MINNEAPOLIS — A year after General Mills began seeking partnerships with entrepreneurs, inventors, universities and other food companies as part of its Worldwide Innovation Network, the company is announcing that G-WIN has generated hundreds of concepts for patented technologies and potential products. Progresso Light is one of the innovations resulting from the program. To generate ideas for new consumer solutions in the area of weight management, General Mills created a cross-functional team to leverage research and expertise from across the company. Among other ideas, the team suggested that Progresso develop a “light” soup that could qualify for a 0 points value per serving with Weight Watchers. “Progresso tested the idea, developed the product and then leveraged the General Mills strategic sourcing team to create an external partnership” with Weight Watchers, said the manufacturer in a statement. The G-WIN group also teamed with an exclusive partner on a fiber ingredient for its Fiber One Chewy Bars and sourced a new lower-sodium ingredient for its Progresso Reduced Sodium Soups. In addition, G-WIN licensed a product and process patent from Brigham Young University for its Yogurt Fizzix carbonated yogurt.

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