General Mills is ‘innovating how we innovate’ with AI

Food Dive reported the development on 2026-02-18. The company is renovating its portfolio with new product launches to meet consumer demand.

The report places the news in a wider commercial context. General Mills is leaning heavily into artificial intelligence and product innovations as the Cheerios and Pillsbury owner looks to reignite consumer growth. The CPG giant is using AI to build digital personas with which to understand consumers and their problems, and the company will create solutions from their feedback, said CEO Jeffrey Harmening during CAGNY on Tuesday.

For the food sector, the practical implications extend beyond the immediate announcement. General Mills is “innovating how we innovate,” Harmening said, “by investing in our capabilities to deliver bigger, more impactful ideas that resonate with consumers.”. The focus on using AI to reach new consumers comes as more shoppers use the technology to discover new brands or build their grocery lists.

Attention now turns to how companies, customers and regulators respond. In addition to technology, the CPG giant is focused on developing new products that tap into consumer trends such as a desire for more protein or fiber. Dana McNabb, group president of North America Retail, said in the second half of the year the company is planning new launches that are “GLP-1-friendly,” such as Honey Nut Cheerios Protein and Ghost Performance nutrition bars. General.