General Mills

In 1866 Cadwallader Washburn opened a flour mill in Minneapolis, Minnesota, calling it the Minneapolis Milling Company. In 1869 Charles A. Pillsbury, another Minneapolis miller, established his flour mill across the Mississippi River from Washburn’s. A century and a half later, these two competing firms would become one company. When John Crosby joined Washburn’s business in 1877, the company changed its name to the Washburn Crosby Company. In 1880, after winning the gold, silver, and bronze medals at the first International Miller’s Exhibition, the Washburn Crosby Company changed the brand name of its best flour to Gold Medal. After acquiring twenty-seven other milling operations, the company incorporated as General Mills in 1928. At the time, it was the largest flour-milling company in the world.