Pillsbury Company

Pillsbury Company is an American food company that was established in 1869 by Charles Alfred Pillsbury and his uncle, John Sargent Pillsbury. The company was originally a flour mill, which later expanded into a multinational producer and marketer of food products. Pillsbury is now owned by General Mills, a food company that also has its roots in the flour milling industry.

History

The Pillsbury Company was founded in 1869 by Charles Alfred Pillsbury and his uncle John Sargent Pillsbury. The company was one of the first to use steam power to grind wheat into flour. In 1889, Pillsbury and its five mills on the banks of the Mississippi River were purchased by a British company. However, the Pillsbury family, which held a controlling interest, continued to manage operations.

In the 1950s, Pillsbury added to its product line with the acquisition of Ballard and Ballard Company, which made biscuits. In 1989, the British company Grand Metropolitan (later Diageo) purchased Pillsbury. In 2001, General Mills purchased Pillsbury from Diageo, although it sold off some of Pillsbury's brands.

Products

Pillsbury's product line includes a variety of baked goods and baking ingredients. Among its most popular products are the Pillsbury Doughboy line of refrigerated dough products, Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits, and Pillsbury Toaster Strudel. Pillsbury also produces frozen breakfast products, including pancakes and waffles, as well as gluten-free products.

Pillsbury Doughboy

The Pillsbury Doughboy, also known as Poppin' Fresh, is an advertising icon and mascot of The Pillsbury Company. The character was created by Rudy Perz, a copywriter for the Leo Burnett advertising agency, in 1965. The Doughboy has been featured in many advertising campaigns for Pillsbury since his creation.

See also

• List of food companies
• General Mills
• Diageo

External links

• Official website