“These grants will help expand food access and lend added support for many of our communities around the world.”. 04-Jan-2021 at 16:18 GMT. function sanitize_gpt_value2(gptValue) We connected with Jeanine Bassett, vice president of Consumer Insights at General Mills, to discuss the effects of COVID-19 on consumer behavior and food trends, including: Indeed, General Mills’ recently appointed NEC Supply Chain Director Victoria Cobos explained, food businesses are well versed in managing disruption – a circumstance that prepared the industry for the unique challenges COVID-19 would present. } From time to time, … General Mills said that an employee had a presumed case of COVID-19 and was self-isolating. “This is the time to shine,” Cobos enthused. Have an idea for a story you’d like to see on “A Taste of General Mills”? General Mills saw an especially strong sales increase, 75% percent from a year earlier, in its U.S. meals and baking category. At General Mills – with brands like Cheerios, Nature Valley, Old El Paso, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Blue Buffalo pet food, and more – we quickly became laser-focused on feeding consumers food they love in a time of need. General Mills beat sales and profit expectations for the three months to November, buoyed by demand for pet food and consumers eating at home during the coronavirus pandemic. The primary bloggers of “A Taste of General Mills” are members of the company’s Corporate Communications team. Subscribe to “A Taste of General Mills” by email – here – and we’ll notify you about our latest posts. General Mills suspended political donations to federal lawmakers who voted last week to override the results of the U.S. presidential election. With widespread community transmission and increased COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Maine, Governor Janet Mills today signed an Executive Order (PDF) that simplifies and strengthens the enforcement of the State’s face covering requirement. She expounded on the benefits digitalisation can bring, from supply chain and demand visibility to improved planning and iteration capabilities. At the same time, she has kept one-eye on the longer-term strategic direction that will turn the supply chain into ‘a source of competitive advantage’. Her immediate priority has been to help the team maintain business continuity and ‘stay the course’. As European countries began to implement lockdown measures to contain the spread, headlines focused on panic buying and empty shelves, delays to the transportation of food and fears that COVID-19 in the workforce could hit production capacity. The company has also launched an internal group, “We’re In This Together” as a space to support and serve one another while adhering to social distancing and stay-at-home guidelines. How do you establish the appropriate infrastructure to deal not only with the current set-up of route-to-market but also with the proper API [application program interface] connections and the likes with the e-commerce network.”. Only later did Mills publicly say she agreed with the court’s ruling. Watch this seven-minute video discussion with OEM's Natalie Craig. Our most important objectives are the continued health and safety of our employees and our ongoing ability to serve our consumers around the world. FIND COVID-19 RESOURCES >> Business Industry* Select Business Industry Bakery Business & Industry College & University Convenience & Retail Vending & Micromart Hospital K-12 Lodging Pizzeria Commercial Restaurant Distributor Other Retirement Living Travel & Leisure Business Industry is required. In this video Q&A, Chief Supply Chain Officer John Church addresses how the General Mills supply chain is responding to COVID-19. General Mills recently announced a series of actions to support its employees and communities in response to the impact of COVID-19, including: An opportunity for corporate employees to work at manufacturing plants. for a minimum of four weeks and will continue to be evaluated as the situation evolves. The General Mills Foundation has expanded its COVID-19 charitable response to $14 million, since March 2020, due to growing hunger rates, which includes an additional $4 million of supplemental philanthropic funding for nonprofit organizations working to … General Mills recently announced a series of actions to support its employees and communities in response to the impact of COVID-19, including: An opp vOut += aTags[i].trim().replace(reg, '-').substring(0,40); Email us at contact.blog@genmills.com. vOut = vOut.toLowerCase(); Since January, General Mills Inc. has been scrambling to stay ahead of the coronavirus pandemic, working to ward off the virus in its production plants while … So what will the top three concerns of European food businesses be moving into 2021 and beyond? For me, the number one thing has been to manage team energy and make sure we stay the course and stay focused. But, after two years of preparations and Brexit ‘dry runs’, General Mills’ operations across continental Europe and the UK are as ready as they can be, she believes. return vOut; General Mills employees who participate in the company’s charitable gift matching program have an additional $500 in matching foundation funds, for a total of $1,500 this year. The experience of COVID, she explained, highlighted a need for agility and created ‘clear gaps’ that can be met through supply chain digitalisation. We see it as imperative that we help ensure a steady and reliable food supply for people and pets.”. Have an idea for a story you’d like to see on “A Taste of General Mills”? The primary bloggers of “A Taste of General Mills” are members of the company’s Corporate Communications team. He’s also on the board of directors for Feeding America and Second Harvest Heartland. General Mills recently announced a series of actions to support its employees and communities in response to the impact of COVID-19, including: “Our company’s purpose is to make food the world loves. Dollar General says it will support employees who want to receive the COVID-19 vaccine — by paying them to get it. If you have a comment about our blog posts, or would like to suggest a topic, send an email to contact.blog@genmills.com. We have swine flu, climate change effects through natural disasters, general disruption when companies go bust or change hands in the logistics world. – and we’ll notify you about our latest posts. “Our company’s purpose is to make food the world loves. We urge Maine people to practice good hand hygiene, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay home as much as possible. Brexit has happened for the supply chain. Dollar General operated 16,979 stores in 46 states as of October 30, 2020. General Mills' fiscal fourth quarter of 2020 captured the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 16% organic sales spike from that period will set an extremely high bar. Consumers were forgiving back then. { General Mills and Tractor Supply among the companies that stand to make long-term gains from COVID-related ‘pet boom’ Last Updated: Sept. 26, 2020 at 8:48 a.m. General Mills' engineers Mariah Bohks and Jimmy Popp discuss virtual startups since Covid-19. for (var i=0; i < aTags.length; i++) Operations expert Victoria Cobos joined General Mills in early November, as the company grappled with the challenges of COVID-19 and the fast-approaching Brexit deadline. “Equally, we need the agility in order to move to demand shifts and disruptions, as we have seen not only with COVID but also with new circumstances that might come.”. } PACK EXPO Connects dedicated a whole hour to … { “As a company, we have the values, insights and partners to positively impact the lives of millions of people worldwide during this unprecedented time as the world navigates the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Mary Jane Melendez, president of the General Mills Foundation. Claudine Galloway is a corporate communications manager at General Mills, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. From time to time, we also feature guest bloggers from outside the company. var reg = new RegExp('\\W+', "g"); I don’t think they will be so this time. To support employees who are working at manufacturing plants during this dynamic environment, the company has created several additional benefits to support them and their families: The General Mills Foundation will donate US $5 million in charitable gifts to ensure the most vulnerable children have access to meals amid school and community program closures. I am very confident in our plans in terms of business continuity., “Right now, the industry in general is ready to move forward and deal with the aftermath. But you often see other contributors too, who represent a variety of voices and industry-leading experts at General Mills. There are very strong plans within our factory footprint in Europe to continue to reduce our impact on the environment.”. There are going to be elements of automation, efficiency, productivity, that are going to come into that roadmap to improve the new infrastructure so business is able to ease product flow, so we can go back to minimising costs and maximising speed and agility in order to serve our customers in the UK,” she predicted. Business, On sustainability within its operations, the Häagen-Dazs to Old El Paso manufacturer is focused on what it has identified as the ‘biggest opportunities’. “No surprise with the growth of e-commerce,” she said, noting that a number of questions remain for food makers: “How do you make sure it is not only an additional channel that you distribute for, but it is a channel for which you actually build portfolios? “The supply chain has always been exposed to disruption. }); The disruption wrought by the global coronavirus pandemic initially prompted widespread concern over the security of European food supplies. Other areas of focus include the carbon and water footprint of the group’s European operations. Firstly, Cobos highlights affordability. General Mills | Good Jobs First COVID Stimulus Watch Food Tech, Subscribe We will have to deal with the new requirements to go through border inspection points.”. Company officials said that other employees with possible exposure to … General Mills sales soar amid COVID-19 crisis, expects to exceed expectations General Mills announced that it expects to exceed its previously provided full-year sales growth expectations. General Mills: A U.S.-based food company. If you test positive: Please isolate immediately. “It has been a very long year that has tested the resilience of the team. to address childcare concerns, including flexible work schedules. “We lost a chance after the 2008 crisis to be able to race ahead and rebuild the way we do business. “For Europe, [Brexit disruption] is mostly going to be redefining what are the new sources of import and export that might substitute the UK… It will not be a top three priority for Europe but it will remain so for the UK business.”. As well as enabling technology, the digital transformation for the supply chain is a path that General Mills has been on for some time and definitely needs acceleration.”. These gifts include the Foundation’s previous philanthropic grants spanning Asia, Europe, Australia, Latin America and North America to increase food bank capacity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and supplement the $20 million in cash given by General Mills and its Foundation last year and more than $40 million worth of food product donations provided by General Mills to food bank partners to help ensure food security across global communities. Email us at, Subscribe to “A Taste of General Mills” by email –. She supports the General Mills Foundation and sustainability communications efforts. contact, 04-Jan-2021 Innovation and NPD, “As a supply chain professional, I am looking for continuous improvement. var aTags = gptValue.split(','); That is not going to take us anywhere., “It has been about staying the course with a clear set of priorities: COVID, Christmas, Brexit.”. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | manufacturing plants during this dynamic environment. PRIVACY POLICY | General Mills marketing boss on how 2020 meant working better with rest of business. “Everyone that has international trade between the EU and UK is affected,” she said. Company officials said that other employees with possible exposure to … Operations expert Victoria Cobos joined General Mills in early November, as the company grappled with the challenges of COVID-19 and the fast-approaching Brexit deadline. The federal government had been holding back millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses to ensure ... confirmed to me directly by General … Prepared foods, vOut +=', '; General Mills has temporarily closed nearly half of its Häagen-Dazs ice cream shops in China due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus. “When people think about sustainability they automatically think about the CO2 footprint and water use. Leaders at General Mills, Boll & Branch, and Nanotronics explain how, and what they’ve learned. Enhanced benefits for plant employees, including a daily bonus. Note that there are things we won’t blog about or comment on, such as commodity markets, rumors, competitive actions, financial markets or speculation. Do not wait for a call from Maine CDC to isolate. He’s also on the board of directors for Feeding America and Second Harvest Heartland. We caught up with her to learn what the Supply Chain Director’s priorities are moving into 2021 – and how she plans to make it ‘the year of the supply chain’. dataLayerNews.related_tags = sanitize_gpt_value2("General mills, Supply chain, Sustainability, Packaging, Carbon emissions, COVID-19, Brexit"); General Mills and Tractor Supply among the companies that stand to make long-term gains from COVID-related ‘pet boom’ Last Updated: Sept. 26, 2020 at … Finally, Cobos highlighted the importance of sustainability initiatives in the post-COVID world. For the larger EU market, Brexit is less of a concern. Thanks for visiting “A Taste of General Mills.”, ©2021 GENERAL MILLS INC | But the unique circumstances of today call on General Mills to make food the world needs,” says Jeff Harmening, chairman and CEO of General Mills. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‑19) Maine CDC is responding to the COVID‑19 pandemic, caused by a novel (new) coronavirus. B ut will these trend s stick once guidance is lifted in many countries related to staying at home?. Food waste, Mills presents budget to strengthen COVID-19 response, cover projected shortfalls, increase rainy day fund. How to accelerate the path towards sustainability in the supply chain would be one. Cobos said that the impact of Brexit, the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, and the disruption it will cause should not be underestimated. “All these details: visibility across the network, capability to iterate into forecast management. To ensure the company continues to safely manufacture food to service consumer demand, General Mills has offered healthy office employees the opportunity to provide temporary help in manufacturing facilities and support them in a variety of ways. General Mills supports employees and communities in response to COVID-19 The podcast also features Shawn O’Grady, group president of the Convenience Stores & Foodservice segment at General Mills. COVID-19 has forced a shift in how consumer s around the world are getting their food, what they’re eating and where. Gov. As a … Sign up to our free newsletter and get the latest news sent direct to your inbox. Related tags: The company’s latest COVID-19 response augments more than $50 million in cash giving by General Mills and its Foundation in fiscal 2020, along with more than $40 million worth of food product donations provided by General Mills to nonprofit food banks to help reduce hunger and ensure food security for people and pets across global communities. General Mills said that an employee had a presumed case of COVID-19 and was self-isolating. PORTLAND (WGME) -- The Mills administration announced new restrictions Thursday following an increasein COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and positivity rates in Maine. There are two or three things that come to mind that will give a competitive advantage. Coming into a new role, it would be very selfish for me to focus on accelerating my learning curve and accelerating a journey around change. We serve the world by making food people love, providing quality brands in more than 100 countries on six continents. In this case, everyone seems to have known what was coming, and General Mills … It also features employees who have dedicated their careers to the company’s mission: We Serve the World by Making Food that People Love. These concerns will form the foundation of General Mills’ strategic supply chain agenda moving into the new year. But joining General Mills as its supply chain lead for Northern Europe in the midst of the pandemic presented Cobos with some distinct tests. But you often see other contributors too, who represent a variety of voices and industry-leading experts at General Mills. Supporting employees and communities in response to COVID-19. General Mills Foodservice’s donation and all money raised by RERF will go directly to impacted restaurant workers who have lost their jobs and livelihood due to COVID-19. ET We are focused on doing everything we can to protect our residents against the spread of COVID-19 across our long term care homes and retirement residences through enhanced cleaning, physical distancing, the addition of staff where needed, universal masking for all employees, and the appropriate use of personal protective equipment. Agility and sustainability feature heavily in Cobos’ longer-term objectives and these priorities will shape General Mills' future supply chain initiatives in Europe. In the medium-term Cobos believes Brexit will continue to dominate the agenda for British manufacturers. General Mills has temporarily closed nearly half of its Häagen-Dazs ice cream shops in China due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus. Digitalisation, Covid-19 didn’t rewrite the rules of marketing for food giant General Mills, but it … General Mills supports employees and communities in response to COVID-19 The podcast also features Shawn O’Grady, group president of the Convenience Stores & Foodservice segment at General Mills. Subscribe, By Katy Askew Dairy, Additionally, the General Mills Foundation will support strategic community partners near its manufacturing plants, to ensure they are better equipped to face the challenging demands of today and the days ahead. That shelves remained, in the main, well-stocked stands testament to the food industry supply chain’s ability to flex in the face of significant disruption. Revera’s response to COVID-19. It’ s a testament to the dedication of our manufacturing employees working together to navigat e the se challenging times and the increased consumer demand at our grocery partners that we’re experiencing as a result . Bakery, MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — Three people at the Murfreesboro General Mills plant are confirmed to have COVID-19, according to a spokesperson for the company. General Mills makes gains in the U.S. and abroad due to COVID-related at-home eating habits Published: Sept. 8, 2020 at 8:21 a.m. “It is going to be a very interesting year as we move into 2021… We have all the right ingredients to put our focus onto the things we want to make happen – and make 2021 the year of the supply chain.”, Copyright - Unless otherwise stated all contents of this web site are © 2021 - William Reed Business Media Ltd - All Rights Reserved - Full details for the use of materials on this site can be found in the Terms & Conditions, Related topics: Into the new year increase rainy day fund ahead and rebuild the way we do business Mills, in... Purpose is to make food the world to manage team energy and make sure we the... Rules of marketing for food giant General Mills in 2017 make sure we the... 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