Dive Brief:
- General Mills announced on Wednesday it will accelerate its plan to more than double its organic acreage sourcing, with expectations of meeting its goal of 250,000 acres by 2019. The company expects to reach $1 billion in net sales from natural and organic products by 2019, a year ahead of prior goals.
- Since 2000, General Mills has developed a natural and organic brand that totaled $675 million in pro forma net sales in FY 2015, ranking it the third-largest natural and organic food maker in the country. The company overhauled its cereals and seven are now free of artificial flavors and colors. For example, Trix uses colors from natural sources, such as carrots and radishes for the color red.
- The company's commitment to doubling its organic sourcing acreage also assists in meeting its announced 2015 goal to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain during the next 10 years.
Dive Insight:
General Mills features an extensive portfolio of natural and organic brands, including Food Should Taste Good, Annie's, and more recently, EPIC Provisions, a meat snack company. Sales and distribution of Annie's products have grown 9.4% and 11% in the last year.
General Mills is also involved in organic-related initiatives, including the Organic Farming Research Foundation, which supports organic farming practices; and the Organic Trade Association’s Grain, Pulse and Oilseed Council, which works to increase the organic supply of these commodities. The company has also invested $50,000 in Canada's Prairie Organic Grain Initiative, which assists conventional grain farmers in making the transition to organic farming.