Who owns Blue Buffalo?
Blue Buffalo is owned by General Mills (the United States, NYSE: GIS), which has owned the brand since 24 April 2018.[1] Blue Buffalo was founded in 2003 in the United States and was independent until 2018.
Key facts
- Current owner
- General Mills, Inc. verified
- Owned since
- Previous owner
- Independent (2003–2018)
- Owner HQ
- 🇺🇸 United States, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Origin
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Founded
- 2003
- Category
- Pet care › Pet food › Dog food
- Parent ticker
- NYSE: GIS
- Last verified
- · 1 sources
About Blue Buffalo
Blue Buffalo was founded in 2003 by a family whose dog developed cancer, and it built its business on advertising that compared its ingredient lists directly against mainstream brands. General Mills bought it in 2018 for $8 billion, its entry into pet food and its largest acquisition.
Ownership timeline of Blue Buffalo
- 2018 – present General Mills [1] verified
Where Blue Buffalo sits in General Mills
Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.
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Other brands owned by General Mills
Latest news about Blue Buffalo
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the parent company of Blue Buffalo?
The parent company of Blue Buffalo is General Mills, a publicly listed company headquartered in the United States.
Is Blue Buffalo American?
Yes. Blue Buffalo originated in the United States in 2003 and its owner, General Mills, is also headquartered in the United States.
Since when has General Mills owned Blue Buffalo?
General Mills has owned Blue Buffalo since 24 April 2018.
Who owned Blue Buffalo before General Mills?
Blue Buffalo was an independent company from its founding in 2003 until General Mills acquired it in 2018.
Is Blue Buffalo still owned by General Mills?
Yes. As of 6 September 2026, Blue Buffalo is still owned by General Mills. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.
Sources (1) & corrections
Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.
- [1] General Mills, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K filed 2026-07-01 — SEC EDGAR, SEC Form 10-K, published 1 July 2026; retrieved 6 September 2026.
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