GENERAL MILLS INC (GIS) Risk Factors

ITEM 1A - Risk Factors

Our business is subject to various risks and uncertainties. Any of the risks described below could materially, adversely affect our

business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Business and Industry Risks

The categories in which we participate are very competitive, and if we are not able to compete effectively, our results of

operations could be adversely affected.

The human and pet food categories in which we participate are very competitive. Our principal competitors in these categories are

manufacturers, as well as retailers with their own branded and private label products. Competitors market and sell their products

through brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce. All of our principal competitors have substantial financial, marketing, and other

resources. In most product categories, we compete not only with other widely advertised branded products, but also with regional

brands and with generic and private label products that are generally sold at lower prices. Competition in our product categories is

based on product innovation, product quality, price, brand recognition and loyalty, effectiveness of marketing, promotional activity,

convenient ordering and delivery to the consumer, and the ability to identify and satisfy consumer preferences. If our large competitors

were to seek an advantage through pricing or promotional changes, we could choose to do the same, which could adversely affect our

margins and profitability. If we did not do the same, our revenues and market share could be adversely affected. Our market share and

revenue growth could also be adversely impacted if we are not successful in introducing innovative products in response to changing

consumer demands or by new product introductions of our competitors. If we are unable to build and sustain brand equity by offering

recognizably superior product quality, we may be unable to maintain premium pricing over generic and private label products.

We may be unable to maintain our profit margins in the face of a consolidating retail environment.

There has been significant consolidation in the grocery industry, resulting in customers with increased purchasing power. In addition,

large retail customers may seek to use their position to improve their profitability through improved efficiency, lower pricing,

increased reliance on their own brand name products, increased emphasis on generic and other economy brands, and increased

promotional programs. If we are unable to use our scale, marketing expertise, product innovation, knowledge of consumers’ needs,

and category leadership positions to respond to these demands, our profitability and volume growth could be negatively impacted. In

addition, the loss of any large customer could adversely affect our sales and profits. In fiscal 2026, Walmart accounted for 22 percent

of our consolidated net sales and 31 percent of net sales of our North America Retail segment. For more information on significant

customers, please see Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this report.

Price changes for the commodities we depend on for raw materials, packaging, and energy may adversely affect our

profitability.

The principal raw materials that we use are commodities that experience price volatility caused by external conditions such as weather,

climate change, product scarcity, limited sources of supply, commodity market fluctuations, currency fluctuations, trade tariffs

(including recent tariffs imposed or threatened to be imposed by the United States on other countries and any retaliatory actions taken

by such countries), pandemics, war (including sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine), and changes in governmental

agricultural and energy policies and regulations. Commodity prices have become, and may continue to be, more volatile. Commodity

price changes may result in unexpected increases in raw material, packaging, energy, and transportation costs. If we are unable to

increase productivity to offset these increased costs or increase our prices, we may experience reduced margins and profitability. We

do not fully hedge against changes in commodity prices, and the risk management procedures that we do use may not always work as

we intend.

Concerns with the safety and quality of our products could cause consumers to avoid certain products or ingredients.

We could be adversely affected if consumers in our principal markets lose confidence in the safety and quality of certain of our

products or ingredients. Adverse publicity about these types of concerns, whether or not valid, may discourage consumers from buying

our products or cause production and delivery disruptions.

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We may be unable to anticipate changes in consumer preferences and trends, which may result in decreased demand for our

products.

Our success depends in part on our ability to anticipate the tastes, eating habits (including the impact of weight loss drugs), and

purchasing behaviors of consumers and to offer products that appeal to their preferences in channels where they shop. Consumer

preferences and category-level consumption may change from time to time and can be affected by a number of different trends and

other factors. If we fail to anticipate, identify or react to these changes and trends, such as adapting to emerging e-commerce channels,

or to introduce new and improved products on a timely basis, we may experience reduced demand for our products, which would in

turn cause our revenues and profitability to suffer. Similarly, demand for our products could be affected by consumer concerns

regarding the health effects of ingredients such as sodium, genetically modified organisms, sugar and sugar alternatives, color

additives, preservatives, processed wheat and other ingredients, grain-free or legume-rich pet food, or other product ingredients or

attributes.

We may be unable to grow our market share or add products that are in faster growing and more profitable categories.

The food industry’s growth potential is constrained by population growth. Our success depends in part on our ability to grow our

business faster than populations are growing in the markets that we serve. One way to achieve that growth is to enhance our portfolio

by adding innovative new products in faster growing and more profitable categories. Our future results will also depend on our ability

to increase market share in our existing product categories. If we do not succeed in developing innovative products for new and

existing categories, our growth and profitability could be adversely affected.

Our results may be negatively impacted if consumers do not maintain their favorable perception of our brands.

Maintaining and continually enhancing the value of our many iconic brands is critical to the success of our business. The value of our

brands is based in large part on the degree to which consumers react and respond positively to these brands. Brand value could

diminish significantly due to a number of factors, including consumer perception that we have acted in an irresponsible manner,

adverse publicity about our products, our failure to maintain the quality of our products, concerns or perceptions about the nutrition

profile and health effects of ingredients or substances (including the processing thereof) in our products or packaging, the failure of

our products to deliver consistently positive consumer experiences, concerns about food safety, or our products becoming unavailable

to consumers. Consumer demand for our products may also be impacted by changes in the level of advertising or promotional support.

The use of social and digital media by consumers, us, and third parties increases the speed and extent that information or

misinformation and opinions can be shared. Negative posts or comments about us, our brands, or our products on social or digital

media could seriously damage our brands and reputation. If we do not maintain the favorable perception of our brands, our business

results could be negatively impacted.

Operating Risks

If we are not efficient in our production, our profitability could suffer as a result of the highly competitive environment in

which we operate.

Our future success and earnings growth depend in part on our ability to be efficient in the production and manufacture of our products

in highly competitive markets. Gaining additional efficiencies may become more difficult over time. Our failure to reduce costs

through productivity gains or by eliminating redundant costs resulting from acquisitions or divestitures could adversely affect our

profitability and weaken our competitive position. Many productivity initiatives involve complex reorganization of manufacturing

facilities and production lines. Such manufacturing realignment may result in the interruption of production, which may negatively

impact product volume and margins. We periodically engage in restructuring, transformation, and cost savings initiatives designed to

increase our efficiency and reduce expenses. If we are unable to execute those initiatives as planned, we may not realize all or any of

the anticipated benefits, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

Disruption of our supply chain could adversely affect our business.

Our ability to make, move, and sell products is critical to our success. Damage or disruption to raw material supplies or our

manufacturing or distribution capabilities due to weather, climate change, natural disaster, fire, terrorism, cyber-attack, pandemics,

war, governmental restrictions or mandates, labor shortages, strikes, import/export restrictions, or other factors could impair our ability

to manufacture or sell our products. Many of our product lines are manufactured at a single location or sourced from a single supplier.

The failure of third parties on which we rely, including those third parties who supply our ingredients, packaging, capital equipment

and other necessary operating materials, contract manufacturers, commercial transport, distributors, contractors, and external business

partners, to meet their obligations to us, or significant disruptions in their ability to do so, may negatively impact our operations. Our

suppliers’ policies and practices can damage our reputation and the quality and safety of our products. Disputes with significant

suppliers, including disputes regarding pricing or performance, could adversely affect our ability to supply products to our customers

and could materially and adversely affect our sales, financial condition, and results of operations. Failure to take adequate steps to

mitigate the likelihood or potential impact of such events, or to effectively manage such events if they occur, particularly when a

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product is sourced from a single location or supplier, could adversely affect our business and results of operations, as well as require

additional resources to restore our supply chain.

Short term or sustained increases in consumer demand at our retail customers may exceed our production capacity or otherwise strain

our supply chain. Our failure to meet the demand for our products could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

Our international operations are subject to political and economic risks.

In fiscal 2026, 20 percent of our consolidated net sales were generated outside of the United States. We are accordingly subject to a

number of risks relating to doing business internationally, any of which could significantly harm our business. These risks include:

•political and economic instability;

•exchange controls and currency exchange rates;

•tariffs on products and ingredients that we import and export (including recent tariffs imposed or threatened to be imposed by

the United States on other countries and any retaliatory actions taken by such countries);

•political sentiment impacting global trade, including the willingness of consumers outside the United States to purchase from

United States corporations or to purchase products manufactured outside the country of sale;

•nationalization or government control of operations;

•compliance with anti-corruption regulations;

•foreign tax treaties and policies; and

•restriction on the transfer of funds to and from foreign countries, including potentially negative tax consequences.

Our financial performance on a U.S. dollar denominated basis is subject to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. These fluctuations

could cause material variations in our results of operations. Our principal exposures are to the Australian dollar, Brazilian real, British

pound sterling, Canadian dollar, Chinese renminbi, euro, Japanese yen, Mexican peso, and Swiss franc. From time to time, we enter

into agreements that are intended to reduce the effects of our exposure to currency fluctuations, but these agreements may not be

effective in significantly reducing our exposure.

A strengthening in the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies in the countries in which we operate would negatively affect our

reported results of operations and financial results due to currency translation losses and currency transaction losses.

Our business operations could be disrupted if our information technology systems fail to perform adequately or are breached.

Information technology serves an important role in the efficient and effective operation of our business. We rely on information

technology networks and systems, including the internet, to process, transmit, and store electronic information to manage a variety of

business processes and to comply with regulatory, legal, and tax requirements. Our information technology systems (which includes

artificial intelligence) and infrastructure are critical to effectively manage our key business processes including digital marketing,

order entry and fulfillment, supply chain management, finance, administration, and other business processes. These technologies

enable internal and external communication among our locations, employees, suppliers, customers, and others and include the receipt

and storage of personal information about our employees, consumers, and proprietary business information. Our information

technology systems, some of which are dependent on services provided by third parties, may be vulnerable to damage, interruption, or

shutdown due to any number of causes such as catastrophic events, natural disasters, fires, power outages, systems failures,

telecommunications failures, security breaches, computer viruses, hackers, employee error or malfeasance, and other causes. Increased

cyber-security threats pose a potential risk to the security and viability of our information technology systems, as well as the

confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the data stored on those systems. Emerging artificial intelligence-related threats may

increase the frequency and severity of these risks, and may also introduce new threats, both of which could be difficult to defend

against. The failure of our information technology systems to perform as we anticipate could disrupt our business and result in

transaction errors, processing inefficiencies, data loss, legal claims or proceedings, regulatory penalties, and the loss of sales and

customers. Any interruption of our information technology systems could have operational, reputational, legal, and financial impacts

that may have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our failure to successfully integrate acquisitions into our existing operations could adversely affect our financial results.

From time to time, we evaluate potential acquisitions or joint ventures that would further our strategic objectives. Our success

depends, in part, upon our ability to integrate acquired and existing operations. If we are unable to successfully integrate acquisitions,

our financial results could suffer. Additional potential risks associated with acquisitions include additional debt leverage, the loss of

key employees and customers of the acquired business, the assumption of unknown liabilities, the inherent risk associated with

entering a geographic area or line of business in which we have no or limited prior experience, failure to achieve anticipated synergies,

and the impairment of goodwill or other acquisition-related intangible assets.

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Legal and Regulatory Risks

If our products become adulterated, misbranded, or mislabeled, we might need to recall those items and may experience

product liability claims if consumers or their pets are injured.

We may need to recall some of our products if they become adulterated, misbranded, or mislabeled. A widespread product recall could

result in significant losses due to the costs of a recall, the destruction of product inventory, and lost sales due to the unavailability of

product for a period of time. We could also suffer losses from a significant product liability judgment against us. A significant product

recall or product liability case could also result in adverse publicity, damage to our reputation, and a loss of consumer confidence in

our products, which could have an adverse effect on our business results and the value of our brands.

New regulations or regulatory-based claims could adversely affect our business.

Our facilities and products are subject to many laws and regulations administered by the United States Department of Agriculture, the

Food and Drug Administration, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and other federal, state, local, and foreign

governmental agencies relating to the production, packaging, labeling, storage, distribution, quality, and safety of food products and

the health and safety of our employees. Our failure to comply with such laws and regulations could subject us to lawsuits,

administrative penalties, and civil remedies, including fines, injunctions, and recalls of our products. We advertise our products and

could be the target of claims relating to alleged false or deceptive advertising under federal, state, and foreign laws and regulations.

We may also be subject to new laws or regulations restricting the marketing or sale of our products because of ingredients or

substances (including the processing thereof) in our products or product packaging. These limitations may require that we highlight

perceived concerns about a product or product packaging, warn consumers to avoid consumption of certain ingredients or substances

present in our products, restrict the audience to whom products are marketed or sold, limit the locations in which our products may be

available, or discontinue the use of certain ingredients or packaging. Changes in laws or regulations that impose additional regulatory

requirements on us could increase our cost of doing business, restrict our actions, and reduce consumption of our products, causing our

results of operations to be adversely affected.

We are subject to various federal, state, local, and foreign environmental laws and regulations. Our failure to comply with

environmental laws and regulations could subject us to lawsuits, administrative penalties, and civil remedies. We are currently party to

a variety of environmental remediation obligations. Due to regulatory complexities, uncertainties inherent in litigation, and the risk of

unidentified contaminants on current and former properties of ours, the potential exists for remediation, liability, indemnification, and

compliance costs to differ from our estimates. We cannot guarantee that our costs in relation to these matters, or compliance with

environmental laws in general, will not exceed our established liabilities or otherwise have an adverse effect on our business and

results of operations.

Climate change and other sustainability matters could adversely affect our business.

There is growing concern that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere may have an adverse impact on

global temperatures, weather patterns, and the frequency and severity of extreme weather and natural disasters. If such climate change

has a negative effect on agricultural productivity, we may experience decreased availability and higher pricing for certain commodities

that are necessary for our products. Increased frequency or severity of extreme weather could also impair our production capabilities,

disrupt our supply chain, impact demand for our products, and increase our insurance and other operating costs. Increasing concern

over climate change or other sustainability issues also may adversely impact demand for our products due to changes in consumer

preferences or negative consumer reaction to our commitments and actions to address these issues. We may also become subject to

additional legal and regulatory requirements relating to climate change or other sustainability issues, including greenhouse gas

emission regulations (e.g., carbon taxes), energy policies, sustainability initiatives (e.g., single-use plastic limits), and disclosure

obligations. If additional legal and regulatory requirements are enacted and are more aggressive than the sustainability measures that

we are currently undertaking to reduce our emissions and improve our energy efficiency and other sustainability goals, or if we chose

to take actions to achieve more aggressive goals, we may experience significant increases in our costs of operations.

We have announced goals and commitments to reduce our carbon footprint. If we fail to achieve or improperly report on our progress

toward achieving our carbon emissions reduction goals and commitments, then the resulting negative publicity could harm our

reputation and adversely affect demand for our products.

Financial and Economic Risks

Volatility in the market value of derivatives we use to manage exposures to fluctuations in commodity prices may cause

volatility in our gross margins and net earnings.

We utilize derivatives to manage price risk for some of our principal ingredient and energy costs, including grains (oats, wheat, and

corn), oils (principally soybean), dairy products, natural gas, and diesel fuel. Changes in the values of these derivatives are recorded in

earnings, which may result in volatility in both gross margin and net earnings. These gains and losses are reported in cost of sales in

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our Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Earnings and in unallocated corporate items outside our segment operating results until we

utilize the underlying input in our manufacturing process, at which time the gains and losses are reclassified to segment operating

profit. We also record our grain inventories at net realizable value. We may experience volatile earnings as a result of these accounting

treatments.

Economic downturns could limit consumer demand for our products.

The willingness of consumers to purchase our products depends in part on local economic conditions. In periods of economic

uncertainty, consumers may purchase more generic, private label, and other economy brands and may forego certain purchases

altogether. In those circumstances, we could experience a reduction in sales of higher margin products or a shift in our product mix to

lower margin offerings. In addition, as a result of economic conditions or competitive actions, we may be unable to raise our prices

sufficiently to protect margins. Consumers may also reduce the amount of food that they consume away from home at customers that

purchase products from our North America Foodservice segment. Any of these events could have an adverse effect on our results of

operations.

We have a substantial amount of indebtedness, which could limit financing and other options and in some cases adversely

affect our ability to pay dividends.

As of May 31, 2026, we had total debt and noncontrolling interests of $13.6 billion. The agreements under which we have issued

indebtedness do not prevent us from incurring additional unsecured indebtedness in the future. Our level of indebtedness may limit

our:

•ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, or general corporate purposes, particularly if

the ratings assigned to our debt securities by rating organizations were revised downward; and

•flexibility to adjust to changing business and market conditions and may make us more vulnerable to a downturn in general

economic conditions.

There are various financial covenants and other restrictions in our debt instruments. If we fail to comply with any of these

requirements, the related indebtedness, and other unrelated indebtedness, could become due and payable prior to its stated maturity

and our ability to obtain additional or alternative financing may also be adversely affected.

Our ability to make scheduled payments on or to refinance our debt and other obligations will depend on our operating and financial

performance, which in turn is subject to prevailing economic conditions and to financial, business, and other factors beyond our

control.

We depend on stable, liquid and well-functioning capital and credit markets to fund our operations. Our financial performance, our

credit ratings, interest rates, the stability of financial institutions with which we partner, and the liquidity of the overall global capital

markets could affect our access to, and the availability, terms and conditions, and cost of capital.

Volatility in the securities markets, interest rates, and other factors could substantially increase our defined benefit pension,

other postretirement benefit, and postemployment benefit costs.

We sponsor a number of defined benefit plans for employees in the United States, Canada, and various foreign locations, including

defined benefit pension, retiree health and welfare, severance, and other postemployment plans. Our major defined benefit pension

plans are funded with trust assets invested in a globally diversified portfolio of securities and other investments. Changes in interest

rates, mortality rates, health care costs, early retirement rates, investment returns, and the market value of plan assets can affect the

funded status of our defined benefit plans and cause volatility in the net periodic benefit cost and future funding requirements of the

plans. A significant increase in our obligations or future funding requirements could have a negative impact on our results of

operations and cash flows from operations.

A change in the assumptions regarding the future performance of our businesses or a different discount rate used to value our

reporting units or our indefinite-lived intangible assets could negatively affect our consolidated results of operations and net

worth.

As of May 31, 2026, we had $20.6 billion of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. Goodwill for each of our reporting units

is tested for impairment annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred. We

compare the carrying value of the reporting unit, including goodwill, to the fair value of the reporting unit. If the fair value of the

reporting unit is less than the carrying value of the reporting unit, including goodwill, impairment has occurred. Our estimates of fair

value are determined based on a discounted cash flow model. Growth rates for sales and profits are determined using inputs from our

long-range planning process. We also make estimates of discount rates, perpetuity growth assumptions, market comparables, and other

factors. If current expectations for growth rates for sales and profits are not met, or other market factors and macroeconomic

conditions were to change, then our reporting units could become significantly impaired. While we currently believe that our

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remaining goodwill is not impaired, different assumptions regarding the future performance of our businesses could result in

significant impairment losses.

We evaluate the useful lives of our intangible assets, primarily intangible assets associated with the Blue Buffalo,

Pillsbury, Totino’s, Old El Paso, Tiki Pets, Progresso, Annie’s, Edgard & Cooper, and Häagen-Dazs brands, to determine if they are

finite or indefinite-lived. Reaching a determination on useful life requires significant judgments and assumptions regarding the future

effects of obsolescence, demand, competition, other economic factors (such as the stability of the industry, known technological

advances, legislative action that results in an uncertain or changing regulatory environment, and expected changes in distribution

channels), the level of required maintenance expenditures, and the expected lives of other related groups of assets.

Our indefinite-lived intangible assets are also tested for impairment annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances

indicate that impairment may have occurred. Our estimate of the fair value of the brands is based on a discounted cash flow model

using inputs including projected revenues from our long-range plan, assumed royalty rates which could be payable if we did not own

the brands, and a discount rate. If current expectations for growth rates for sales and margins are not met, or other market factors and

macroeconomic conditions were to change, then our indefinite-lived intangible assets could become significantly impaired. Our Blue

Buffalo and Progresso brands had risk of decreasing coverage and we continue to monitor these businesses.

For further information on goodwill and intangible assets, please refer to Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of

this report.