General Mills: Sells Cedar Rapids Facility to Flowers

Minneapolis / MN. (gm) General Mills Inc. announced an agreement to sell its fresh bread mixes business to Georgia-based Flowers Foods Inc. for an undisclosed amount. It is the company´s understanding that Flowers Foods will operate the facility in Cedar Rapids (Iowa / U.S.) and retain employees after closure of the deal. The company acquired the plant with its acquisition of the Pillsbury Company in 2001.

About: One of the world´s leading food companies, General Mills Inc. operates in over 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A., General Mills had fiscal 2008 global net sales of 14,9 billion USD, including the company´s 1,2 billion USD proportionate share of joint venture net sales.

About: Headquartered in Thomasville (GA), Flowers Foods Inc., with annual sales of 2,41 billion USD, is one of the United States´ leading producers and marketers of packaged bakery foods for retail and foodservice customers. Flowers operates 38 bakeries that produce a wide range of bakery products marketed throughout the Southeastern, Southwestern, and mid-Atlantic states via an extensive direct-store-delivery network and nationwide through other delivery systems.