Review: Kellogg's Jif

Summer is keeping me extremely busy, and I will be getting to a backlog of stories on some recent developments, but it is time for another review!

One new cereal that has caught people's attention is Jif Peanut Butter cereal from Kellogg. When a cereal takes on a popular co-branding arrangement it quickly cuts through the clutter in the grocery story and stands out. This has been done many times before, and with peanut butter General Mills' Reese's Puffs provides a good example. Jif is a popular brand of peanut butter, and for Kellogg to work this into a cereal is a brilliant marketing move. Peanut butter is a great breakfast and comfort food, so featuring it in cereal not  just as an ingredient (as has been done before) but linked to a strong brand is powerful.

Beyond the obvious marketing, the real question is how does it stack up as an actual breakfast cereal? Let's get our bowls out and find out!

With the cereal built around peanut butter taste is going to be a critical element for its success. And, it doesn't disappoint. Claiming to be "made with Jif Peanut Butter" (although artificial flavors are in the mix too) the flavor is obvious and pleasant. Not over-bearing, but as with Jif Peanut Butter itself enhanced with sugar. This is a joy to eat.

Texture was the biggest surprise. Jif cereal is not the hardened balls found in Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch or Reese's Puffs. The little donut pillows are delightfully light and silky. They are smooth, as close as possible to eating peanut butter out of the jar. And, that's even without milk. Of course, add milk to these light pieces and as would be expected they soften even that much more, especially after 5 and 10 minutes. Normally that would be a mark against a cereal, but in this case it actually reinforces the smooth nature of what one would expect with peanut butter.

Although there are other cereals with peanut butter, this is still a novelty that in itself makes for a desirable experience. But, what really makes this fun to eat and connects the eater with all that is wonderful at breakfast is the brand linkage with Jif. The fact that the taste and texture mimic peanut butter is an additional bonus. Kellogg has executed it well.

With this much fun in your breakfast bowl it is understandable that nutrition might not be the cereal's strong point. Despite the claim of "made with whole grain" there is nothing that really stands out here health-wise. While peanut butter is eaten by many because of the belief that it is nutritious, do not be fooled. Peanut butter is only a flavoring here, not the main ingredient by far. Also, the sugar content is quite high (almost 40% of weight), so while this is fun and could be a great snack food, it's not the power breakfast you will want your kids consuming on a regular basis.

In the end this is a great new cereal from Kellogg that should help their struggling sales. Innovative it is!

(Review protocol HERE)