Beech-Nut announces new baby food line featuring General Mills Green Giant brand

Beech-Nut(R) has introduced a new line of great-tasting and nutritious baby foods featuring Beech-Nut purees co-branded with General Mills Green Giant(R) brand. The new Beech-Nut line is made with natural ingredients and has a great taste that babies will love.

"Green Giant has been an American favorite vegetable brand for more than 90 years," said Andy Dahlen, Green Giant Business Unit Director, General Mills Inc. "Moms trust Green Giant vegetables for their family. We're proud to announce our licensing partnership with Beech-Nut, a company that shares our values and heritage."

Beech-Nut is the #2 ranked baby food brand in the U.S. and introduced the first vacuum-sealed glass jar of baby food in 1931. Eighty years later, Beech-Nut purees are still made with natural ingredients and are exclusively produced in traditional glass jars to naturally lock in essential nutrients and good taste.

"Beech-Nut and Green Giant share a century-long history of American food tradition," said Evan Eckman, Chief Marketing Officer for Hero North America, parent company of Beech-Nut. "Most babies are ready to start solid foods at about four months and studies show healthy eating habits start in early childhood. We're proud to have selected varieties of Beech-Nut purees to feature the Green Giant brand. Green Giant shares our lasting commitment to childhood nutrition, superior quality standards, and delicious tasting foods. Moms and retailers agree; this is another great value-building innovation from Beech-Nut and its new licensing partner Green Giant."

About Beech-Nut Nutrition Corporation

Beech-Nut Nutrition Corporation is held by Hero Group, a family-owned food company headquartered in Lenzburg, Switzerland. Hero is a leader in the Infant Nutrition category with operations in more than 30 countries based in Europe, North America, Middle East/Africa and Turkey/Central Asia. Beech-Nut is committed to three core principles; providing better access to good nutrition, generating category growth through innovation and being a responsible steward of the environment. Beech-Nut is headquartered in Amsterdam, New York and has recently opened a $124 Million energy efficient manufacturing facility which has applied for Silver Level LEED certification (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design).

About General Mills Inc.

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, Haagen-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.