General Mills Corporate Communications
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MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota - General Mills (NYSE: GIS) today released its 2021 Global Responsibility Report, which highlights social and environmental progress made in the 2020 fiscal year, ending May 31, 2020. The annual update, which marks 51 years of reporting for the company, features actions and outcomes across four areas: Food, Planet, People and Community.
“Everything we do at General Mills connects back to our purpose of making food the world loves,” said Jeff Harmening, chairman and CEO, General Mills. “The events of this past year - COVID-19 and the racial injustice and social equity movements - reaffirmed our belief that our scale brings opportunity and responsibility. We can and are doing good things that impact our people, our planet and the communities we serve.”
In 2020, General Mills continued to make food with passion for families around the world, achieved sustainably sourcing 100% of its top 10 priority ingredients, advanced regenerative agriculture practices on farmland, reduced its greenhouse gas emissions footprint, enabled 7 billion meals around the world through philanthropic partners and food donations during a heightened time of need, and deepened inclusion and diversity commitments inside-and-outside the company’s walls.
“Our business is rooted in the earth and in order to make food for future generations, we believe we can no longer simply sustain earth’s resources, we need to regenerate them,” said Mary Jane Melendez, chief Sustainability and Social Impact officer, General Mills. “In the past year, we accelerated farmer adoption of regenerative agriculture practices on more than 70,000 acres in key regions where we source ingredients, getting us closer to our 1 million acres commitment by 2030 and measured positive environmental, social and economic outcomes.”
Everything we do at General Mills connects back to our purpose of making food the world loves. The events of this past year - COVID-19 and the racial injustice and social equity movements - reaffirmed our belief that our scale brings opportunity and responsibility. We can and are doing good things that impact our people, our planet and the communities we serve.
As the COVID-19 pandemic increased food insecurity around the world and at-home food demand elevated, General Mills’ purpose, in effect, expanded to ‘making food the world loves ... (and needs).’ The company innovated within its food portfolio to delight consumers and meet their diverse interests and needs - representing nutrition-forward options, affordability and accessibility. Progress includes:
Regenerating the earth’s natural resources is both a business and environmental imperative for General Mills. In 2020, the company enhanced its existing commitments with a set of 2030 ambitions to promote regeneration. Progress includes:
General Mills creates a seat at the table for all employees by fostering a safe, inclusive and rewarding workplace, and seeks to make a positive impact with its people and its communities. Progress includes:
General Mills and its Foundation are deeply committed to serving its global communities, and remain anchored in advancing equity to build strong, resilient and food-secure communities. Progress includes:
General Mills’ commitment to reporting global progress in areas of social and environmental importance is unwavering. This past year, General Mills grew more responsive, more aware, and more committed than ever to be there for its people, the planet and communities around the world. In 2021, General Mills will focus on continuing its progress to better our future.
General Mills makes food the world loves. The company is guided by its Accelerate strategy to drive shareholder value by boldly building its brands, relentlessly innovating, unleashing its scale and being a force for good. Its portfolio of beloved brands includes household names such as Cheerios, Nature Valley, Blue Buffalo, Häagen-Dazs, Old El Paso, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Annie’s, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, General Mills generated fiscal 2021 net sales of U.S. $18.1 billion. In addition, the company's share of non-consolidated joint venture net sales totaled U.S. $1.1 billion.
