July 17, 2000 - General Mills has made it official -- it's acquiring hometown rival Pillsbury from British food and drinks firm Diageo for 10-and-a-half billion dollars. It's not the first time British and American interests have swapped Twin Cities food companies. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
July 17, 2000 - General Mills has agreed to buy Pillsbury from British foods company Diageo (dee-AZH-ee-oh). Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports. The announcement came at the start of the business day in London: Diageo agreed to sell Pillsbury to General Mills for a total of 10-point-five billion dollars in cash, stock and debt. The deal is expected to be completed by the end of the year, thereafter General Mills will become the world's fifth-largest food company, with nearly 13-billion dollars in annual sales. In a statement General Mills said it will cut some jobs. It will sell off Pillsbury's North American Green Giant canned vegetables division. It also said it would sell Pillsbury's North American baked goods division. And the company says it plans to cut general and administrative staff in the next two years. But did not say how many people will lose their jobs. General Mills employs 38-hundred people in the Twin Cities; Pillsbury 32-hundred. The merger will almost double General Mills in size. It also brings a major corporate headquarters home to Minnesota, after a string of departures. General Mills management says its optimistic that by acquiring Pillsbury's brands, like refrigerated dough boy products and Haagen Dazs ice cream, it will become a contender in an increasingly global and competitive food industry.
July 18, 2000 - Minnesotans could see higher fares and fewer flights from the Twin Cities if Northwest is acquired by American Airlines. That's according to a report published this week by a Metropolitan Airports Commission consultant. The fate of Northwest may not be known for weeks or months. But some analysts say other possible mergers in the airline industry could have an impact on any negotiations. Darryl Jenkins is Executive Director of the Aviation Institute at The George Washington University. He's on the line now.
July 18, 2000 -
July 18, 2000 - General Mills has made it official -- it's acquiring hometown rival Pillsbury from British food and drinks firm Diageo for 10-and-a-half billion dollars. It's not the first time British and American interests have swapped Twin Cities food companies. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
July 19, 2000 - Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig visited the Twin Cities Tuesday in the wake of a report calling for baseball's "haves" to give more to the "have-nots." Appearing before the Twins-sponsored group Minnesotans for Major League Baseball, Selig promised changes will be implemented to ease the disparities between rich and poor teams and to make the game more competitive. But Selig mostly repeated his familiar message that the Minnesota Twins must have a publicly funded ballpark to survive -- a message the newly formed committee says it's not yet ready to consider. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
July 19, 2000 -
July 25, 2000 - The number of options for people flying in and out of the Twin Cities has increased dramatically over the past year. Minnesota-based Northwest Airlines still dominates the market ...but several LOW FARE carriers are now operating out of the Twin Cities airport -- MOST NOTABLY Sun Country Airlines. US Department of Transportation Statics shows air fares to markets where competition has taken hold have dropped significantly. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
July 26, 2000 - Some residents and business owners in Detroit Lakes are angry about increased water patrols this summer. They say D-N-R enforcement officers are harassing boaters in the area and scaring away tourists. Minnesota Public Radios Dan Gunderson reports.
July 26, 2000 -