General Mills, Minneapolis, introduced this summer’s new product lineup.
"We're in a period of very rapid change in the food industry. And, consumers are very clear about what they want—simple ingredient lists, free from artificial colors and flavors, free from gluten, less sugar, less sodium, more convenience. This translates into very a clear set of growth opportunities for us," says Ken Powell, chairman and CEO. "We've challenged ourselves to go out and really understand our consumers, get into their homes, shop alongside them and listen to what they want. These interactions allow us to build greater intuition, which helps us move much faster. Our new product lineup demonstrates our ability to listen and respond."
To keep pace with the changing needs of consumers and to deliver new products to market faster than before, General Mills disrupted its approach to innovation.
"In order to support the growth we've planned, we have moved toward a more entrepreneurial approach to new product development, which not only speeds innovation, but [also] helps us put our consumers first and deliver exciting, relevant new products that meet consumer needs and drive topline growth," says Peter Erickson, executive vice president of innovation, technology and quality.
Wellness
Wellness is among the top consumer trends General Mills is addressing, with products such as:
Yoplait Greek 2% Whips!, made with 2% milkfat for a thicker, richer and extra creamy texture, available Vanilla Cream, Coconut Cream, Strawberries 'n Cream and Cherries 'n Cream.
Yoplait Petits Filous, which are squeezable, smooth, on-the-go yogurt pouches made with 100% naturally sourced ingredients, available in Raspberry, Strawberry, Apricot, Banana and Vanilla.
Mealtime shortcuts
General Mills solved the meal-time dilemma with convenient solutions such as:
Totino's Pizza Sticks, which are pizza sticks (sized bigger than the brand’s pizza rolls), available in Pepperoni and Cheese varieties.
Parampara dinner kits, sold in Europe, which consist of quality Indian-inspired dishes in Butter Chicken, Chicken Shahi Korma and Chicken Tikka Masala. The kits include spices, Basmati rice and chutney, and can be ready in 20 minutes.
Good Table Freezer to Plate, an innovative new meal kit that lets consumers use frozen chicken to make well-rounded meals in a pinch. Available in Teriyaki, Lemon Garlic Herb, Southwestern and Marsala flavors.
Tasty treats
General Mills introduced a host of snacks ranging from indulgent all the way to better-for-you, including:
Häägen-Dazs Stick Bars, now available in a number of markets, including the UK, Spain, Belgium and Italy among others, in White & Almond and Strawberries & Cream.
Annie's refrigerated dough (as seen here), is made with unbleached flour and comes in Cinnamon Rolls, Crescent Rolls, Flaky Biscuits, Chocolate Chunk Cookies and Vanilla Sugar Cookies.
Kid fun
General Mills launched a slew of products targeting younger consumers, tweens and teens.
Yoplait Go Big comes in a grip-and-rip package that lets tweens and teens single-handedly crush yogurt. Go Big yogurt boasts a 4-ounce wider tube, and comes in Strawberry, Mixed Berry, Peach Mango and Cherry.
Yoplait Yop, sold in Canada, is drinkable yogurt now in a Chocolate variety.
Pillsbury Hot Breakfasts is a line of Pillsbury for school menus.
