Public Service Announcement

As the colder weather and Holidays come upon us we need to be reminded of the importance of safe driving. That includes resisting the urge to eat cereal and drive!

Although not the first time we have noticed this problem, a women was trying to eat cereal with a bowl and spoon while driving on a icy road in Ontario, Canada. The result was an accident and the woman covered in milk and cereal.

So, please be careful and use common sense!

This public service announcement is brought to you by The Breakfast Bowl.

LINK

Technorati Tags: cereal, driving, breakfastbowl

Big Cereal

As industries mature big companies emerge, controlling the vast majority of the market. But, these companies find it difficult to change when necessary and to innovate. The result is that new, upstarts show up on the scenes carving out new markets. You can see this in almost every consumer product, from automobiles to beer to pharmaceuticals. And, of course, cereal.

A recent blog posting by John Gapper of the Financial Times examines the current state of Big Cereal and how speciality brands are the ones taking the leadership on the high end of the market.

Some interesting quotes: "The Big Cereal innovation pipeline seems to be running dry... The industry is bifurcating between low-cost generics and high-priced speciality items, with the established mass products coming under strain in the middle."

Worth reading.

LINK

Technorati Tags: cereal, innovation, breakfastbowl

Target's packaging wins award

Earlier this year Target introduced an innovative new packaging concept for its Archer Farms cereals. The bagless containers were named 2008 Package of the Year in the Food Category by Food and Beverage Packaging magazine. Target is known for moving beyond the ordinary and their execution of this design with packaging company Sonoco is worth noting. Congratulations!

(Story in Marketwatch)

Technorati Tags: cereal, Target, Archer+Farms, packaging, breakfastbowl

MixMyGranola

A recent tip by a commenter has revealed yet another U.S. entrant into the custom cereal business, following in the footsteps of [me]&goji and Germany's mymuesli. MixMyGranola is in many ways very similar to the other two, except that focus on granola. Nevertheless, it's the same principle: pick your ingredients online and they will package them up and send them to you in a cylindrical container.

I am the first one to admire innovation, and custom cereals are innovative. Although this is still a fledgling opportunity which much potential, it will be critical for companies to not simply copy each other, but find unique ways to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Otherwise innovation will cease and great idea like this will be diminished.

Technorati Tags: cereal, mixmygranola, breakfastbowl

Cereal for the Holidays

Life has been rather quiet in the cereal world. The most "exciting" thing to report on right now is Kellogg's unveiling of a holiday menu using Corn Flakes as a key ingredient. The chosen recipes are the most requested by consumers, and include:

Cheddar Broccoli Corn Bake
Sweet Potato Bake
Creamy Green Bean Casserole
Apple-Celery Stuffing
Cherry Dot Cookies

LINK

Technorati Tags: cereal, recipes, Kellogg, Corn+Flakes, breakfastbowl

More General Mills Halloween

For many years General Mills has been known for its "monster cereals" (i.e. Count Chocula, Boo Berry and Franken Berry). This year, just in time for Halloween, General Mills appears to have made some of their regular cereals a little more ghoulish. Actually the designs are rather cute and should catch people's attention. So far I've seen Trix and Honey Nut Cheerios boxes.

Anyone else seen any others?


Technorati Tags: cereal, Trix, Cheerios, halloween, breakfastbowl

Breakfast politics

Just when you think you've had enough of politics, AirBed&Breakfast has come up with Obama O's and Cap'n McCain's cereals.

These are real cereals in limited edition boxes. But before you rush out to buy the boxes take note that these collectors' editions are not cheap. They are $39.00 each, plus shipping.

I bet they'll sell out!

Technorati Tags: cereal, election, breakfastbowl

[me]&goji

Following in the footsteps of German cereal innovator, mymuesli, is an American company called [me]&goji. This New England upstart promises "custom artisanal cereal" that is "designed by you, handmade by us". Like with mymuesli you pick the ingredients and they put them all together and send them to you in a plastic cereal capsule. Some of the ingredient choices are quite exotic, and include such things as goji berry, chia seed, and macadamia. In all there are over 40 natural and organic ingredient choices. The cost starts at $4.90 for a 600g (21oz) capsule (but couild easily be much higher depending on your ingredient choices) plus USPS shipping. Not cheap, but when you are innovative and unique you don't necessarily have to be.

As I've stated before with mymuesli, this is an innovation to watch.

Technorati Tags: cereal, mymuesli, [me]&goji, breakfastbowl

Sugar Culprits

Despite recent attempts to improve the nutritional quality of cereals marketed to children, there are still some cereals to avoid, at least according to a new report from Consumer Reports. Studying 27 cereals marketed to children they found that some were two were more than 50 percent sugar (Post Golden Crisp and Kellogg's Honey Smacks), and nine were at least 40 percent sugar. Only four of the studied cereals rated "very good".

After Golden Crisp and Honey Smacks, the next least healthful cereals are Cap'n Crunch's Peanut Butter Crunch, Cap'n Crunch, Apple Jacks, Froot Loops, and Corn Pops.

Is anyone really surprised?

Source: MarketWatch

Technorati Tags: cereal, nutrition, sugar, breakfastbowl

Frosty O's

While not a record, today a 70's empty box of General Mills' Frosty O's sold on ebay for $761.99! (ebay item 300261546913).

The rare nature of this box along with its nostalgic value certainly contributed to the high selling price. More indication of the emotional connection many people have with cereal.


Technorati Tags: cereal, boxes, collectibles, breakfastbowl