2011 marks the company’s seventh appearance on the annual ranking

Today General Mills has been named to the 2011 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list.  DiversityInc cited General Mills’ commitment to continuing to “build a diverse and inclusive workplace through its successful mentoring programs and employee-resource groups” among the reasons General Mills has made the list for a seventh year.

General Mills ranks 27th on this year’s list, up two spots from its 2010 ranking.
 
"Diversity plus inclusion equals business value,” said Kenneth Charles, vice president for Diversity and Inclusion at General Mills. “A diverse and inclusive workforce allows us to better connect with consumers and reap innovative ideas. Most importantly, it allows us to recruit and retain the talent to win now and in the future. We appreciate that people and their unique perspectives are the key to our success."
 
DiversityInc, which operates both a website and a monthly business magazine, calculates the annual list from a survey measuring four components: CEO commitment, human capital, corporate and organizational communications, and supplier diversity. Participation in the survey has increased dramatically, up 19 percent in 2011 to 535 companies.
 
View the entire Top 50 Companies for Diversity list at DiversityInc.com.
 
About General Mills
One of the world's leading food companies, General Mills operates in more than 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Yoplait, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen, and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, General Mills had fiscal 2010 global net sales of US$16 billion, including the company’s $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales.

For more information, contact:

Maerenn Jepsen
General Mills
763-764-6364