celebrate this year, including a temporary Green Giant restaurant opening in Paris.

General Mills UK No. 8 in ‘Best Workplace’ survey  June 15, 2010
For the fourth year, General Mills’ business in the United Kingdom has been named as one of the top 50 places to work.

Leadership program helps train the mind  June 8, 2010
One reason General Mills has consistently ranked among the top companies in the world for leadership is because it has aggressively pioneered the use and development of cutting-edge leadership programs like the Mindful Leadership Program series.

Nature Valley ramps up support of national parks   June 7, 2010
Nature Valley is ramping up its support of U.S. national parks in a series of advertisements to underscore the authenticity of the brand and its commitment to nature – and natural ingredients.

National recognition for General Mills and its efforts in Africa   June 2, 2010
General Mills was one of four organizations to receive national recognition for its philanthropy work. At a ceremony in New York City, General Mills received the President’s Award for its efforts in Africa from the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP).

Harnessing wind power in Spain    June 1, 2010
Last year, the General Mills plant in San Adrian, Spain, switched to an electricity provider that uses only renewable sources such as wind power.

JULY 2010

General Mills honored for solar panel project  July 28, 2010
General Mills had its own political moment in the sun this July as the governor of Massachusetts and several state and local officials praised its Methuen, Mass., facility for a commitment to sustainable energy and job creation.

Betty Crocker iPad 'app' a hit with users  July 26, 2010
Betty Crocker may be a historical icon - she has symbolized General Mills' continuing tradition of service to consumers since 1921 - but she also embraces new technology.

Mobile environment earns more workplace converts    July 22, 2010
Spurred by the success of others who have switched to the FUSE working environment, more General Mills departments are making the change to FUSE, which stands for “Flexible User Shared Environment.” 

A 'Total' trip of a lifetime    July 12, 2010
The self-described “Bond Girls” are promoting the benefits of exercise and nutrition to prevent osteoporosis, a silent disease that affects nearly half of women 50 or older.   

General Mills brings home the gold and bronze at Cannes festival   July 11, 2010
Famed for its film festival that draws Hollywood’s elite each year, Cannes is also considered the toughest global stage for advertising creativity. 

Pillsbury launches new U.S. grocery category with ‘Sweet Moments’  July 9, 2010
U.S. consumers can now get a taste of a European-style dessert with the launch this summer of Pillsbury Sweet Moments.

General Mills joins Minnesota NASCAR for charity race    July 7, 2010
For the first time, the General Mills Motorsports team has joined with other Minnesota NASCAR sponsors to co-host an exhibition race Thursday, March 8 at Elko Speedway that brings top talent and a great race to Minnesota – and raises funds for charity.

AUGUST 2010

Smoke clears as innovative health program turns 25    August 27, 2010
Twenty-five years ago, the General Mills sales force, much like people everywhere, puffed away on cigarettes in the office, in the car, at the airport, and engaged in a lot of other unhealthy behaviors.

General Mills founder had broad impact in U.S.   August 20, 2010
Consumers in the 1870s wanted bright, white flour. And when the middlings purifier - a device used that removed husks from kernels of wheat - was developed to do just that, Cadwallader Washburn was happy to share the technology with his Midwest colleagues.

Untraditional video highlights thriving supplier diversity program   August 9, 2010
To showcase its commitment to promoting diversity across the supply chain, General Mills went beyond facts and figures and put a face – many actually – on its thriving Supplier Diversity program. To do so, the company turned to a nontraditional, nonprofit New York-based film school.

SEPTEMBER 2010

Shareholders applaud company success   Sept. 28, 2010
At the General Mills annual meeting, shareholders praised the company for its environmental and community work, and approved all four company-recommended items on the ballot.

Green Giant helps fuel orbiting astronauts   Sept. 28, 2010
Nearly 50 years after Pillsbury first packed a space lunch box for Mercury astronaut F. Scott Carpenter, Green Giant and Cheerios are helping to feed and nourish Space Shuttle astronauts – as well as those on the International Space Station – as they circle the globe.

Raising the bar on kids' fitness   Sept. 16, 2010
The General Mills Foundation will fund up to one million Presidential Active Lifestyle Award certificates for students across the United States. Partners in the initiative include the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, the Amateur Athletic Union, and Box Tops for Education.

General Mills in Working Mother's 'hall of fame'   Sept. 14, 2010
The company was named to the hall for appearing on the magazine’s work-friendly list for 15 consecutive years. And in 2010, General Mills was again ranked among Working Mother’s top 10 companies.

Second-largest cereal producer turns 20, with style   Sept. 13, 2010
The world’s second-largest cereal producer, Cereal Partners Worldwide – a 50-50 joint venture between General Mills and Nestlé – celebrates its 20th birthday this year enjoying volume growth and more than $1 billion in net sales.

Relationship with Red Lake students goes beyond mentoring    Sept. 9, 2010
Continuing a relationship born out of tragedy, two students from Red Lake High School in northern Minnesota visited the General Mills main office in Minneapolis for an event dubbed "A Week of Wow." 

General Mills links its expertise to effort in Africa   Sept. 2, 2010
Planting and growing crops isn’t a problem in much of Africa, but processing corn and soybeans into food products, and distributing it, often is. A General Mills-driven effort coordinates its business and technical expertise to meet the farm-to-market needs of four African nations.

OCTOBER 2010

Join My Village on Facebook: What's not to like?  Oct. 25, 2010  
A simple click on a Facebook page can mean a better life for people in Africa.

From koozies to costumes, new website delivers the goods   Oct. 15, 2010  
It’s easier than ever to find General Mills-branded items such as a Jolly Green Giant kids Halloween costume, Cheerios Racing Team adult T-shirt or Nature Valley water bottle now that Shop.GeneralMills.com is taking orders.

High achievements in training and development spell special award  Oct. 13, 2010 
The Jus-Rol Berwick facility – one of a handful of United Kingdom food companies chosen as a finalist for the Best Factory Awards – has received a "Judges' Special Award" for outstanding achievement. 

Official ‘Ironman’ cereal? It's Wheaties Fuel  Oct. 8, 2010
For the first time the iconic Wheaties brand has partnered with Ironman (officially the Ford Ironman World Championship), although this is not the first time Wheaties has teamed with the triathlon community. Champion triathlete Hunter Kemper is a member of the Wheaties Fuel co-creation team that helped develop the actual cereal product.

Finishing touches on home come with help from Jimmy Carter   Oct. 7, 2010
A Habitat for Humanity project that involves General Mills volunteers gets help from its most famous volunteer – former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

In the pink: campaign adds millions to breast cancer cause  Oct. 5, 2010
More General Mills brands are turning pink this month, thanks to Pink Together, a multi-faceted campaign that has added $8 million to the company’s support of the breast cancer cause since 2007.

General Mills Australia wins workplace award  Oct. 1, 2010
General Mills was named the “recommended employer” for the food industry in Australia. The award – the first for the company in Australia – is the latest international workplace honor for General Mills. 

NOVEMBER 2010

Books keep flowing from 'Spoonfuls of Stories'  Nov. 22, 2010  
After distributing almost 50 million children’s books in the past decade, the Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories program is still going strong with a new assortment of titles, actress Jennie Garth as a spokesperson, and First Book and Feeding America as donation recipients.

Breakfast campaign aims to keep girls fitter   Nov. 18, 2010  
For some, it’s a familiar refrain: Better health can be achieved through a better breakfast. But it might not be so familiar to teen girls. To change that, General Mills has enlisted the help of a teen actress and singer to help spread the word.

Support of veterans earns 'Patriot Award'   Nov. 11, 2010  
Brian Carey vividly remembers what it’s like to receive a package or a letter when he was literally half a world away and the conditions were as foreign and inhospitable as possible: 130 degree temperatures and blinding sandstorms.

General Mills one of the 'strongest companies in Greece’   Nov. 8, 2010  
The largest business information company in Greece has honored General Mills for its high credit rating, good business practices and quality relationships with external partners.

DECEMBER 2010

MLK Breakfast features another noted speaker    Dec. 29, 2010
Representing a new generation of leaders, Cory Booker, mayor of Newark, N.J., will be the featured speaker at the 21st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast at 7 a.m. on Jan. 17 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

General Mills joins NFL for Let's Kick Hunger Day   Dec. 28, 2010  
A record one in seven Americans is struggling to put enough food on the table, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. To help combat this, Facebook visitors to the General Mills Foundation's Let's Kick Hunger page can help with just a click of their mouse.

Who has the best laugh: the Jolly Green Giant or Santa?    Dec. 22 , 2010  
Is it Santa Claus or the Green Giant? You can be the judge in a 30-second digital holiday video that was created for the upcoming holidays.

Brought to you by ... General Mills    Dec. 3 , 2010  
Back in 1959, General Mills played a role as Americans watched a moose and squirrel soar toward earth on a return visit from the moon.

JANUARY 2011

Nature Valley works to restore rainforest   Jan 21, 2011
To help restore watershed rainforests near Manila and protect against climate change, employees, with the support of the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources, organized about 400 volunteers, who helped plant 11,200 trees last year.

Fortune bumps General Mills up the list of top 100 companies   Jan 20, 2011
Matching its highest ranking, General Mills has again landed on Fortune magazine's annual list of the "100 Best Companies to Work For," acknowledging the company's success at creating a great workplace for employees. General Mills is ranked No. 58. 

New cereal and yogurt entries could fill a grocery basket   Jan 18, 2011
General Mills is offering consumers a basketful of cereal and yogurt choices, and a new option for meals on the go.

MLK Breakfast speaker says 'stand up,' as others did for us    Jan 17, 2011
In remarks that were both humble and inspiring, Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, N.J., issued a call to action to attendees at the sold-out Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast.

'Feeding Dreams' finale explodes with heart, soul and success   Jan 17, 2011
This year’s third edition of the multifaceted “Feeding Dreams” campaign honored the 2010 Feeding Dreams Community Champions at an awards ceremony in Atlanta.

Slim down, tone up and fight hunger   Jan 7, 2011
Forgot to make your healthy New Year’s resolution? Want to slim down, tone up and help in the fight against hunger? General Mills does too.

FEBRUARY 2011

Donation highlights value of whole grain    Feb. 25, 2011
General Mills is donating 1 million servings of whole grain cereal as part of its effort to challenge Americans to increase their whole grain consumption.

Five key drivers will keep company on track, CEO says  Feb. 22, 2011
At the annual late winter meeting with analysts, General Mills leaders this morning highlighted two key components of long-term growth and reaffirmed that the company is on track to meet its fiscal 2011 targets.

From the General Mills Archives: Cakes for campers   Feb. 18, 2011
Baking a cake on a campfire isn’t easy. But 30 years ago, 800 Boy Scouts proved it could be done. 

Generating enthusiasm for family fitness   Feb. 15, 2011
Generating enthusiasm for fitness isn’t always easy, but a team of General Mills employees recently proved it can be done. 

Fighting the ravages of hunger through Project Peanut Butter  Feb. 11, 2011
On a frigid Saturday morning in January 2010, 36 General Mills scientists, engineers and retired technologists met in Minneapolis to hear about malnourished kids in Malawi.

Green Giant: Creating a ‘natural’ splash  Feb. 11, 2011
Green Giant is taking its decades-long commitment to sustainability public in a big way – with natural, outdoor  advertising displays in four major U.S. cities – to draw attention to its environmental heritage and a new  initiative to recognize “green giants” in communities across the country.

What's up front should help consumers make better choices  Feb. 4, 2011
A new front-of-package U.S. labeling initiative that General Mills is strongly supporting,“Nutrition Keys,” is a set of icons designed to make it easier for consumers to make informed food choices in the grocery aisle.   

It's a super day for food, too    Feb. 2, 2011 
Just when you thought your New Year's diet was safe, one of the premier food events of the year appears: the biggest professional football game of the year. 

Helping out, making friends, in 'The Big Easy    Feb. 2, 2011 
A routine business planning session mushroomed into an idea that has made General Mills memorable to a few families in New Orleans. 

New CPW Innovation Centre will aid nutrition research   Feb. 1, 2011 
The new $50 million Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW) Innovation Centre in Orbe, Switzerland, will strive to find new cereal benefits for consumers, including improved nutrition, taste and quality.

MARCH 2011

New website, CSR report unveiled  
Friday, March 25, 2011
The latest Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report and summary from General Mills – including a new website and more videos – was formally released today. The 86-page report details a number of company firsts on our progress in improving our health, community and environmental commitments.

TechnoServe honors Powell for company’s work in Africa  
Thursday, March 17, 2011
TechnoServe, a nonprofit organization that works to find business solutions to poverty around the world, last night in New York City honored Ken Powell, General Mills chairman and chief executive officer, for his leadership in supporting the company’s initiatives in Africa.

APRIL 2011

Cascadian Farm promotes clean water  
Friday, April 22, 2011
Though more than 65 percent of people in the U.S. get their drinking water from rivers and streams, nearly 40 percent of U.S. rivers and streams are too polluted for even fishing or swimming. Cascadian Farm is working to help restore U.S. waterways through its “Change Flows” Earth Day initiative.

MAY 2011

‘The One and Only Cheerios’ turns 70
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Cheerios isn’t just one of the early brands from General Mills. When it comes to cereal, it's also the most successful brand. Seventy years after its launch, one in every eight boxes of cereal sold in America is a box of "o's."

Minnesota governor reviews General Mills streamlining strategies
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
The governor of Minnesota visited General Mills for a firsthand look at how a company is streamlining its operations. Gov. Mark Dayton's intent was to learn how some of the same strategies could be used to make state government more efficient.

'The Green Awards' honor Green Giants  
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Reinforcing its legacy of environmental stewardship, Green Giant awarded “The Green Awards” to honor eco-innovators who are making a difference in communities across the United States.

She was a pioneer at WCCO, once owned by General Mills
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
When the Washburn Crosby Company (predecessor of General Mills) bought a Minneapolis radio station in 1924, company leaders knew very little about how to use it. But they knew enough to hire an experienced managing director. And she just happened to be a woman.

General Mills' sends relief to storm-struck states  
Friday, May 06, 2011
General Mills and its Foundation contributed more than $600,000 in cash and products to the American Red Cross for immediate relief efforts from the storms and tornadoes that have swept through eight states in the southeastern U.S.

Focus is on family health with 'Together Counts'    
Friday, May 06, 2011
As part of an ambitious effort that’s designed to reduce obesity – particularly among U.S. kids – by 2015, a coalition that includes General Mills has launched an array of tools including the "Together Counts" website.

JUNE 2011

The powerful legacy of Pillsbury  
Thursday, June 30, 2011
George S. Pillsbury, one of the last in a line of civic and corporate leaders bearing the Pillsbury name, visited General Mills and shared his trip down memory lane.

Blog takes visitors behind the scenes  
Monday, June 13, 2011
From Cheerios to Betty Crocker, General Mills brands have found success connecting with consumers through social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter and My BlogSpark.

$5,000 for winner of Betty Crocker gluten-free recipe contest  
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Consumers’ growing appetite for gluten-free baking products and recipes is the prime driver for the first Betty Crocker Baker’s Challenge Gluten Free Recipe Contest that is featured on a newly redesigned Gluten Freely website.

JULY 2011

New offerings make breakfast brighter  
Friday, July 22, 2011
General Mills has some new breakfast options, and is also providing some old favorites in a wider variety of sizes.

The giving trees of Irapuato  
Thursday, July 21, 2011
It’s safe to say no one in the company likes trees more than the General Mills employees and their families at our facility in Irapuato in the agricultural region of south central Mexico.

AUGUST 2011

Company named ‘40 Best for Diversity’
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
For the fifth year in a row, General Mills has been named to Black Enterprise magazine’s “40 Best Companies for Diversity” in America.

Families have more reason to get into the kitchen  
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Cupcakes are expected to be the fastest growing part of the baked goods industry for the next couple of years, according to research firm Mintel. Now, General Mills has devised a little twist on the cupcake – the frosting is inside.

New U.S. products from Yoplait cover dawn till dusk  
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Yogurt can be found in nearly 80 percent of U.S. households today, up more than 6 percent from 2005, according to market research firm NPD Group.

Flavors galore in new meal, soup offerings  
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
It’s no longer news that people are eating more meals in their homes. According to the marketing group NPD, the percentage of meals consumed in the home hit a high for the decade in 2010.

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