General Mills invests US$54 million to expand James Ford Bell Technical Center

General Mills has announced a US$54 million investment to expand its James Ford Bell (JFB) Technical Center in Golden Valley, Minnesota, strengthening its capacity to drive research and development across the business.

The expansion will add a two-story, 35,000ft2 pilot plant wing to the facility, increasing pilot plant space by more than 20%. The company said the project is designed to provide state-of-the-art facilities and more flexible spaces for its research and innovation teams.

Lanette Shaffer Werner, Chief Innovation, Technology and Quality Officer at General Mills, said the project marks an important step in advancing the company’s ability to deliver consumer-driven innovation. “This expansion is a critical step in ensuring General Mills remains at the forefront of innovation,” she said. “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.”

First opened in 1960, the JFB Technical Center has long served as the company’s central hub for innovation and quality. It houses around 1,000 employees and has played a role in many of General Mills’ product developments over the past six decades.

The new investment is the largest ever made in the facility. General Mills said the expansion reflects its commitment to both core product growth and new business opportunities, ensuring that its R&D capabilities keep pace with shifting consumer expectations.

The pilot plant addition will provide more space for experimentation, prototyping, and testing, giving teams greater agility as they develop new products. The company noted that having flexible facilities is crucial as it balances the need to support existing categories with the push to explore new areas of growth.

General Mills framed the project as part of a broader effort to strengthen long-term growth by staying ahead of consumer trends. With demand for convenient, healthy, and sustainable products evolving rapidly, the company said the expansion will help it accelerate the pace of innovation.

By expanding pilot plant capacity, General Mills expects to reduce development timelines and bring products to market more quickly. The company added that the new spaces will encourage collaboration among teams, supporting more integrated approaches to innovation.

The company marked the start of the project with a groundbreaking ceremony at the Golden Valley site. The new wing is scheduled to open in the fall of 2027.

General Mills described the expansion as not only a commitment to innovation but also to the future of the JFB Technical Center itself, ensuring that the facility remains central to its operations for decades to come.

The investment underscores General Mills’ broader strategy to drive breakthrough advancements and create products that resonate with evolving consumer preferences. By enhancing its technical capabilities, the company said it is positioning itself to remain competitive in both established categories and emerging markets.

The JFB Technical Center has historically been a source of innovation ranging from breakfast cereals to snack foods. With the new addition, General Mills is seeking to expand that legacy by giving its teams the tools and spaces needed to deliver the next generation of products.

For the company, the US$54 million project is about more than physical space. It is also about reinforcing a culture of innovation that can adapt to changing demands. Werner said the expansion will empower teams to collaborate more effectively and make faster progress on product development.

As General Mills prepares to open the new facility in 2027, the company has positioned the project as a signal of confidence in its long-term growth potential. By expanding its pilot plant operations, it aims to balance efficiency with creativity, ensuring that it can deliver innovations that meet consumer expectations while continuing to build on its heritage of food innovation.