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Home , Betty Crocker, Bugles (snack), Cheerios, Chex, Chex Mix, General Mills

ACROSS THE YEARS

Our Brands

1930s 1940s 1941 1931 Cheerioats , a cereal is revolutionary baking introduced. mix, is developed. The name is changed to four 1933 years later. 1941 “Breakfast of The Lone Champions” Ranger, slogan is sponsored by created. , debuts on radio. 1933 Jack Armstrong, ¤ The All- American 1946 Boy debuts ’ test on the radio, sponsored kitchens are renamed by Wheaties. “The Kitchens.”

1936 The first official portrait of Betty Crocker is released. 1937 1947 Kix, the first ready-to-eat General Mills 1949 puffed corn cereal, is introduces its first The first Pillsbury introduced. cake mix. Bake-Off Contest is held. Chairmen 1928 General Mills incorporates 1948 on June 20, 1928. The stock first trades as GIS on the on November 30, 1928. 1931 1940 Teaspoon coupon offer The General Mills marks the first step in the Mechanical division development of the Betty is organized. 1929 More mills join Crocker catalog. the newly formed General Mills, 1934 1943 including West Coast’s Research laboratories The Mechanical division Sperry Company discover a cost-effective is recognized with four process for producing Army-Navy “E” awards 1948 and Detroit-based 1937 vitamin D. for excellence. Betty Crocker gave Larrowe Milling The company divisional Company. homemakers a recipe for structure is established, 1943 a radically new dessert – uniting subsidiary companies. General Mills Chiffon cake. establishes the Chemical division. Our Businesses

1950s 1960s 1970s

1950 1971 Betty Crocker introduces her first dinner mixes create an Picture Cook Book. entirely new grocery 1961 category. 1951 cereal, Pillsbury launches its fortified with 1972 entry into the refrigerated vitamins, is Pillsbury dough market with the introduced. introduces the acquisition of Ballard & Bundt cake mix. Ballard. 1965 The Pillsbury 1955 Doughboy The first Betty appears in his Crocker first television Search for the 1964 commercial. All-American Lucky Homemaker of Charms Tomorrow cereal first scholarship appears in stores. program is held. 1966 General Mills 1977 1957 announces , 1973 General Mills Pillsbury refrigerated one of the acquires U.S. dough is introduced. company’s first cereal debuts. licensing rights products. to yogurt. 1969 1959 Space The first Rocky and His Sticks touch down in the Friends (later called The 1977 Bullwinkle Show) grocery store aisle. Kenner, part of General cartoon airs, sponsored Mills’ Toy division, releases by General Mills. figures.

Harry A. Bullis Gerald S. Kennedy Charles H. Bell Edwin W. Rawlings James P. McFarland E. Robert Kinney 1959 1961 1967 1969 1977

1960 1970 The Bellera General Mills 1954 Air Spun purchases Red General Mills milling Lobster restaurants. builds its first process is 1961 Canadian plant. invented. James Ford Bell Research 1965 Center is 1953 1954 dedicated. General Mills 1979 The Ryan flight The General Mills acquires recorder is Foundation is Pillsbury acquires the Rainbow Green Giant Company. developed in established. Crafts. partnership with the University of 1954 1967 1975 . Operation Skyhook 1968 Pillsbury Totino’s is balloon reaches a General Mills passes go acquires purchased by record altitude of with purchase of game Pillsbury. 116,700 feet. company . restaurants. 1980s 1990s 2000s

1992 Pillsbury 2001 introduces Shape Pillsbury introduces a . 1993 new line of frozen Green Giant baked goods. introduces Create a 2001 1982 Meal! meal starters. The restaurant Milk ‘n Cereal Bars first opens. enter the market.

1996 Betty 2002 1983 Crocker Cascadian Farm Kenner introduces celebrates offers four Care Bears. her 75th organic cereals. 1983 anniversary. Fruit Roll- Ups roll out nationally. 2002 1985 Häagen-Dazs Toaster launches Strudel pastries debut. Crispy 1999 Sandwich in Go-GURT 1997 Japan. 1985 portable yogurt hits and Pop Secret grocery stores. join 2003 1984 General Mills. Berry Burst Cheerios explodes Pillsbury introduces 1999 cereals are introduced. into the Häagen-Dazs ice Bugles snacks are marketplace. cream in Japan. introduced in China.

H.B. Atwater Jr. Stephen W. Sanger 1982 1995

1985 1990 General Mills General Mills spins off its Toy establishes 2001 and Fashion Cereal General Mills acquires divisions. Partners The Worldwide, a to create one of the joint venture 1992 world’s largest food with Nestlé. General Mills companies. establishes Snack 1988 Ventures Europe, a The Specialty joint venture with Retailing PepsiCo. division is spun off. 1995 1999 1989 Pillsbury Gardetto’s and Lloyd’s Pillsbury is acquired acquires Pet, Inc., Barbeque join the by U.K.-based Grand including General Mills family. Metropolitan plc. and brands. Our milling roots 1921 Betty Crocker is created as a pen name for answering consumer letters to the Washburn Crosby Company.

1866 Cadwallader 1869 With his father and 1872 Charles Pillsbury begins 1880 The Washburn Crosby 1924 The Washburn Crosby Washburn builds his first uncle, Charles Pillsbury enters using four “X”s and the Company wins the gold medal at company introduces its first flour mill on the banks of the flour business, buying Pillsbury’s Best trademark on the first Millers’ International ready-to-eat cereal, Whole the in an interest in a packaging, signifying the high Exhibition, inspiring the popular Wheat Flakes. The name is Minneapolis. flour mill. quality of his flour. flour’s name. later changed to Wheaties.

1877 Washburn partners with 1903 Minnesota Valley Canning 1925 The Green Giant is John Crosby to form the Company (later renamed Green created to launch a new variety Washburn Crosby Company. Giant Company) is founded. of canned peas.

1878 Flour 1904 Washburn Crosby 1926 The Wheaties Quartet destroys the Washburn Crosby opens a state-of-the-art mill in debuts what is believed to A mill. A revolutionary new mill Buffalo, New York. be the world's first singing is built. radio commercial.