abhishreshthaa
Abhijeet S
General Mills, Inc.is an American Fortune 500 corporation, primarily concerned with food products, which is headquartered in Golden Valley, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. The company markets many well-known brands, such as Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Colombo, Totinos, Jeno's, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Häagen-Dazs, Cheerios, Lucky Charms and Wanchai Ferry. Their brand portfolio includes more than 100 leading U.S. brands and numerous category leaders around the world.
The company can trace its history to the Minneapolis Milling Company, founded in 1856 by Illinois Congressman Robert Smith, which leased power rights to mills operating along Saint Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River. 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, 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. In 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. Dunwoody would become immensely wealthy and went on to endow a Minneapolis hospital, Dunwoody Institute (now Dunwoody College of Technology), and a charitable home in Pennsylvania, Dunwoody Village.
Strengths
* Strong brand equity on key brands
* Growing international operations
* Product development skills
* Innovator
* Has a strong impact in the outside community.
* Advertising tries to give a feeling of hope and optimism.
Weaknesses
* Rising SG&A expenses
* Concentrated in few customers in the US
* Highly dependent on the US market
Opportunities
* Higher penetration with smaller retailer customers in the US
* Rising demand for cereals
* Growing foodservice sector
* Steady growth in savory snacks
* Growing health consciousness
Threats
* Commodity price increases
* Private label growth
* Kellogg's
* Erosion of market
The company can trace its history to the Minneapolis Milling Company, founded in 1856 by Illinois Congressman Robert Smith, which leased power rights to mills operating along Saint Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River. 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, 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. In 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. Dunwoody would become immensely wealthy and went on to endow a Minneapolis hospital, Dunwoody Institute (now Dunwoody College of Technology), and a charitable home in Pennsylvania, Dunwoody Village.
Strengths
* Strong brand equity on key brands
* Growing international operations
* Product development skills
* Innovator
* Has a strong impact in the outside community.
* Advertising tries to give a feeling of hope and optimism.
Weaknesses
* Rising SG&A expenses
* Concentrated in few customers in the US
* Highly dependent on the US market
Opportunities
* Higher penetration with smaller retailer customers in the US
* Rising demand for cereals
* Growing foodservice sector
* Steady growth in savory snacks
* Growing health consciousness
Threats
* Commodity price increases
* Private label growth
* Kellogg's
* Erosion of market