Blue Buffalo is owned by General Mills (the United States, NYSE: GIS), which acquired the brand on 24 April 2018 for $8 billion.[1][2] Blue Buffalo was founded in 2003 in the United States and was independent until 2018.
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.
General Mills acquired Blue Buffalo for about $8 billion, its largest acquisition. Pet food had been growing while packaged human food stagnated, and Blue Buffalo sold on named whole ingredients rather than meat meals, largely through pet specialty retailers.
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the parent company of Blue Buffalo?
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The parent company of Blue Buffalo is General Mills, a publicly listed company headquartered in the United States.
Is Blue Buffalo American?
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Yes. Blue Buffalo originated in the United States in 2003 and its owner, General Mills, is also headquartered in the United States.
When did General Mills buy Blue Buffalo?
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General Mills completed its acquisition of Blue Buffalo on 24 April 2018, after announcing the deal on 23 February 2018. The deal was valued at $8 billion (enterprise value).
Who owned Blue Buffalo before General Mills?
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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?
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Yes. As of 16 September 2026, Blue Buffalo is still owned by General Mills. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.
Sources (2) & 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.