Supply chain and sourcing
Bringing good to our global supply chain
![Woman's hands holding wheat seeds](https://brandsitesplatform-res.cloudinary.com/image/fetch/w_auto:100,c_scale,q_auto:eco,f_auto,fl_lossy,dpr_auto,e_sharpen:85/https://assets.brandplatform.generalmills.com%2F-%2Fmedia%2Fproject%2Fgmi%2Fcorporate%2Fcorporate-master%2Fimages%2Fplanet%2Fregen-ag%2Fcheerios-oats-jan-22.jpeg%3Fw%3D5472%26rev%3D3d700dc2983c4fb49cff3df4a8e59a7c)
Our responsibility makes a difference
We use our presence in more than 25 countries to help protect and respect the people and communities that make our mission possible. Global and social responsibility has been a part of our mission since our founding days and has been a consistent source of innovation through the decades.
Through the years, we’ve created a way to identify suppliers at risk for not following our standards for human rights, health and safety, and global responsibility. We call those that’re most at-risk, “Tier 1”, and they help influence how we manage our Suppliers Code of Conduct.
Some of our milestones:
1990s: We were an early adopter of responsible sourcing and developed a program for producing premiums and supplier facilities.
2008: Launched the program in our own locations and co-packer facilities.
2014: Expanded the program to include high-risk locations of our Tier 1 suppliers.
2021: Added more Tier 1 suppliers in North America, while expanding to locations in Asia, Latin America, Europe and Australia.
2023: Piloted the integration of responsible sourcing into the company's formal sourcing bid and supplier award proceess
How we maintain our standards
![Number 1](https://brandsitesplatform-res.cloudinary.com/image/fetch/w_auto:100,c_scale,q_auto:eco,f_auto,fl_lossy,dpr_auto,e_sharpen:85/https://assets.brandplatform.generalmills.com%2F-%2Fmedia%2Fproject%2Fgmi%2Fcorporate%2Fcorporate-master%2Ficons%2Fpicture1.png%3Fw%3D598%26rev%3D84ae7d929a1d4de38fb642ffa0ec5435)
For suppliers
![Number 2](https://brandsitesplatform-res.cloudinary.com/image/fetch/w_auto:100,c_scale,q_auto:eco,f_auto,fl_lossy,dpr_auto,e_sharpen:85/https://assets.brandplatform.generalmills.com%2F-%2Fmedia%2Fproject%2Fgmi%2Fcorporate%2Fcorporate-master%2Ficons%2Fpicture2.png%3Fw%3D598%26rev%3D18440ee64a42403db866bb69b77add30)
In our locations
![Number 3](https://brandsitesplatform-res.cloudinary.com/image/fetch/w_auto:100,c_scale,q_auto:eco,f_auto,fl_lossy,dpr_auto,e_sharpen:85/https://assets.brandplatform.generalmills.com%2F-%2Fmedia%2Fproject%2Fgmi%2Fcorporate%2Fcorporate-master%2Ficons%2Fpicture3.png%3Fw%3D598%26rev%3D31a9d17eb5674d869c8d0ba92c813585)
Everyone is accountable
Baking goodness into the whole system
Responsibility is who we are – it is not just an action we take. This belief is baked into our very core and continues to grow as we do.
Some of our recent developments:
- We hold mandatory training on The Supplier Code of Conduct, which has been translated into five local languages.
- We’ve moved our Global Responsible Sourcing program in-house for even more involvement.
- Suppliers are now asked to upload their audits and corrective action plans during the bidding process.
- We’ve added notes to co-packer scorecards that show on-time delivery, price competitiveness and more.
- We expanded our program to locations around the world, including Blue Buffalo in our pet category.
- We hold quarterly education and forums for peers to share sourcing and supplier topics, while bringing more people into the decision-making process.
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