Business Editors

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 23, 2004--General Mills today elected Michael D. Rose to its board of directors. Rose is chairman of the board of Gaylord Entertainment Company (NYSE:GET), which owns and operates the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center near Orlando, Florida, the Grand Ole Opry and a variety of other attractions and media outlets. Mr. Rose previously served on the General Mills board from 1985 to 2000.

"Mike made strong and lasting contributions to General Mills during his prior board service," said General Mills Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Steve Sanger. "We're very fortunate to have Mike rejoin our board and I look forward to working with him again."

With the election of Rose, the General Mills board will have 15 members.

In other action at its regularly scheduled February meeting, the General Mills board declared a quarterly dividend payment at the prevailing rate of $.275 per share. The dividend is payable May 3, 2004, to shareholders of record April 12, 2004. General Mills and its predecessor company have paid uninterrupted dividends without reduction for 105 years.

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations and assumptions. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ. General Mills undertakes no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

    CONTACT: General Mills, Inc., Minneapolis
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