Criteria & FAQ

What types of solutions is General Mills interested in?

General Mills is interested in product or technologies that would be applicable to one of our current lines of business, which include:

Baking products (cakes, brownies, frosting, etc.)
Cereal
Frozen pastries
Frozen pizza and snacks
Refrigerated and frozen dough (bread, cookies, biscuits, rolls, etc.)
Shelf-stable meals, meal kits, soups and side dishes
Snacks bars, fruit snacks, popcorn, salty snacks
Yogurt and yogurt beverages
Pet

In addition, we are also interested in:

New innovation outside of our core areas of business
New innovative foods in the natural and organic category
Packaging and processing technologies

What types of information will you accept?

We can accept a variety of non-confidential forms of information but request that the proposal be based on a product, package or process innovation technology. While patented technologies are preferred, a patent is not required to submit your idea to General Mills. Our G-WIN site walks you through the proposal submission process.

If you have a suggestion such as a new flavor, recipe or product improvement, submit your ideas to our Consumer Relations team.

E-mail: cshelp@genmills.com
Phone: 1-800-248-7310

Please note that sales venue opportunities and marketing suggestions will not be accepted.

Why can't you accept confidential information?

In order to review and respond to submissions in a timely manner and to meet our legal requirements of handling confidential information, we cannot accept confidential information at this initial phase in the process. If, after our preliminary review, we are interested in learning more about your product idea or technology, we typically ask you to sign a confidentiality agreement to allow for further exchange of information.

What is done with my information after I submit it?

First, a member of our G-WIN team reviews your submission to ensure it is complete. Then our team of technology specialists reviews your submission for its technical merit and to assess whether it has potential application to one of our businesses.

How do I contact you to check on the status of my submission?

We are not able to provide status updates for individual submissions during the review process. You will receive a confirmation via e-mail that we have received your submission. We typically respond within 2-3 weeks after our preliminary review and then discuss appropriate next steps with you, if any.

Will General Mills share its reasons should it choose not to pursue my submission?

Unfortunately, we will not be able to give you any additional information about the results of our review.

If approved, what will General Mills do with my idea?

There are several possibilities of how General Mills may work with you to implement your idea including:

Proof of concept
Licensing agreement
Supply agreement
Manufacturing arrangement
Purchase of technology rights

In all of our relationships we strive to create a win-win opportunity that is mutually beneficial for both parties.

WELCOME to the General Mills Worldwide Innovation Network. Thanks for visiting.

This Site provides information and resources to allow you to participate in our efforts to make our products / services more responsive to the needs of our customers. We hope you find this experience rewarding.

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