General Mills was named the “recommended employer” for the food industry in Australia. The award – the first for the company in Australia – is the latest international workplace honor for General Mills.   

General Mills’ workplace culture has received many honors, including: 100 Best Companies to Work For (No. 90), Fortune magazine 100 Best Companies, (Top 10), Working Mother magazine Top Workplaces, No. 1 in large public company category, The Minneapolis Star Tribune Best Companies for Multicultural Women, Working Mother magazine Top 50 Companies for Diversity, DiversityInc Top Companies for Executive Women, National Association for Female Executives Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality, Human Rights Campaign Foundation (all awards)

The "Australian Business Award for Recommended Employer" is a national, comprehensive program honoring public and private companies and organizations that demonstrate the core values of business excellence, product excellence, sustainability and commercial success in their respective industries.

“We are very happy to receive this external recognition and believe it highlights the great environment we have created at General Mills,” says Heath Martin, the Human Resources director for the Asia-Pacific region. “The award reflects General Mills’ strong commitment to people growth – specifically its commitment to building talent, culture and capabilities.”

The 18 Australian business and product winners were selected from 1,849 entries from 962 companies and organizations. The food industry category was one of 10 different industries receiving the Recommended Employer award.

International recognition grows “We are pleased that these awards continue to promote key values in the workplace, including corporate responsibility, enterprise, innovative business practices, community contribution, product and service excellence across all industries,” Tara Johnston, Australian Business Awards program director, said during award ceremonies, in praising General Mills Australia and the other recipients.

General Mills employs more than 500 people and operates four plants in Australia. Pillsbury began operations there in 1995. Its brand portfolio includes:

• Betty Crocker baking mixes and desserts
• Croissant King frozen dough products
• Frescarini innovative pasta products
• Nature Valley granola bars
• Latina fresh pasta and sauce
• Old El Paso Mexican foods
• Van den Bergh's unbaked pastries and doughs

While General Mills has long earned workplace honors in the United States, the company is increasingly gaining attention internationally for its work-friendly culture.

Last April, General Mills Canada was named one of the nation’s top 75 best workplaces by the Great Place to Work Institute, an international consulting firm. The company ranked No. 20.

And in March, for the third year in a row, General Mills UK was ranked in the prestigious Sunday Times newspaper’s 100 Best Small Companies in the UK. The company ranked No. 88 – the same as the year before.

Inside General Mills