58-399: Honey Nut Cheerios is a variation of Cheerios breakfast cereal , introduced in 1979. Honey Nut Cheerios is sweeter than the original, with a honey and almond flavor. While Honey Nut Cheerios used to be made with actual nuts, as of 2006, the nuts were discontinued, and natural flavor, from peach and apricot pit is used instead . In 2011, Honey Nut Cheerios was the best-selling cereal in
116-535: A "mischaracterization". The change in terms resulted in a massive backlash of protests via consumer groups and social media, and General Mills reverted the terms back to the original content after only a few days. On 12 February 2020, the United Nations published a database of companies doing business related in the West Bank , including East Jerusalem , as well as in the occupied Golan Heights . General Mills
174-445: A fee of around $ 820 million, as part of its strategy to expand in the US natural foods market. In October 2014, General Mills announced plans to cut 700 to 800 jobs, mostly in U.S., in corporate restructuring planned to be completed by the end of 2015. In 2015, citing climate change, General Mills promised to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 28 percent over 10 years. In December 2016,
232-557: A few companies to pay a dividend every year since its founding. In the 1930s, General Mills engineer, Thomas R. James, created the puffing gun, which inflated or distorted cereal pieces into puffed-up shapes. This new technology was used in 1937 to create Kix cereal and in 1941 to create Cheerioats (known today as Cheerios). In 1939, General Mills engineer Helmer Anderson created the Anderson sealer. This new device allowed for bags of flour to be sealed with glue instead of just being tied with
290-583: A five-unit restaurant company called Red Lobster and expanded it nationwide. Soon, a division of General Mills titled General Mills Restaurants developed to take charge of the Red Lobster chain. In 1980, General Mills acquired the California-based Good Earth health food restaurant chain. The company eventually converted the restaurants into other chain restaurants they were operating, such as Red Lobster. In 1982, General Mills Restaurants founded
348-520: A flour dust explosion along with five nearby buildings, an event known as the Great Mill Disaster . The ensuing fire led to the death of 18 workers. Construction of a new mill began immediately. Not only was the new mill safer but it also was able to produce a higher quality flour after the old grinding stones were replaced with automatic steel rollers, the first ever used. In 1880, Washburn-Crosby flour brands won gold, silver and bronze medals at
406-615: A national contest to name him, dubbing him "BuzzBee". Several different voice actors have provided the voice of Buzz: originally voiced by Arnold Stang until 1992, he was then voiced by Hadley Kay , Billy West , George Trahanis, Charlie Schlatter , Jason Marsden , Oliver Wyman , Sam Heyn and Travis Moscinski. Buzz appeared as the host in the Honey Nut Cheerios Spelling Bee board game . Many of this cereal's taglines overlapped with each other. They were used on different advertisements. Honey Nut Cheerios maintains most of
464-558: A new Cheerios commercial, with the refrain "Good goes around and around and around." In May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada , it partnered with Food Banks Canada to do a tribute to food bank workers. Beginning in July 2021, a limited re-release of Cheerios cereal was made across North American markets by reusing the original-brand name "Cheerioats" instead of "Cheerios." Cheerioats used
522-495: A new Italian-themed restaurant chain called Olive Garden . Another themed restaurant, China Coast , was added before the entire group was spun off to General Mills shareholders in 1995 as Darden Restaurants . During the same decade, General Mills ventured further, starting the General Mills Specialty Retail Group. They acquired two clothing and apparel companies, Talbots and Eddie Bauer . The acquisition
580-601: A pet supplement business, Fera Pets, Inc. On September 12, 2024, General Mills announced that it would sell its North American yogurt division to Groupe Lactalis and Sodiaal. Lacatlis would buy the US brands while Sodiaal would by the Canadian brands which would be completed by 2025. The company has been associated with social media campaigns and education of dieticians promoting the "anti-diet" movement. This activity has been connected with helping to promote some of its own foods, which are high in sugar content. In April 2014,
638-479: A place on the CDP "A List" for both climate change and water security . On May 15, 2021, General Mills announced that it was acquiring Tyson Foods 's pet treat business, including True Chews, Nudges and Top Chews, for $ 1.2 billion. The acquisition was completed on July 7, 2021. In April 2022, there were increasing news reports and complaints that the company's Lucky Charms cereal was somehow making individuals ill, with
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#1732876779623696-567: A string. In 1956, General Mills created the tear-strip for easily opening packages. In 1946, General Mills established their Aeronautical Research Division with chief engineer Otto C. Winzen . This division developed high altitude balloons in conjunction with the United States Navy Office of Naval Research (ONR), such as the Skyhook balloon . In 1956, hundreds of General Mills balloons carrying reconnaissance equipment were launched by
754-399: A variety of housewares products featured in the widely distributed Betty Crocker catalog. The coupons and the catalog were discontinued by the company in 2006. General Mills became the sponsor of the popular radio show The Lone Ranger in 1941. The show was then brought to television, and, after 20 years, their sponsorship came to an end in 1961. Beginning in 1959, General Mills sponsored
812-814: Is an American multinational manufacturer and marketer of branded ultra-processed consumer foods sold through retail stores. Founded on the banks of the Mississippi River at Saint Anthony Falls in Minneapolis , the company originally gained fame for being a large flour miller . It is headquartered in Golden Valley, Minnesota , a suburb of Minneapolis . Today, the company markets many well-known North American brands, including Gold Medal flour, Annie's Homegrown , Lärabar , Cascadian Farm, Betty Crocker , Yoplait , Nature Valley , Totino's , Pillsbury , Old El Paso , Häagen-Dazs , as well as breakfast cereals under
870-430: Is possible if conditions are unsanitary. On May 12, 2022, General Mills announced that it was acquiring TNT Crust, a supplier of frozen pizza crusts, from Peak Rock Capital. On May 25, 2022, General Mills announced that it was selling its Hamburger Helper and Suddenly Salad businesses to Eagle Family Foods Group for $ 610 million. The sale was completed on July 5, 2022. On November 9, 2023, General Mills acquired
928-420: Is sponsored by Cheerios and a 50/50 joint venture of General Mills and Simon & Schuster . Mini-sized versions of Simon & Schuster children's books are published within the program when the book drive occurs. The program also includes a New Author contest; winners' books are published in miniature inside boxes of Cheerios. In 2009, Olympic gold medalist and World Champion gymnast Shawn Johnson became
986-499: The Dennis the Menace animated series based on the comic strip of the same name created by Hank Ketcham in 1986. From 1997 until May 31, 2004, General Mills sponsored and syndicated the first 82 episodes of the original Sailor Moon English dub (the remaining 17 of 82 episodes premiered on Cartoon Network 's programming block Toonami in 1998). The first venture General Mills took into
1044-770: The Rocky and His Friends television series , later known as The Bullwinkle Show . Until 1968, Rocky and Bullwinkle were featured in a variety of advertisements for General Mills. General Mills was also a sponsor of the Saturday-morning cartoons from the Total Television productions studio, including Tennessee Tuxedo . The company also was a sponsor of the ABC western series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp , starring Hugh O'Brian . The company, along with its subsidiary The Program Exchange , backed DiC Entertainment in syndicating
1102-541: The Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota . Cadwallader C. Washburn acquired the company shortly after its founding and hired his brother William D. Washburn to assist in the company's development. In 1866 the Washburns got into the business themselves, building the Washburn "B" Mill at the falls. At the time, the building was considered to be so large and output so vast that it could not possibly sustain itself. However,
1160-626: The Vortexx Saturday morning block on The CW Television Network in August 2012, special boxes of Cheerios were branded as "Vortexx O's," complete with the schedule on the back, and the wordmark plastered on one of the Vortexx promotional backgrounds. Toys were also included in the box, featuring John Cena , Iron Man , and the Pink Power Ranger . In 2017, Latrell James was hired to sing a song for
1218-536: The General Mills name, including Cheerios , Wheaties , Chex , Lucky Charms , Trix , Cocoa Puffs and Count Chocula and the other monster cereals . The company can trace its history to the Minneapolis Milling Company , incorporated in 1856. The company was founded by Illinois Congressman Robert Smith , who leased power rights to flour mills operating along the west side of Saint Anthony Falls on
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#17328767796231276-634: The Millers' International Exhibition in Cincinnati , causing them to launch the Gold Medal flour brand. In 1924, the company acquired a failing Twin Cities radio station, WLAG , renaming it WCCO (from Washburn-Crosby Company). General Mills itself was created on June 20, 1928, when Washburn-Crosby President James Ford Bell merged Washburn-Crosby with three other mills. In the same year, General Mills acquired
1334-656: The United Kingdom are not gluten-free. Cheerios in the United States are made solely from oats and, since 2015, can be called gluten-free. Many television commercials for Cheerios have targeted children, featuring animated characters (such as a Honeybee ). Bullwinkle was featured in early 1960s commercials, with the tagline at the end of the ad being "Go with Cheerios!" followed by Bullwinkle, usually worse for wear due to his Cheerios-inspired bravery somewhat backfiring, saying "...but watch where you're going!" Hoppity Hooper
1392-739: The United States government under Project Genetrix to surveil Eastern bloc countries, in particular their nuclear capabilities. The aeronautical work of General Mills done around the time of the Second World War was continued by Raven Industries . The General Mills Electronics division developed the DSV Alvin submersible, which is notable for being used in investigating the wreck of Titanic among other deep-sea exploration missions. Beginning in 1929, General Mills products contained box top coupons, known as Betty Crocker coupons, with varying point values, which were redeemable for discounts on
1450-401: The United States. Honey Nut Cheerios was the third variation of Cheerios introduced; Cinnamon Nut Cheerios was test marketed in 1976. There have been many other Cheerios variations, including Maple Cheerios, Chocolate Cheerios, and Blueberry Cheerios. Historically, Honey Nut Cheerios has participated in much the same promotional advertising as the original brand, while collaborating with
1508-531: The Wichita Mill and Elevator Company of the industrialist Frank Kell of Wichita Falls , Texas . With the sale, Kell acquired cash plus stock in the corporation. Shares of the new company's stock were first sold on the New York Stock Exchange on November 30, 1928, at $ 65 per share. The newly merged company paid a dividend in 1928 and has continued the dividend uninterrupted ever since – one of only
1566-524: The bee appeared on the box. Cereal boxes from 1979 without the bee are called 'pre-bee' and are very rare. General Mills has been active in the conservation of bees since 2011; in 2011, the company began investing in the Xerces Society to help promote biodiversity and pollinator conservation. In March 2017, General Mills announced the Buzz Bee image had been removed from boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios. Images of
1624-584: The business but it was floated on the stock exchange with General Mills's shareholders getting equivalent shares in Kenner Parker. This was more tax efficient for General Mills. In 1990, a joint venture with Nestlé S.A. called Cereal Partners was formed which markets cereals (including many existing General Mills cereal brands) outside the US and Canada under the Nestlé name. In 2001, the company purchased Pillsbury (sans Burger King ) from Diageo , although it
1682-495: The cereal as "heart-healthy" for meeting the food criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol content. Honey Nut Cheerios also contains more sugar (9.6 Grams/serving) than original Cheerios, which contain 1.2 Grams/serving. This sugar comes from brown sugar, molasses, and honey. Cheerios Cheerios is a brand of cereal manufactured by General Mills in the United States and Canada , consisting of pulverized oats in
1740-403: The cereal is suitable according to the box which states that whole grain oats lower cholesterol. The next scene features the father waking up as a pile of Cheerios spills down his chest, which the daughter placed there having taken her father's words literally. The commercial received unintentional notoriety due to intense backlash. This was so extreme that General Mills disabled further comments on
1798-411: The commercials, the characters become tired in the middle of performing an activity (e.g. taking a dance lesson, or playing tennis), but then another character tells them that they did not have a healthy Cheerios breakfast. Then, at the end of the commercial, the character would be energized, followed by children singing "You're on your toes with Cheerios!" The Spoonfuls of Stories program, begun in 2002,
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1856-571: The company announced it would be restructuring, splitting into four business groups based on global region, and cutting as many as 600 jobs. In February 2018, the company entered into the pet products industry, paying $ 8 billion to buy Blue Buffalo Pet Products, Inc. As of 2018, the company ranked 182nd on the Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by revenue. Having launched its first regenerative agriculture pilot program in March 2019,
1914-466: The company announced that it had changed its legal terms on its website to introduce an arbitration clause requiring all disputes with General Mills to be resolved in small claims court or arbitration and not as a participant in a class action . The change was made shortly after a judge's March 26, 2014, denial of a motion to dismiss a class action regarding the marketing of the company's Nature Valley brand products. Users would be deemed to accept
1972-471: The company announced that it would be making Cheerios gluten-free by removing the traces of wheat, rye, and barley that usually come into contact with the oat supply used to make Cheerios during transportation to the General Mills plant in Buffalo , New York , along Lake Erie . In the United Kingdom, Cheerios differ somewhat from their US counterpart, being made from oats , wheat and barley , thus Cheerios in
2030-404: The company has plans to improve soil health on 1 million acres of farmland by 2030 and has formed a partnership with Regrow Agriculture, a software and data analysis company that uses satellite imagery , weather data , and soil data to measure carbon sequestration in soil . In February 2020, General Mills was recognized by CDP as a global leader in corporate sustainability and received
2088-473: The company succeeded, and in 1874 he built the even bigger Washburn "A" Mill . In 1877, the mill entered a partnership with John Crosby to form the Washburn-Crosby Company , producing winter wheat flour. That same year Washburn sent William Hood Dunwoody to England to open the market for spring wheat. Dunwoody was successful and became a silent partner. In 1878, the "A" mill was destroyed in
2146-411: The field of NASCAR and especially driver Bill Lester , in promoting healthy diets. In 1985, Baskin-Robbins introduced an ice cream flavor based on the cereal called Honey Nut Crunch. Promotional tie-ins included gift certificates in cereal boxes and special Honey Nut Crunch sundaes in stores. The first 7 series of Honey Nut Cheerios did not have the bee mascot on the box, It was not until series 8 that
2204-578: The first athlete to have her photo featured on the front of the Cheerios box. The limited edition was distributed in the Midwestern region of the United States by the Hy-Vee grocery store chain. In 2013, a Cheerios commercial aired, titled "Just Checking," showcasing an interracial family in which a daughter asks her mother (white) if Cheerios is good for the heart, as her father (black) mentioned. The mother says
2262-421: The mid-1950s and continuing through the early 1960s, "The Cheerios Kid" was a mainstay in Cheerios commercials. The Kid, after eating Cheerios, quickly dealt with whatever problem presented in the commercial, using oat-produced "Big-G, little-o" "Go-power." By the late 1960s, there was a jingle called "Get Yourself Go" (written by Neil Diamond ), which played as the two used power to solve the problem. The character
2320-458: The most common complaints being gastrointestinal in nature, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The episodes have not yet resulted in a company- or FDA-initiated recall; an FDA spokesperson said they were investigating approximately 100 reports. These reports came as norovirus was circulating in some areas of the U.S. It is relatively rare for cereals, as opposed to other foods, to be contaminated by microbes, because they must be baked, although it
2378-616: The new box showed a white empty space where Buzz Bee used to be. Below the image of the bowl of cereal, a plea to "Help Bring Back The Bees" was added. This was to raise awareness of pollinator decline . In the announcement, General Mills made note that 30% of ingredients they use depend on pollinators , and that the company plans to expand their pollinator habitat to 3,300 acres. As part of the campaign, 1.5 billion packets of wildflower seeds were included in boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios. This campaign has struck controversy in some environmental communities. Kathryn Turner, an ecologist, commented that
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2436-484: The packages of seeds contain species that are invasive to some geographic locations, and urged individuals to become more educated before planting the seeds. Honey Nut Cheerios' mascot is an anthropomorphic bee , designed for the first commercials by Dean Yeagle at Zander's Animation Parlour in New York City. The bee did not have a name until 2000, when Kristine Tong, a fifth grade student from Coolidge, Texas , won
2494-503: The rights to use the term "oats". Cheerios' production was based upon the extrusion process invented for Kix in 1937. The oat flour process starts in Minneapolis before being shipped to factories in Iowa , Georgia , and Buffalo , New York. On 1976, 35 years after the cereal was first introduced, "Cinnamon Nut Cheerios" became the first alternate variety of Cheerios to be sold in stores. Nearly 3 years later, in 1979, " Honey Nut Cheerios "
2552-469: The same health claims as the original Cheerios, due to its soluble fiber . Package nutritional information asserts that "three grams of soluble fiber daily from whole grain oat foods, like Honey Nut Cheerios, in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease . Honey Nut Cheerios has 0.75g per serving." As with Cheerios, the American Heart Association certified
2610-419: The same ingredients as modern-day Cheerios but were repackaged in a throwback campaign to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Cheerios cereals being sold (1941–2021). In May 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent a letter to General Mills indicating that Cheerios was being sold as an unapproved new drug, due to labeling which read in part: The FDA letter indicated that General Mills needed to change
2668-609: The shape of a solid torus . In some countries, including the United Kingdom , Cheerios is marketed by Cereal Partners under the Nestlé brand; in Australia and New Zealand , Cheerios is sold as an Uncle Tobys product. It was first manufactured in 1941 as CheeriOats . Cheerios were introduced on May 1, 1941, as "Cheerioats". The name was shortened to "Cheerios" in 1945, after a competing cereal manufacturer, Quaker Oats , claimed to hold
2726-455: The so-called Anti-Monopoly game of an economics professor infringed their trademark. The dispute extended up to the U.S. Supreme Court , which ruled against them, saying that while they have exclusive rights to the game Monopoly , they cannot prevent others from using the word " monopoly " in the name of a game. In 1985, General Mills's toy division was separated from its parent as Kenner Parker Toys, Inc. There were many potential acquirers of
2784-513: The terms by interacting with General Mills on its website in various ways, such as downloading coupons, subscribing to newsletters, or participating in Internet forums hosted on the website. The New York Times stated that the agreement could be interpreted to additionally construe purchasing General Mills products at a grocery store or liking the company's Facebook page as assent to the terms; General Mills disclaimed that interpretation, calling it
2842-510: The toy industry was in 1965. The company bought Rainbow Crafts , which was the manufacturer of Play-Doh . General Mills's purchase of the company was significant because it brought production costs down and tripled the revenue. In 1967, General Mills bought the Kenner toy company. General Mills came out with their "monster cereals" in the 1970s. The cereals are now produced and sold seasonally around Halloween . In 1970, General Mills acquired
2900-411: The video. In 2014, General Mills released a Super Bowl ad titled "Gracie," featuring the same family: in the commercial, the father, using Cheerios to illustrate his meaning, tells the daughter that a new baby is coming, that her mother is pregnant, and the daughter accepts this—as long as they also get a puppy—and the father agrees, while the mother looks a little surprised. To promote the premiere of
2958-522: The way it marketed Cheerios or apply for federal approval to sell Cheerios as a drug. General Mills responded with a statement that the FDA had approved their claim of soluble fiber content, and that claims about lowering cholesterol had been featured on the box for two years. In 2012, the FDA followed up with a letter approving the Cheerios labeling and declaring that the matter was moot and required no further action. General Mills General Mills, Inc.
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#17328767796233016-498: Was also featured in ads in the mid-1960s; General Mills was the primary sponsor of his animated program. This cartoon character, a cheery young girl, was seen in 1942–1943 magazine advertising and Sunday newspaper's comics sections. These ads were multi-panel cartoons where Cheeri O'Leary interacted with entertainers of the day, including Charlotte Greenwood , Barbara Stanwyck , Dick Powell , Joan Blondell , Johnny Mack Brown , Betty Hutton , and Claudette Colbert . Beginning in
3074-711: Was introduced. General Mills sold approximately 1.8 million cases of Honey Nut Cheerios in its first year. Since their introduction, Cheerios have become a popular baby food . Generally first fed to children aged 9–12 months, Cheerios serve to help infants transition to eating solid food, as well as develop fine motor skills. In January 2014, General Mills announced that it would halt the use of genetically modified ingredients in original Cheerios. However, General Mills notes for Original Cheerios that "trace amounts of genetically modified (also known as 'genetically engineered') material may be present due to potential cross contact during manufacturing and shipping". In February 2015,
3132-704: Was listed on the database on account of the activities of its subsidiary General Mills Israel in Israeli settlements in these occupied territories, which some have argued is illegal under international law . General Mills's breakfast cereals include: Some brands are marketed outside the US and Canada by the Cereal Partners joint venture using the Nestlé brand. General Mills' past and current cereal collaborations include: General Mills cereals no longer manufactured include: The company's baking-goods brands include: It also produces fruit snacks , including Fruit by
3190-572: Was officially described as a "merger". Since 2004, General Mills has been producing more products targeted to the growing ranks of health-conscious consumers. The company has chosen to switch its entire breakfast cereal line to whole grain . The company also started manufacturing their child-targeted cereals with less sugar. General Mills has reduced the level of sugar in all cereals advertised to children to 11 grams per serving. In April 2011, General Mills announced that it will switch all 1 million eggs it uses each year to cage-free. General Mills
3248-622: Was ranked #181 on the 2012 Fortune 500 list of America's largest corporations, 161 in 2015 and was the third-largest food consumer products company in the United States. During June 2012, the company's vice-president for diversity stated that General Mills opposes a Minnesota amendment banning gay marriage, stating that the company values "inclusion". The company received positive feedback for its stand which might attract people to its global workforce. The company announced in September 2014 that it would acquire organic food producer Annie's Inc. for
3306-570: Was revived briefly in the late 1980s in similar commercials. In 2012, The Cheerios Kid and his sidekick Sue were revived in an internet video that showed how Cheerios "can lower cholesterol." Video clips of "the Kid" and Sue are part of a montage included in a 2014 TV commercial, along with clips of the Honey Nut Cheerios bee's early commercials. In 1984 and 1985, characters from the comic strip Peanuts were featured in many Cheerios commercials. In
3364-488: Was short-lived. Talbots was purchased by a Japanese company, then known as JUSCO , and the Spiegel company purchased Bauer. Spiegel later declared bankruptcy, yet Bauer still remains, albeit in a smaller presence in the United States today. From 1976 to 1985, General Mills went to court as the parent company of Parker Brothers , which held the rights on the brand name and gaming idea of the board game Monopoly , claiming that
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