General Mills is to expand an R&D facility in the US, describing the move as “a critical step” to ensure the Old El Paso maker “remains at the forefront of innovation”.
The US giant is spending $54m at its James Ford Bell Technical Center in Minnesota to add a new pilot plant “wing” that will increase space by more than 20%.
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The centre in Golden Valley is a “key hub for innovation, technology, and quality capabilities” for the company, which is headquartered in nearby Minneapolis.
Lanette Shaffer Werner, chief innovation, technology and quality officer at General Mills, said: “This expansion is a critical step in ensuring General Mills remains at the forefront of innovation.
“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.”
Originally built in 1960, the facility houses about 1,000 General Mills employees.
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By GlobalDataThe newly expanded area is expected to be operational by the autumn of 2027.
The news comes as the Blue Buffalo pet food brand owner projects nearly flat net sales in fiscal year 2026 amid a “volatile” operating environment.
Speaking to analysts in June, General Mills chairman and CEO Jeff Harmening said: “As we head into fiscal ’26, we expect the operating environment will remain volatile, with consumers pressured by widespread uncertainty from tariffs, global conflicts and changing regulations.”
General Mills projects that its organic net sales will remain within the range of a 1% decline and a 1% increase for the fiscal year 2026.
In its fiscal year 2025, the group reported a 2% decrease in full-year net sales, mirroring the same percentage drop organically to $19.5bn.
The company also anticipates a 10-15% decline in both adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings per share on a constant-currency basis in fiscal year 2026, compared to the previous year.
General Mills’ investment in its innovation centre also follows the Pillsbury cookie maker’s potential workforce reduction as part of a “global transformation” initiative aimed at enhancing productivity.
