Simple Cereal Box design

I have frequently highlighted the importance of cereal boxes in the marketing of cereal. Typically, cereal companies have focused on innovative designs featuring cartoon characters, sports figures, and other popular culture icons. An article that orginally appeared in the Washington Post (but reprinted in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette) examines a new trend in cereal box design: simplicity. A clean, attractive way to cut through all the clutter in the grocery store cereal aisle.

LINK

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Technorati Tags : cereal, design, marketing, breakfastbowl

Kellogg's Organics

Is it just marketing, or a genuine recognition of the trend toward healthier and organic foods?

Kellogg has just introduced a new line of organic food versions of some of its popular items, including Rice Krispies, Frosted Mini-Wheats, and Raisin Bran. (See www.kelloggsorganics.com)

Of course, these organic versions will cost more.

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Technorati Tags : cereal, organic, Kellogg, breakfastbowl

TV on cereal boxes?

This is not the first time I've posted on this topic, but talk continues on the development of inexpensive video display systems that could appear in unusual places including on cereal boxes. Packaging and eating breakfast will never be the same again.

Story at vnunet.com

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Technorati Tags : cereal, video, packaging, breakfastbowl

Cereal parade

Cereal and children go together. In Green Bay, WI their 2006 Kiddi Karnival Parade featured the theme "Breakfasts on Parade". As part of supervised playground programs children made creative floats based on various cereals.  Sounds like fun!

From the Green Bay Press Gazette

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Technorati Tags : cereal, parade, breakfastbowl

Cereal box collecting

Because of the creative marketing behind cereal, a growing hobby is cereal box collecting. Being a collector myself, I know the look the people give me when I first tell them of my interest, but once they think about it they can understand the fascination.

Here's an article that originally appeared in the Minneapolis Star Tribune about Robb Berry of Duluth, MN who is one of the leading collectors, with 4000 boxes in his collection. An interesting read.

LINK

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Technorati Tags : cereal, boxes, collecting, breakfastbowl

Cereal and bloggers

Notable blog posts on cereal from the past week:

Slashfood compares name brand with store brand cereals.

Guide to Green Living gives tips for reusing cereal liner bags

Words for My Enjoyment offers a provocative look at what makes cereals attractive or not.

Andy's Soapbox shares his love for Lucky Charms and provides a nostalgic look back at the introduction of various marshmallow charms.

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Technorati Tags : cereal, blogs, breakfastbowl

Cereality settles lawsuit against Cerealicious

Although there hasn't been as much buzz lately, I have previously examined the growth of cereal restaurants and the conflicts between innovator Cereality and its competitors. Last week Cereality announced that it settled a lawsuit against copycat Cerealicious. One the one hand it is good to see these legal battles end, but I hope that it doesn't see a stifling of new cereal restaurant development, especially as this is an emerging concept with lots of room for healthy competition.

LINK

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Technorati Tags : cereal, Cereality, Cerealicious, lawsuits, restaurants, breakfastbowl

Cereal and bloggers

Here are some noteworthy posts concerning cereal from the past few weeks:

Juline muses on cereal all over her house.

The Impulsive Buy does a review on new Berry Krispies

Ken Jennings reflects on cereal mascots

Devon Swift takes a trip down memory lane, or more precisely the cereal aisle of the past.

Lore Sjoberg at Wired News looks at this year's movie-cereal tie-ins.

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Technorati Tags : cereal, blogs, breakfastbowl

Cereal going to the dogs

Dried dog food already looks like cereal, but now a company is building on humans' affection for cereal. Bow Wow! Breakfast Cereal for Dogs positions itself as "complete breakfast nutrition for dogs". Some of the packaging is designed to mimic certain human brands.

 

Great marketing. But, I wouldn't buy it for my dog.

 

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Technorati Tags : cereal, dog+food, breakfastbowl

 

Cereal prices to rise

AdAge.com reports that Kellogg will be hiking the price of many of its cereals by 2% and decrease packaging sizes, all for the sake of profitability and to maintain marketing budgets. Other companies are likely to follow.

Cereal is a popular commodity and I'm certainly a big fan of it, but at what point are consumers going to just stop buying the big name brands? Or, continue the trend to the generic or bulk brands? The fact is, for many people name brand cereal is getting expensive, and providing less and less value.

I am convinced that these companies would be better off focusing on innovation than pricing themselves out of the market.

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Technorati Tags : cereal, Kellogg, inflation, breakfastbowl

Ford Fusions in Froot Loops

In a somewhat strange move, Ford has partnered with Kellogg to put 600,000 Ford Fusion Hot Wheels cars in boxes of Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Frosted Flakes, and Cocoa Krispies. The special boxes will be distributed by Target, and one lucky car will actually win the possessor a real car.

I've always wondered why car companies don't partner more cereal companies. This would be a great way to build brand identity. Why not a cereal called "Wheels" with round bites, but with special collectible boxes featuring significant vehicles?

But, why would Ford do this with what are largely kids cereals?

AP story here

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Technorati Tags : cereal, Ford, Kellogg, breakfastbowl