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We started with two flour mills in the 1860s and revolutionized the milling industry, producing flour with superior baking properties.
By the 1960s, we were marketing beloved children's products that included Play-Doh, Easy Bake Ovens, Spirograph, Monopoly and Nerf balls.
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In between, we became involved with such memorable characters as Betty Crocker, Bullwinkle, the Lone Ranger and the Pillsbury Doughboy.
And no one could have written a movie script about what happened when our Wheaties brand began sponsoring baseball radio broadcasts in 1933, when the cereal became known as The Breakfast of Champions.
One of our announcers, Ronald "Dutch" Reagan was voted the country's most popular Wheaties baseball announcer in 1937, which earned him a free trip to California. He traveled from Des Moines, Iowa, for a screen test, became a Hollywood star and, as you know, eventually was elected president of the United States.
You might not know that when oceanographer Robert Ballard explored the sunken Titanic in 1985, he had some help from ALVIN, a three-person submarine designed and built at General Mills in the early 1960s. ALVIN made 11 dives to that Titanic site.
These days, our focus is on food — making lives around the world healthier, easier and richer.
If you have a greater curiosity or questions about our past, the following fact sheets - in Adobe PDF format - provide more details.
Our Milling Roots and Beyond |
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General Mills traces its roots to the banks of the Mississippi River in what is now Minneapolis. Harnessing the power of St. Anthony Falls, Cadwallader Washburn built one of the leading milling companies in the world. John Crosby eventually became his partner, forming the Washburn Crosby Company. In 1928, Washburn Crosby merged with other regional millers to become General Mills.
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Factsheet [ Acrobat 175 K ] |
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The Pillsbury Doughboy |
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Giggling his way to spokescharacter superstardom, Poppin' Fresh, the Pillsbury Doughboy, first introduced himself to TV viewers across the nation in 1965. Announcing "Hi, I'm Poppin' Fresh," he sang, "Nothin' says lovin' like something from the oven, and Pillsbury says it best." Since his creation, the Pillsbury Doughboy has become one of history's most popular advertising icons.
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Factsheet [ Acrobat 131 K ] |
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Green Giant |
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When the Minnesota Valley Canning Company named its new, extra-large green pea variety "Green Giant," no one dreamed that one day it would become the company's name. Today, the Green Giant and his helper, Sprout; still live happily in their valley growing vegetables picked at the peak of freshness. Green Giant has been part of General Mills since 2001.
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Factsheet [ Acrobat 131 K ] |
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The Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest |
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In 1949, Pillsbury Mills, Inc. held the "Grand National Recipe and Baking Contest" to celebrate the company's 80th birthday. The response was overwhelming, and the Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest was born. Over the years, the Bake-Off Contest has produced winning recipes that have become classics.
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Factsheet [ Acrobat 127 K ] |
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Betty Crocker |
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Began as a pen name in 1921 to answer cooking-related questions that were sent to the Washburn Crosby Company, predecessor of General Mills. This advertising icon has grown to become one of the more recognizable brands in the grocery store.
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Factsheet [ Acrobat 217 K ] |
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Wheaties |
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Like many great inventions, Wheaties cereal was discovered by accident. A health clinician spilled bran gruel on a hot stove. The mixture crackled and sizzled into a crisp flake, and it tasted great. The clinician brought the idea to the Washburn Crosby Company in 1924, launching the cereal that later became The Breakfast of Champions.
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Factsheet [ Acrobat 294 K ] |
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Bisquick |
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Baking mixes are standard these days, but Bisquick was a revolutionary product in 1931. Never before had a pre-mixed baking mix appeared on grocery shelves. Consumers loved it, and Bisquick remains the category leader today.
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Factsheet [ Acrobat 200 K ] |
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Radio and TV |
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General Mills was a broadcasting pioneer, purchasing a fledgling radio station in Minneapolis in 1924. The company's radio programs included the Betty Crocker Cooking School of the Air; Jack Armstrong, The All-American Boy; and The Lone Ranger. A Wheaties radio baseball sponsorship even helped a young broadcaster named Ronald Reagan find his way to Hollywood.
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Factsheet [ Acrobat 241 K ] |
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General Mills: History of Innovation |
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From flour to submarines, from toys to restaurants, General Mills has been making a difference in people's lives for more than 75 years.
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