Feeding The Dragon: Gary Chu, President Of General Mills Greater China
Recently, Jing Daily had the opportunity to sit down with Gary Chu, President of General Mills Greater China, to discuss food safety, the emerging middle class, strategies for entering the Chinese market, and how best to tap growing Chinese demand.
On this page
- Chu Oversees Operations In China, Hong Kong And Taiwan
- Jing Daily (JD): In the wake of food safety scandals in China, what steps is General Mills taking to ensure safe, reliable food products?
- Gary Chu (GC)
- JD: Would you mind giving a few examples of specific regulations you’ve implemented to ensure this standard of quality control?
- GC
- JD: In your opinion, which localized food products have been the most successful in China? Which didn’t work?
- GC
- JD: General Mills’ marketing strategy and campaigns for Häagen-Dazs, in particular, have been extremely successful in China. From this, what would you say are key strategies foreign brands must keep in mind when tapping into the Chinese market?
- GC
- JD: You mentioned that the rising middle class is currently your largest consumer class.
- GC
- JD: Since this middle class is projected to stake such a large percentage of the population, what role do you see yourself playing in changing the tastes and behaviors of Chinese consumers?
- GC
- JD: What exactly do you think your consumers looking for?
- GC
- JD: “Going organic” is rapidly becoming a way of life for many Chinese, especially for the more health-conscious, wealthy elites. As a prepared/frozen foods brand, what is General Mills’ stance on the organic movement and is it taking steps toward the organic?
- GC
- JD: How long do you think it will be before organic prepared/packaged foods will surface in the China market?
- GC
- JD: Is General Mills looking to acquire more local food brands as they did with Wanchai Ferry?
- GC
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