General Mills, Minneapolis, said it received the "Open Innovation Partner of Choice Award" at the Fourth Annual Open Innovation Conference in Philadelphia. Global business meetings sponsormarcus evans inc.hosted the event. Jeff Bellairs, senior director of the General Mills Worldwide Innovation Network, and a cross-functional team from General Mills, accepted the award on behalf of the company.

Officials said General Mills was selected through a process that elicited the response of peers and innovation leaders from a cross-section of North American industries, including past delegates of the annual marcus evans Open Innovation series of conferences. A panel of judges determined the Open Innovation Partner of Choice winner based on the nominee’s exceptional contribution to the discipline or practice of open innovation based on multiple criteria.



Wal-Mart Stores'Sam's Clubdivision recently honoredRich Products' Consumer Brands divisionas Sam's "Supplier of the Year - Food & Beverage." Officials said this is the second such award for Rich's Consumer Brands group, St. Simon's Island, Ga., since 2006.

"We pride ourselves on the partnership that has evolved with Sam's," said Michael Fuch's, national sales manager, Rich Products. "With clear transparency and great communication, we have been able to improve margins and metrics, making our relationship with a win-win for both Rich's and Sam's."

Rich's said supplies Sam's and Wal-Mart with bakery goods, Casa Di Bertacchi meatballs, SeaPak shrimp, Farm Rich mozzarella sticks and quesadillas, pizza slices and Byron's barbeque products from plants in five plants.