General Mills buys, sells; talks health
Diversified foods giant General Mills, Minneapolis, said it improved the health profile of products comprising 25 percent of its U.S. retail sales during fiscal 2010. Improvements have included adding whole grains, fiber and calcium, as well as reducing calories, sugar, sodium and trans fats.
"Our goal is to provide nutritious foods that -- when combined with exercise and activity -- can help people live longer, healthier lives and we're by no means finished," said Marc Belton, executive vice president, global strategy, growth and marketing innovation. "Consumers are responding very strongly to great-tasting, healthy foods and we're going to continue to push the envelope on improving the nutrition profile of our many products."
Officials noted that health efforts continue in the company's fiscal 2011. Among new healthier offerings are: Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers with Sauce. This line recently added a Healthy Colors variety, which is a source of antioxidant vitamins A and C, officials said. Elsewhere, General Mills is talking about new Yoplait Splitz, which is a good source of calcium and vitamin D at only 90 calories per serving, officials said.
In other news, General Mills said it is...
... buying a U.S. yogurt business. General Mills said it expects in early 2011 to complete a deal for Dean Foods' Mountain High Yoghurt business, a retail all-natural yogurt distributed in the West. Terms provide for Dean to make product (in 32-oz., 64-oz. and 6-oz. sizes) under contract for General Mills, which said it plans to keep the business and brand name. Officially, Mountain High will become part of General Mills' Yoplait USA division.
"Mountain High is an exceptional all-natural yogurt brand that brings with it a strong heritage of quality," said Becky O'Grady, Yoplait Division president. "We are excited about this opportunity to double our large-size yogurt business with this strong brand -- and we are committed to maintaining the great-tasting, all-natural Mountain High Yoghurt products that consumers love."
Mountain High was founded in Boulder, Colo., in 1976 and is currently based in Englewood, Colo., officials said.
... selling its frozen foodservice bakery in Australia. To better focus on its Australian retail business. General Mills Australia said it agreed to sell its Croissant King and van den Bergh's frozen bakery operations to Ireland's Kerry Group, a global food and ingredients company.
Officials said the sale includes frozen dough and pastry products sold to professional bakers under those brands -- as well as two bakeries in Mansfield, Queensland, and Camellia, New South Wales. General Mills said there are about 110 frozen bakery employees, who will transfer to Kerry with the sale, effective December 1.
"Our goal is to provide nutritious foods that -- when combined with exercise and activity -- can help people live longer, healthier lives and we're by no means finished," said Marc Belton, executive vice president, global strategy, growth and marketing innovation. "Consumers are responding very strongly to great-tasting, healthy foods and we're going to continue to push the envelope on improving the nutrition profile of our many products."
Officials noted that health efforts continue in the company's fiscal 2011. Among new healthier offerings are: Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers with Sauce. This line recently added a Healthy Colors variety, which is a source of antioxidant vitamins A and C, officials said. Elsewhere, General Mills is talking about new Yoplait Splitz, which is a good source of calcium and vitamin D at only 90 calories per serving, officials said.
In other news, General Mills said it is...
... buying a U.S. yogurt business. General Mills said it expects in early 2011 to complete a deal for Dean Foods' Mountain High Yoghurt business, a retail all-natural yogurt distributed in the West. Terms provide for Dean to make product (in 32-oz., 64-oz. and 6-oz. sizes) under contract for General Mills, which said it plans to keep the business and brand name. Officially, Mountain High will become part of General Mills' Yoplait USA division.
"Mountain High is an exceptional all-natural yogurt brand that brings with it a strong heritage of quality," said Becky O'Grady, Yoplait Division president. "We are excited about this opportunity to double our large-size yogurt business with this strong brand -- and we are committed to maintaining the great-tasting, all-natural Mountain High Yoghurt products that consumers love."
Mountain High was founded in Boulder, Colo., in 1976 and is currently based in Englewood, Colo., officials said.
... selling its frozen foodservice bakery in Australia. To better focus on its Australian retail business. General Mills Australia said it agreed to sell its Croissant King and van den Bergh's frozen bakery operations to Ireland's Kerry Group, a global food and ingredients company.
Officials said the sale includes frozen dough and pastry products sold to professional bakers under those brands -- as well as two bakeries in Mansfield, Queensland, and Camellia, New South Wales. General Mills said there are about 110 frozen bakery employees, who will transfer to Kerry with the sale, effective December 1.
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