General Mills Advances 18 spots in DiversityInc’s annual Top 50 Companies for Diversity list

General Mills has been named to the 2010 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list. Ranked 29th, General Mills has made the list for the sixth time for its demonstrated commitment to measurable diversity best practices and results.

“We’re honored to be consistently recognized by DiversityInc as a leader in corporate diversity,” said Kenneth Charles, vice president for Diversity and Inclusion at General Mills. “We view diversity as a way of doing business. In order to thrive in a global marketplace we must appreciate the demographic shifts under way and the importance of the multicultural consumer. Our success at creating an inclusive workplace directly impacts our ability to compete globally"

DiversityInc, which operates both a Web site and a monthly business magazine, calculates the annual list from a survey measuring four components: CEO commitment, human capital, corporate and organizational communications, and supplier diversity. A total of 449 companies, up 12 percent from last year, vied for the honor this year, underscoring the increasing emphasis on diversity management among progressive companies.

“This list represents the businesses that treat diversity as an ethical, moral priority and a powerful business tool,” said Luke Visconti, chief executive officer of DiversityInc. “Far too many companies are way behind the curve and will find themselves in trouble in the next few years and decade. A diverse work force changes the character and the culture of a company. Thinking that diversity is merely a ‘feel-good’ or politically correct strategy without real impact will leave companies on the wrong side of history,” he said.

View the entire Top 50 Companies for Diversity list at DiversityInc.com.

About General Mills
One of the world’s leading food companies, General Mills operates in more than 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen, and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, General Mills had fiscal 2009 global net sales of US$15.9 billion, including the company’s $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales.