Crunchy Nut superhero

Maybe it's the recent superhero craze associated with some prominent movies, but Kellogg is jumping on the bandwagon with its introduction of The Crunchy Nut, a superhero whose mission is "to seek out people suffering from dull breakfasts and put the fun back into cereal bowls everywhere." As part of their new campaign he recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Obviously a marketing gimmick, but a few noteworthy points. First, it's a mascot for an adult cereal, something we don't typically see. And, it suggests that Kellogg is intent on building the Crunch Nut brand. In fact, they also recently introduced a new Caramel Nut variety.

I haven't tried this new flavor, but I wasn't overly impressed with the first two that I tasted. Nevertheless, the cereals must be getting some traction, and Kellogg must believe that there is a strong future for Crunchy Nut.

Press release here.

Disney drops high sugared cereals

For years I have reported on the growing pressure put on cereal companies for their production and marketing of high-sugared cereals. Companies have responded with healthier cereals and voluntary reduction of advertising.

The powerful Walt Disney Company has recently made a decision that will have significant influence on a wide range of food manufacturers, including cereal. All food products advertised on their entertainment services must meet strict nutritional standards. For cereal this means no more than 10 grams of sugar per serving (although that's kind of nebulous since companies can easily modify suggested serving sizes).

This policy is likely to prompt other media companies to make similar changes.

(Source: New York Times)