General Mills (NYSE: GIS) today announced a $54 million investment to expand its James Ford Bell (JFB) Technical Center, a key hub for the company’s innovation, technology and quality capabilities. This expansion will add a new 35,000-square-foot, two-story pilot plant wing, increasing pilot plant space by more than 20 percent and providing state-of-the-art facilities for its research and development teams.
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Expansion to General Mills' James Ford Bell Technical Center will enable faster innovation for key growth initiatives.
This investment underscores General Mills’ commitment to driving breakthrough advancements, creating remarkable products for consumers and strengthening its long-term growth. The expansion will provide flexible spaces to accelerate research and innovation across the company’s business units, offering greater flexibility to meet evolving demands and providing more space for both core growth and new business initiatives.
"This expansion is a critical step in ensuring General Mills remains at the forefront of innovation," said Lanette Shaffer Werner, chief innovation, technology and quality officer, General Mills. "The new wing at our James Ford Bell Technical Center will add much needed flexibility in our pilot plant operations and empower our teams to collaborate more effectively to deliver the next generation of consumer-centric products.”
General Mills today hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate this milestone, which represents the largest investment made in the JFB Technical Center to date. The facility was originally built in 1960 and is the home for approximately 1,000 General Mills employees who continue its legacy of pioneering food innovation. The new space is scheduled to open in the fall of 2027.
About General Mills
General Mills makes food the world loves. The company is guided by its Accelerate strategy to boldly build its brands, relentlessly innovate, unleash its scale and stand for good. Its portfolio of beloved brands includes household names like Cheerios, Nature Valley, Blue Buffalo, Häagen-Dazs, Old El Paso, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Totino’s, Annie’s, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki and more. General Mills generated fiscal 2025 net sales of U.S. $19 billion. In addition, the company’s share of non-consolidated joint venture net sales totaled U.S. $1 billion. For more information, visit www.generalmills.com.
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