Kellogg and bad PR

Life has been very full the last couple of months, so writing here has been sparse. It's time to catch up, and look forward to expanded coverage coming in 2017! (Reminder: Keep up to date with cereal news and fun on our Facebook page @BreakfastBowl).

The cereal industry has taken some big hits in the past few years with declining sales amid frustrated efforts to turn things around. The big companies, like Kellogg, have been particularly impacted by these shifts, and cannot afford for anything else to further erode their businesses.

One can only imagine then the hand-wringing among executives in Battle Creek in the past month or so when not one, but two, stories stormed the media and threatened to take everyone's eyes off of Kellogg's cereal business, including the introduction of new products, such as new Cinnamon Frosted Flakes.

First, was an Associated Press report that Kellogg misled consumers by not making it clear that its "independent experts" who make up its Breakfast Council are, in fact, paid by the company. Then, only days later, Bloomberg reported that Kellogg pulled ads from the right-wing news site, Breitbart. This latter story could be seen as a positive for those with left political leanings, and a negative for Breitbart supporters (encouraged on by a boycott), but the point in all this is that ultimately Kellogg does not need any of this publicity.

At a time when the cereal industry is struggling, companies are going to have to be extra vigilant to ensure that their actions are carefully thought out, and consistently applied. There can be no room for bad PR to distract consumers. People today are watching closely, and want the brands they buy to be of the highest integrity and representative of their values. Getting media attention for the wrong reasons does nothing to help these perceptions.

Bear Naked goes wild

Recently I highlighted the new custom cereal venture at Bear Naked, a Kellogg company. Since then I've placed my first order in order to test the process. Within a few days my canister arrived, presented in an attractive box, along with a handwritten note, thanking me for my order. The experience has been pleasant, reinforcing my observation that they are really trying hard to get this right.

Another feature of Bear Naked's version of customization is the inclusion of unique ingredients not commonly found in breakfast cereals, such as jalapeno, lavender, kale and olives. The whole point of that is to position granola as something that can be eaten not just at breakfast, but even at other times in the day when you want stronger, savory flavors. Since my first post, Bear Naked has added several more novel flavors that should definitely get consumers' attention. Most notable, are two non-alcoholic wine varieties, and also a bourbon flavor.

Not having tried any of these truly wild flavors, I can't really comment as to whether these types of granola will start a new eating trend. At minimum, however, these bold additions to the ingredient options should generate buzz, whether or not people actually try them. Of course, the key will be marketing, something I haven't really seen too much of so far.

Give Bear Naked credit for an worthy experiment, and we'll keep watching to see if this adds new life to the cereal industry in the U.S.

Girl Scouts cereals

A venerable part of American culture is the annual sale of cookies by Girl Scouts, a leadership development organization for girls. Now it appears that you could be supporting this respected program by purchasing some new cereals that are being produced for the Girl Scouts by General Mills. There has not been an official announcement on this partnership yet, but sightings of two new cereals have appeared on influenster.com and the Instagram account of candyhunting.

According to the box images, the two new cereals will come in Caramel Crunch and Thin Mints varieties, the latter being a truly innovative flavor for cereal. The cereals are obviously take-offs of cookies. It also appears these will be limited edition.

The big question is whether these cereals will be sold in stores or by the Girl Scouts themselves. We'll be watching for more details, so that we can try them!

UPDATE 10/24/16: General Mills confirmed on Twitter that these cereals will be arriving in January.

Bear Naked goes custom

I've long been an advocate of customized cereals, largely because of the innovation and success of mymuesli in Germany. There were several attempts in the U.S. over the years, but earlier this year when the last one closed, it looked like those small-scale ventures were the last gasp for giving American consumers the opportunity to create their own cereal mixes. But, others are still seeing the potential, including MyCerealMix, a small player; and, now I have discovered that Kellogg-owned Bear Naked also launched their own customization effort earlier this year.

Bear Naked Custom Made Granola is a website (bearnakedcustom.com) that allows consumers the opportunity to create their own granola recipe and have it shipped to them in an attractive canister. On the surface this is very similar to the other companies that have entered this field at some point, but there are some noteworthy differences. First, this is a well-designed online store, backed by one of the major cereal manufacturers. Second, they are stepping outside the ordinary with fifty different non-GMO ingredients, including several very novel ones for cereal, such as jalapeno, lavender, kale and olives. These diverse ingredients allow for some out-of-the-box combinations, including some "chef blends" with names like "Chocolate Strawberry Jalapeno," and "Olive You, Kale."

The ordering process is pretty simple, although there are certain limits when creating your mix. There are only three granola bases to start with, and you can only add three additional ingredients. Bare Naked brags that their website is powered by IBM's Watson to help you create the perfect blend, but I have not found that feature to be that useful. Once you have determined your recipe, you get to choose from one of five canister designs, featuring a different styled bear. The price is $9.99 for 11oz, and that includes shipping.

This is a major development. For the first time a major U.S. player is entering the custom cereal market. So far, this seems low profile, as I haven't seen any advertising, other than a few social media posts. It somehow passed my notice until now, and I doubt that many others have really tapped into it yet either. If Kellogg wants this to be successful they will need to find some way to get the word out, and entice consumers with the opportunity to create cereals that they might actually eat!

What impact will new GMO disclosures have?

I recently noticed that a number of cereal boxes from Kellogg, General Mills and Post were starting to appear on grocers' shelves with an inconspicuous phrase indicating that they are made with genetically modified organisms (GMO's). This is the result of a new federal law that will require certain foods to be labelled as such.

Pressure has been mounting for this type of legislation, as many consumers are concerned about the health effects of GMO ingredients. This labelling will provide people the information they need to make informed choices.

Of course, a brief mention on the side of a cereal box is likely to be missed my most people, but it does raise the question as to whether this will have a further negative impact on the sale of major brands of breakfast cereals. Will this give health-conscious consumers one more reason to look for alternatives? Certainly, some cereals are non-GMO, but more are not. Cereal manufacturers will need to pay close attention, and respond accordingly if it appears that this labelling further tarnishes cereal's reputation.

Review: 2016 Pumpkin Spice Cereals

Fall is now officially here, so it is finally appropriate to review the three new pumpkin spice cereals that have hit the grocery aisle in recent weeks. Pumpkin spice has quickly become the trendy flavor for this time of year, almost to the point of overkill. Nevertheless, at least so far, this has come to be the foundation of comfort foods preparing us for the cooler, darker days ahead.

Last year I reviewed the first ever such cereal, Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats Pumpkin Spice. I was thoroughly impressed, and it remains one of the highest rated cereals I have ever reviewed. Apparently Kellogg has re-released this cereal this year (although I have not seen in any stores yet), but my intent this time is only to review the newcomers to the market: General Mills Pumpkin Spice Cheerios, Kellogg's Special K Pumpkin Spice Crunch, and Quaker Life Pumpkin Spice. This will be one review, but of these three cereals.

Taste. Of course, the whole point of these cereals is the taste. People crave the pumpkin spice flavors (usually comprised of such spices as nutmeg, allspice, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves), and these products had better deliver. The challenge that cereal makers have is creating a recipe that highlights the special flavors, but without being overwhelming. For the most part, these three cereals do that, finding a good balance using varieties of existing high-profile cereals on the market. If I close my eyes and taste, the pumpkin spice theme definitely is there, but to varying degrees. Probably the most disappointing is the Cheerios, as in my assessment the cloves are much too pronounced (and I'm not crazy about cloves). The Life edition provided the greatest surprise, with a strong kick of spice on first bite. The Special K seemed to have the best balance of flavors, with the leftover milk in the bowl providing a great treat in itself. One other point of interest, the Cheerios was the only one of the three listing actual pumpkin puree as an ingredient. RATINGS: Special K (5), Life (4), Cheerios (3).

Texture. In many ways texture should not be a big surprise since two of the cereals (i.e. Cheerios and Life) are almost identical to their originally flavored sibling. The woven Life squares are lightly crunchy, but soften as they bathe in milk. Cheerios the same. The Special K version emphasizes "crunch," which is largely achieved by a light sugar coating of the flakes. Overall, it is the latter that shines - the crunchy flakes hold their own even after sitting in milk for 10 minutes. RATINGS: Special K (5), Cheerios (3), Life (3)

Experience. These cereals are all about the experience, which includes the taste, but incorporates so much more. As indicated earlier, they tap into our emotional needs as we enter autumn. So, to a certain degree they all achieve this, with their fall colors and images on the boxes. But, it is Cheerios that really stands out. The predominately orange box stands out, and more importantly the cereal itself (partly due to the fact that they use real pumpkin) has an orange tinge. Life and Special K don't go these extra miles. RATINGS: Cheerios (5), Life (4), Special K (4)

Nutrition. This discussion sometimes kills the fun, but in the end food should provide nutritional value, pumpkin spice cereals included. Life Pumpkin Spice comes closest to retaining the value of original Life: slightly more protein than many cereals, and a reasonable amount of sugar. The other two definitely work on sweetness, almost hitting 30% of weight in the form of sugar. Beyond that, they all emphasize whole grains, are fortified with vitamins and minerals, and are free of artificial flavors. RATINGS: Life (4), Special K (3), Cheerios (3)

Overall. If you want the full pumpkin spice immersion this fall, then incorporating one of these breakfast foods will be worth it. In the end, they all come out pretty close, but none can beat out Mini-Wheats Pumpkin Spice. If you have to choose from these three new ones just one go with the Special K. I would encourage you, however, to try all three, because, remember, these are limited edition cereals. In a few months they will no longer be available and you might miss the opportunity. Of course, by that time you will also be so tired of pumpkin spice in your life that you'll be ready for something different! RATINGS: Special K (4), Life (4), Cheerios (4).

(Review protocol here)

Could milk-coated cereals be the future?

Scientific research and development is always trying to discover new and better ways of doing things, and this applies to food science as well. An interesting and relevant project coming out of the U.S. Department of Agriculture might form the future for food products. They have been working on milk-based packaging for food, that could also be used to spray on foods such as cereal to form not only a protective coating, but added nutrition as well.

In this video from the American Chemical Society the technology is explained, and they mention how they have tried this on Wheaties. One of the benefits they noted is that the milk protein coating actually keeps the cereal crunchier; but there are many yet answered questions: What is the nutritional value? How does it taste? And, probably most important, will consumers accept this as a new way to eat cereal?

Regardless whether this works or not, it is great to see innovations that could potentially revolutionize the way we eat, cereal included. The future could be less packaging waste, more convenience, and less soggy cereal!

Cereal by the numbers

I came across an interesting article this week on the website, data-driven thoughts, the work of data analyst, Erik Rood. He explores a wide-range of topics, all centered around looking deeper into the numbers.

A few months ago Rood tackled the issue of our favorite breakfast food in his article, "The golden age of cereal." The most fascinating insight from this analysis is that "nearly half of all cereals last less than 5 years before being discontinued." In other words, manufacturers are trying all kinds of recipes and ideas, but most do not succeed. In fact, the pace of new cereals introduced is increasing, illustrated by the fact that "the majority of cereals have been launched in the past ~10 years (over 1/3 of all cereals."

The article is brief, without too many more great discoveries, although his table of cereals and the time that they have been on the market, is a great resource. Rood also offers a few reflections based on this data as to how cereal companies might reverse declining trends.

Check it out. It's a short, interesting read!

Customization still available in the U.S. with MyCerealMix

A few months ago I pointed out that yet another custom cereal maker, MixMyOwn, shut down. This is at least the fourth such company to quit, unable to match the success of this format in Europe, namely mymuesli of Germany.

Just when I thought that this approach was dead on this continent, I was made aware of another one, MyCerealMix, that has recently cropped up to try their hand at this innovation. The company claims that it is possible to make your own cereals "from 30+ all-natural ingredients. No added sugar, nothing artificial. It's easy, healthy and delicious." Similar to the others, you start with a base and add various things such as nuts, seeds, freeze-dried fruits, and "super foods" to come up with your own concoction. Your mix is shipped in a windowed, resealable, foil pouch.

I reached out to the company, and founder Tobias Patella was kind enough to fill me on more details and answer some questions I had. He told me that this all started as a result of his own paleo/primal eating lifestyle, and he wanted to see cereals that were all-natural, but could be personalized to individual preferences and needs. Although they have a website where people can put their recipes together, and they utilize social media to spread the word, they got started an old-school way, simply handing out flyers in southern California and giving out samples at gyms. As far, as what makes MyCerealMix different than the others who have failed at this, Patella said that, "we are differentiating our product by guaranteeing that all of our ingredients are 'better for you. By offering a truly healthy offering for all consumers that look for an alternative to the sugary-loaded cereals you'll find everywhere else."

On the one hand, I remain convinced that the custom cereal concept is a valid one, and somebody is going to make it work in the U.S. People want personalization in life, and this offers that. On the other hand, however, I wonder whether they will have the startup capital and other resources to make their brand competitive in a challenging marketplace. Will they will be able to distinguish themselves adequately as a brand, and not just through customization?

We'll be watching!

Review: General Mills' Tiny Toast

As I've pointed out before, this blog is not focused on cereal reviews, but the industry and phenomenon of breakfast cereal. Nevertheless, every once in a while a particular cereal comes across my breakfast table that is of such significance that it deserves a careful look and taste test.

The new Tiny Toast cereals from General Mills provide a perfect occasion to grab a bowl (or two, in this case) to provide my impressions of what they bill as their "first new cereal brand in 15 years," an over-hyped claim in my opinion. These received much attention when released a couple of months ago, and General Mills is hoping that they will generate some of the same kind of excitement that some of their other "toast" cereals enjoy, namely Cinnamon Toast Crunch and French Toast Crunch.

Tiny Toast comes in two flavors, blueberry and strawberry, and both will be considered in this one review.


So, how do these new cereals actually taste? In short, pretty good. With the increasing commitment of General Mills (and other companies) to use only natural flavors, newer cereals are much more pleasant and muted, than the blasts of flavors that come from artificial ingredients (let alone the powerful whiff of chemical scents that erupt from the bags of newly open cereals with artificial flavors). The blueberry and strawberry flavors here are evident, although I like the strawberry better. Blueberry Tiny Toasts actually bordered on lacking in taste.

An obvious distinguishing point of this brand are the tiny little toast pieces, and they are pleasant to consume - light, and only mildly crunchy out of the box. In other words, they go down easy, but have substance. They also hold their own in milk, although after ten minutes they start to get a little gummy.

Breakfast cereal is about so much more than just the cereal itself, and with Tiny Toast General Mills has created a brand with some personality and that is tied in with their previous toast varieties. Just the idea of eating tiny toasts is fun, and the cartoonish look of the box and logo contribute to that impression. But, despite the design and "Match the Hashtag" game on the back, this cereal is not intended just for children. The pictures and statements on the front that these contain real fruit, remind everyone that these are somewhat serious eats too.

If this is somewhat serious, then what about the nutritional qualities of Tiny Toast. Despite the claims of natural flavor, natural colors, fortified vitamins and minerals, and "First ingredient: whole grain," these cereals are nutritionally meh. There is only 2g of protein, and 1g of fiber, and the percentage of sugar by weight is over 30%. Not that I was expecting more, but don't be fooled - this is not for those looking for a nutritional powerhouse.

Overall, even with the fanfare, Tiny Toasts are an interesting addition to the General Mills lineup, and in the short-term should garner consumer attention; but I really do not see anything special here. They have something to offer as an experience, but in a year or two will likely follow the fate of many new cereals that have come and gone over the years. By all means, try them for yourself, and let me know if they become a favorite of yours, or just a little occasional variety for your morning breakfast bowl.

Moving the cereal aisle to the produce section

Recently there were reports that Kellogg cereals were starting to show up alongside fruits and vegetables in Meijer's grocery stores. So far this seems limited to the Midwest grocer, but it could very well be a way for Kellogg to reposition cereals in a new way by associating them with fresh and healthful foods. Of course, adding fruit to your breakfast bowl has long been a way to enhance your cereal, but now the connection is being made more deliberately, perhaps even to the extent of suggesting that you can enhance your produce with cereal.

This is likely a marketing test for now, but it will be interesting to see if cereal companies continue trying these types of efforts to raise the profile of a food that is in need of rejuvenation.

(Source: Quartz)

Surprise! The flavor this fall is Pumpkin Spice

For the past few years, the favorite flavor of fall has been pumpkin spice. What started as the traditional pumpkin pie has now been utilized by food manufacturers in everything from Starbucks' lattes to Oreo cookies. Surprisingly, consumers have not yet tired of the fad, and its popularity continues to rise.

Even cereals have got into the pumpkin spice craze, most notably last year with Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats Pumpkin Cereal, one that we rated highly. For 2016 we are likely to see many more options featuring this comfort food sensation.

Earlier this year, reports emerged that General Mills would be introducing Pumpkin Spice Cheerios this fall. I can confirm from the company that this limited edition flavor will start showing up on grocers' shelves in August. They are claiming that it is "made from real pumpkin puree and a delicious blend of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove" and is "free from artificial flavors and colors from artificial sources."

While this is the only confirmed launch so far, there are strong signs out there that Kellogg and Quaker are getting into the action as well, although neither company responded to my request to confirm this or to provide more information. Online photos from Influenster and CandyHunting show a box of Pumpkin Spice Crunch Special K. Similarly, Influenster and CandyHunting reveal a Pumpkin Spice Life as well. These look legit, but we'll have to wait and see if these actually end up for sale.

UPDATE 8/1/16: Kellogg's officially announced the Special K item today, and also indicated that Frosted Mini-Wheats Pumpkin Cereal is returning this fall as well. They are introducing other fall flavors among various food products, including a Special K Apple Cinnamon Crunch.

Of course, you might not be craving pumpkin spice right now in the middle of summer, but soon enough the weather will cool down and the leaves will fall, and your breakfast bowl will be a place to celebrate!

New Look at Kashi

Kellogg owned cereal-maker Kashi recently unveiled a fresh new look intended to reflect "its belief that food should not only taste good, but do good." The new design includes its revised logo, and packaging that is contemporary and simple in appearance. The boxes certainly stand out for their clean look, avoiding most of the visual clichés common on cereal boxes such as a bowl of cereal, and excessive design elements. Instead the focus is on ingredients and cereal itself at the most basic level. The back of the boxes feature stories of "how the food was made and where it comes from – including employees, farmers and friends of Kashi who had a deep impact on it."

For quite sometime Kashi has struggled to find itself as a natural and health-conscious brand in the Kellogg portfolio, while becoming more and more mainstream in its distribution. Packaging has always been a big part of cereal's success and place within our culture, and this new look, while basically simple, should give the brand new life, if applied consistently across its product line. In my opinion, it's also a far superior effort than the cartoonish appearance of the new Annie's cereals recently launched by General Mills.

What do you think of the new look?

Kellogg seeks innovation via startups

Without sounding like a broken record, the key to the resurgence of cereal is innovation. We have also seen that much of that innovation is coming from small companies, eager to try new things, but often without the adequate resources to do so. The large companies are often too entrenched in their ways and culture to really effect creative change.

Silicon Valley has long been the hotbed for tech innovation, fueled by venture capitalists investing in the wild (and sometimes crazy) ideas of entrepreneurs. The cereal industry, desperately needing an injection of life, is now trying the same thing. Last fall we indicated that General Mills launched 301 INC to do just that. Not to be outdone, Kellogg is the latest to join the trend.

Kellogg recently announced the formation of eighteen94 capital (1894) to "to make minority investments in companies pursuing next-generation innovation, bolstering access to cutting-edge ideas and trends. The investment mandate includes start-up businesses pioneering new ingredients, foods, packaging, and enabling technology." Approximately $100 million will be invested.

To be fair, 1894 is not just about cereal, but food innovation more broadly. But, hopefully some of this rub off on a cereal industry needing some fresh ideas

Annie's cereals now available nationally

If you look around the "natural" section of the cereal aisle of many U.S. grocery stories you will probably see the new Annie's organic cereals. They are widely available nationwide now, and come in three varieties: Berry Bunnies, Cocoa Bunnies, and Frosted Oat Flakes.

On the surface this might seem like a relatively insignificant development, especially since "health food" branded cereals are a small and niche, albeit growing, market. Upon closer examination, however, this is a significant story because it involves one of the major players: General Mills.

The story started back in September 2014 when General Mills announced that they would be acquiring Annie's, which had become a well-known player in natural and organic foods targeted to families. Recognizing the growing interest in more nutritious foods among consumers, General Mills saw an opportunity to expand its offerings by adding a recognized and respected brand to its portfolio. Annie's is, however, far more than cereal - they make a wide range of food products. In fact, cereal is not one of their traditional strengths. They first tried back in 2007, but quickly discontinued the line. General Mills, a leader in cereal, wanted them to try again, hence the current three new ones first announced back in February, but only now widely available.

Of course, Annie's is not General Mills' only line of more natural cereals, as they already have the Cascadian Farms brand. But, in this time of frustrating cereal sales, companies are attempting whatever they can to change their fortunes. General Mills is hoping that the Annie's brand will be part of the solution.

Kellogg tries bilingual again

A look at recent Kellogg's cereal boxes reveals some subtle, but significant changes. Specifically, the company is now incorporating Spanish in the Nutrition Facts panel, and on the front weight listing. I have detected this on a wide range of cereals, including Corn Flakes, Apple Jacks, Frosted Flakes, and more.

I asked Kellogg about this, and here is their response:

"Kellogg offers a selection of products in bilingual packaging to welcome our ever-growing Hispanic population with their favorites here in the United States. Because our packages communicate important nutrition information, it is important to provide key elements in Spanish for these consumers. By offering the Nutrition Facts in Spanish and English, the nutrient value of the products is easily understood."

Bilingual packaging is not completely new for Kellogg. They have gone completely bilingual on cereals targeted specifically to Hispanics, as when they introduced Choco Zucaritas and Touch of Honey Corn Flakes in the United States. Of course, in other countries, such as Canada, bilingual labelling has long been the norm. It is not required in the U.S., but obviously they feel this is a way that they can assist and appeal to Hispanic consumers, who are a growing demographic in this country, but not necessarily big breakfast cereal eaters. Considering how cereal companies are struggling, any little move like this could be seen as a tactic to bolster their market share.

Who knows, if more and more Hispanics take to cereal, might we someday see many fully bilingual cereal boxes?

Kellogg's NYC - More than just another cereal cafe

Last week Kellogg made a big cereal bowl splash with the announcement of a new restaurant that opened on Monday, July 4th. They state that Kellogg's NYC "will serve dishes featuring Kellogg's cereals combined with unique ingredients, all served with a side of fun. Kellogg's NYC will be a destination that reminds guests of home and drives new curiosity around the cereal bowl."

Cereal cafes are not new - we've been monitoring them here for years. Most have been small, independent restaurants, such as one that just opened in Tulsa, Oklahoma yesterday. None, however, have really taken off, at least not nationally. In the last couple of years, however, things have changed, largely because of the attention given to Cereal Killer Cafe in London, a bold new concept that has garnered both positive and negative reactions. Kellogg must have liked what they saw, and decided to give it a try themselves. With the growing realization that cereal is quickly losing ground, especially among millennials, they have no choice but to innovate and try new strategies.

This is big news, mainly because one of the major players is involved. While this is certainly experimental, for Kellogg to seriously commit to this prototype is evidence of a willingness to step outside the box (pun intended). This is an opportunity for them to present cereal in a fresh, fun new way, and to strengthen their brand.

Here's a quick video look of Kellogg's NYC, via CBS:

Let's not be fooled. One restaurant in Times Square is not, by itself, going to turn around the plight of the cereal industry. And, of course, there are many critics out there (such as this article in the Guardian), most of them aghast over the fact that a bowl of cereal could cost as much as $7.50. Nonetheless, this is a brilliant move that could really strengthen Kellogg's brand. Instead of going after the crowded low-end of the market, by elevating cereal to the high-end, both in terms of price and gourmet-style mixtures, they have an opportunity to tell a new story about cereal and provide exciting new experiences. While we may never see Kellogg's cereal cafes as ubiquitous as McDonalds or Starbucks, a strategic expansion of these restaurants in key cities and locations across the U.S, Canada and the U.K. could invigorate new interest for cereal, not just for breakfast, but for almost any time of the day.  

We'll be watching.

The possibilities of custom packaging

I don't want to sound like a broken record, but one of the most impressive innovators in the cereal industry is mymuesli of Germany, which has been featured here on several occasions. Their major contribution is the successful development of a model for custom cereals, which some American companies have attempted, but so far have failed.

Part of the appeal of mymuesli is the comprehensive experience they provide consumers. It's not just custom recipes they provide, but so much more; and that now includes an experiment with custom packaging. This level of personalization engages customers, and makes buying and eating cereal lots of fun.

Heidelberg, the large German company that makes commercial printers, has partnered with the cereal company to setup a custom printer in one of mymuesli's stores so that customers can walk out with a canister featuring their selected text and images.

Read Heidelberg's press release on this innovation, and consider the possibilities of well-established U.S. cereal companies could catch a vision for a whole new level of innovation!

Toast goes Tiny

Last week General Mills proudly announced what they call, "our first new cereal brand in 15 years." Tiny Toast cereal is "shaped like small pieces of toast sprinkled with blueberries and strawberries," and is the result of extensive research and development.

On the positive side, it is good to see some new cereals, with bold, fun packaging that should grab consumer attention in the grocer's aisle. The whole miniature toast experience will liven up the breakfast table, at least on the short-term.

I take exception, however, to General Mills calling this a NEW cereal brand. Perhaps it is a distinctly named brand, but the small toast concept is hardly new for GM. What about Cinnamon Toast Crunch, French Toast Crunch, Chocolate Toast Crunch, and others? Obviously, the earlier "toast" varieties have been very successful, so why not expand on it? But, in light of that, to call this a new brand is a stretch.

Nevertheless, we'll watch (and taste) to see if Tiny Toast is a way for people to keep cereal at the forefront of their breakfast menu.

MixMyOwn: Another custom cereal maker shuts down

Custom cereal MixMyOwn has announced that today, June 5th, is their final day of operation. In an email sent to customers a few weeks ago they said,

"We want to thank you for your past business and tell you how much we have enjoyed doing this business. We started this with a lot of energy, motivation and hope, but it was not enough. There are many reasons why it did not turn out as we needed and now we want to focus on our other business, which is doing better."

Sadly, this is not the first custom cereal company to fold. We are aware of least three other U.S. ventures that have come and gone over the past decade: [me]&goji, MixMyGranola, and Custom Choice. MixMyOwn was the newest of these, starting only three years ago. Despite the valiant efforts of their European founders, the U.S. market did not respond as they had hoped.

I have long contented that custom cereals is a promising innovation that could help shake-up the cereal industry. Of course, the proof of this is in the brilliance of the concept's originator, mymuesli of Germany. The U.S. imitators tried hard to copy their success, but obviously could not do it. This is not Germany, but the U.S. where the cereal market is well established and entrenched. But, in an environment where the industry desperately needs a revival, the underlying approach should work. In my view, for it work here massive investment will be necessary to give it the kick-start it needs to gain traction. None of the previous attempts had that. Depending on a simple e-commerce model was not adequate for them.

It is sad to see an innovator disappear, but hopefully the lessons learned from their experience will help others who have a vision for this type of company. I still believe that a well-funded, well-crafted, U.S. take on mymuesli could be one of the recipes for success that cereal industry needs.

WE HAVE A WINNER! Quaker Oatmeal Squares

Two months ago I launched an endeavor to determine the favorite cereal among my followers. Utilizing a bracketed playoff system inspired by college basketball's "March Madness", dozens of cereals were included in online polls. Thank you to all of you who participated in this lengthy process! It has been arduous, but in the end, after hundreds of votes, we finally have a winner!

The 2016 March Cereal Madness winner goes to Quaker Oatmeal Squares!

For full disclosure this is actually my favorite go-to cereal, so it might be easy for others to see that this result was fixed. I did vote in all the polls, but only once each time, so I know that my single vote is not the whole story. Obviously, through a process of elimination there are many, many others out there who also love this cereal.

This was not expected. I really thought the winner would be one of the super popular cereals like Honey Nut Cheerios, or favorites like Lucky Charms, Frosted Flakes, and so on. And, while most of these moved along in the brackets, in the end Corn Pops and Oatmeal Squares made the finals, with the latter winning with a 57.14% decision!

What is so special about Oatmeal Squares? As a fan myself I believe that in addition to the hint of brown sugar taste, texture is a big part of the story. These squares are crunchy, even in milk, and make for a hearty breakfast.

Congratulations to Quaker for having a true winner in Oatmeal Squares. (Interestingly, they had another cereal, Life, that made it to the Final Four!).

If you have never tried this exceptional cereal (or if it's been awhile) be sure to get a box and see what the rave is all about!

March Cereal Madness - CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND!

This is part of our quest to discover the best cereal, according to you the true fans! Each day a new poll will be taken, leading to an eventual winner. For more information check the original post.

OK, it's actually MAY, but after dozens of head-to-head battles and hundreds of votes, we have finally arrived at our FINAL TWO cereals (and they're not ones most of us would have predicted)! To vote for the champion, check out this poll (you only have until midnight May 9th to vote).






WINNERS OF PREVIOUS ROUNDS

Qualification Round 1 - Honey Nut Cheerios
Qualification Round 2 - Original Special K
Qualification Round 3 - Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries
Qualification Round 4 - Rice Chex
Qualification Round 5 - Mini-Wheats Original
Qualification Round 6 - Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch

Round 1
All Bran vs. Honey Nut Cheerios
Alpha-Bits vs. Apple Jacks
Rice Chex vs. Corn Bran Crunch
Cocoa Puffs vs. Cookie Crisp
Corn Flakes vs. Crispix
Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch vs. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Fiber One vs. Frosted Mini-Wheats Original
Corn Pops vs. French Toast Crunch
Grape Nuts vs. Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries (TIE)
Froot Loops vs. Frosted Flakes
Kix vs. Life
Golden Crisp vs. Golden Grahams
Oatmeal Squares vs. Raisin Bran
Honeycomb vs. Honey Smacks
Rice Krispies vs. Shredded Wheat
Krave vs. Lucky Charms
Special K Original vs. Total
Fruity Pebbles vs. Reese's Puffs
Trix vs. Waffle Crisp

Round 2
Honey Nut Cheerios vs. Rice Chex
Apple Jacks vs. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Crispix vs. Frosted Mini-Wheats Original
Cocoa Puffs vs. Corn Pops
Grape Nuts vs. Life
Frosted Flakes vs. Golden Grahams
Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries vs. Oatmeal Squares
Honey Smacks vs. Lucky Charms
Rice Krispies vs. Special K Original (TIE)
Reese's Puffs vs. Waffle Crisp

Round 3
Frosted Mini-Wheats Original vs. Honey Nut Cheerios
Cinnamon Toast Crunch vs. Corn Pops
Frosted Flakes vs. Lucky Charms
Rice Krispies vs. Wheaties
Oatmeal Squares vs. Special K Original

Round 4
Honey Nut Cheerios vs. Life
Reese's Puffs vs. Corn Pops
Rice Krispies vs. Oatmeal Squares

Round 5
Lucky Charms vs. Corn Pops
Life vs. Oatmeal Squares

March Cereal Madness - Round 5: Life vs. Oatmeal Squares

This is part of our quest to discover the best cereal, according to you the true fans! Each day a new poll will be taken, leading to an eventual winner. For more information check the original post.

OK, it's actually APRIL, but we are now in Round 5 and down to our FINAL FOUR cereals in our head-to-head battles! Each day we pit two cereals against each other, and you get to choose which one will move on to the next round. To vote, check out the poll below.

MISSED A PREVIOUS POLL? It's not too late to do other recent polls, although act quickly as each one is only available for five days:

Round 5 - Lucky Charms vs. Corn Pops

WINNERS. See the poll winners so far, at the bottom of the post.





WINNERS SO FAR

Qualification Round 1 - Honey Nut Cheerios
Qualification Round 2 - Original Special K
Qualification Round 3 - Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries
Qualification Round 4 - Rice Chex
Qualification Round 5 - Mini-Wheats Original
Qualification Round 6 - Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch

Round 1
All Bran vs. Honey Nut Cheerios
Alpha-Bits vs. Apple Jacks
Rice Chex vs. Corn Bran Crunch
Cocoa Puffs vs. Cookie Crisp
Corn Flakes vs. Crispix
Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch vs. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Fiber One vs. Frosted Mini-Wheats Original
Corn Pops vs. French Toast Crunch
Grape Nuts vs. Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries (TIE)
Froot Loops vs. Frosted Flakes
Kix vs. Life
Golden Crisp vs. Golden Grahams
Oatmeal Squares vs. Raisin Bran
Honeycomb vs. Honey Smacks
Rice Krispies vs. Shredded Wheat
Krave vs. Lucky Charms
Special K Original vs. Total
Fruity Pebbles vs. Reese's Puffs
Trix vs. Waffle Crisp

Round 2
Honey Nut Cheerios vs. Rice Chex
Apple Jacks vs. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Crispix vs. Frosted Mini-Wheats Original
Cocoa Puffs vs. Corn Pops
Grape Nuts vs. Life
Frosted Flakes vs. Golden Grahams
Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries vs. Oatmeal Squares
Honey Smacks vs. Lucky Charms
Rice Krispies vs. Special K Original (TIE)
Reese's Puffs vs. Waffle Crisp

Round 3
Frosted Mini-Wheats Original vs. Honey Nut Cheerios
Cinnamon Toast Crunch vs. Corn Pops
Frosted Flakes vs. Lucky Charms
Rice Krispies vs. Wheaties
Oatmeal Squares vs. Special K Original

Round 4
Honey Nut Cheerios vs. Life
Reese's Puffs vs. Corn Pops
Rice Krispies vs. Oatmeal Squares

March Cereal Madness - Round 5: Lucky Charms vs. Corn Pops

This is part of our quest to discover the best cereal, according to you the true fans! Each day a new poll will be taken, leading to an eventual winner. For more information check the original post.

OK, it's actually APRIL, but we are now in Round 5 and down to our FINAL FOUR cereals in our head-to-head battles! Each day we pit two cereals against each other, and you get to choose which one will move on to the next round. To vote, check out the poll below.

MISSED A PREVIOUS POLL? It's not too late to do other recent polls, although act quickly as each one is only available for five days:

Round 4 - Rice Krispies vs. Oatmeal Squares

WINNERS. See the poll winners so far, at the bottom of the post.





WINNERS SO FAR

Qualification Round 1 - Honey Nut Cheerios
Qualification Round 2 - Original Special K
Qualification Round 3 - Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries
Qualification Round 4 - Rice Chex
Qualification Round 5 - Mini-Wheats Original
Qualification Round 6 - Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch

Round 1
All Bran vs. Honey Nut Cheerios
Alpha-Bits vs. Apple Jacks
Rice Chex vs. Corn Bran Crunch
Cocoa Puffs vs. Cookie Crisp
Corn Flakes vs. Crispix
Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch vs. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Fiber One vs. Frosted Mini-Wheats Original
Corn Pops vs. French Toast Crunch
Grape Nuts vs. Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries (TIE)
Froot Loops vs. Frosted Flakes
Kix vs. Life
Golden Crisp vs. Golden Grahams
Oatmeal Squares vs. Raisin Bran
Honeycomb vs. Honey Smacks
Rice Krispies vs. Shredded Wheat
Krave vs. Lucky Charms
Special K Original vs. Total
Fruity Pebbles vs. Reese's Puffs
Trix vs. Waffle Crisp

Round 2
Honey Nut Cheerios vs. Rice Chex
Apple Jacks vs. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Crispix vs. Frosted Mini-Wheats Original
Cocoa Puffs vs. Corn Pops
Grape Nuts vs. Life
Frosted Flakes vs. Golden Grahams
Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries vs. Oatmeal Squares
Honey Smacks vs. Lucky Charms
Rice Krispies vs. Special K Original (TIE)
Reese's Puffs vs. Waffle Crisp

Round 3
Frosted Mini-Wheats Original vs. Honey Nut Cheerios
Cinnamon Toast Crunch vs. Corn Pops
Frosted Flakes vs. Lucky Charms
Rice Krispies vs. Wheaties
Oatmeal Squares vs. Special K Original

Round 4
Honey Nut Cheerios vs. Life
Reese's Puffs vs. Corn Pops

March Cereal Madness - Round 4: Rice Krispies vs. Oatmeal Squares

This is part of our quest to discover the best cereal, according to you the true fans! Each day a new poll will be taken, leading to an eventual winner. For more information check the original post.

OK, it's actually APRIL, but we are now in Round 4 and down to only 7 cereals in our head-to-head battles! Each day we pit two cereals against each other, and you get to choose which one will move on to the next round. To vote, check out the poll below.

MISSED A PREVIOUS POLL? It's not too late to do other recent polls, although act quickly as each one is only available for five days:

Round 4 - Honey Nut Cheerios vs. Life
Round 4 - Reese's Puffs. vs. Corn Pops

WINNERS. See the poll winners so far, at the bottom of the post.





WINNERS SO FAR

Qualification Round 1 - Honey Nut Cheerios
Qualification Round 2 - Original Special K
Qualification Round 3 - Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries
Qualification Round 4 - Rice Chex
Qualification Round 5 - Mini-Wheats Original
Qualification Round 6 - Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch

Round 1
All Bran vs. Honey Nut Cheerios
Alpha-Bits vs. Apple Jacks
Rice Chex vs. Corn Bran Crunch
Cocoa Puffs vs. Cookie Crisp
Corn Flakes vs. Crispix
Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch vs. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Fiber One vs. Frosted Mini-Wheats Original
Corn Pops vs. French Toast Crunch
Grape Nuts vs. Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries (TIE)
Froot Loops vs. Frosted Flakes
Kix vs. Life
Golden Crisp vs. Golden Grahams
Oatmeal Squares vs. Raisin Bran
Honeycomb vs. Honey Smacks
Rice Krispies vs. Shredded Wheat
Krave vs. Lucky Charms
Special K Original vs. Total
Fruity Pebbles vs. Reese's Puffs
Trix vs. Waffle Crisp

Round 2
Honey Nut Cheerios vs. Rice Chex
Apple Jacks vs. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Crispix vs. Frosted Mini-Wheats Original
Cocoa Puffs vs. Corn Pops
Grape Nuts vs. Life
Frosted Flakes vs. Golden Grahams
Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries vs. Oatmeal Squares
Honey Smacks vs. Lucky Charms
Rice Krispies vs. Special K Original (TIE)
Reese's Puffs vs. Waffle Crisp

Round 3
Frosted Mini-Wheats Original vs. Honey Nut Cheerios
Cinnamon Toast Crunch vs. Corn Pops
Frosted Flakes vs. Lucky Charms
Rice Krispies vs. Wheaties
Oatmeal Squares vs. Special K Original

March Cereal Madness - Round 4: Reese's Puffs vs. Corn Pops

This is part of our quest to discover the best cereal, according to you the true fans! Each day a new poll will be taken, leading to an eventual winner. For more information check the original post.

OK, it's actually APRIL, but we are now in Round 4 and down to only 7 cereals in our head-to-head battles! Each day we pit two cereals against each other, and you get to choose which one will move on to the next round. To vote, check out the poll below.

MISSED A PREVIOUS POLL? It's not too late to do other recent polls, although act quickly as each one is only available for five days:

Round 3 - Frosted Flakes vs. Lucky Charms
Round 3 - Rice Krispies vs. Wheaties
Round 3 - Oatmeal Squares vs. Special K Original
Round 4 - Honey Nut Cheerios vs. Life

WINNERS. See the poll winners so far, at the bottom of the post.





WINNERS SO FAR

Qualification Round 1 - Honey Nut Cheerios
Qualification Round 2 - Original Special K
Qualification Round 3 - Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries
Qualification Round 4 - Rice Chex
Qualification Round 5 - Mini-Wheats Original
Qualification Round 6 - Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch

Round 1
All Bran vs. Honey Nut Cheerios
Alpha-Bits vs. Apple Jacks
Rice Chex vs. Corn Bran Crunch
Cocoa Puffs vs. Cookie Crisp
Corn Flakes vs. Crispix
Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch vs. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Fiber One vs. Frosted Mini-Wheats Original
Corn Pops vs. French Toast Crunch
Grape Nuts vs. Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries (TIE)
Froot Loops vs. Frosted Flakes
Kix vs. Life
Golden Crisp vs. Golden Grahams
Oatmeal Squares vs. Raisin Bran
Honeycomb vs. Honey Smacks
Rice Krispies vs. Shredded Wheat
Krave vs. Lucky Charms
Special K Original vs. Total
Fruity Pebbles vs. Reese's Puffs
Trix vs. Waffle Crisp

Round 2
Honey Nut Cheerios vs. Rice Chex
Apple Jacks vs. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Crispix vs. Frosted Mini-Wheats Original
Cocoa Puffs vs. Corn Pops
Grape Nuts vs. Life
Frosted Flakes vs. Golden Grahams
Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries vs. Oatmeal Squares
Honey Smacks vs. Lucky Charms
Rice Krispies vs. Special K Original (TIE)
Reese's Puffs vs. Waffle Crisp

Round 3
Frosted Mini-Wheats Original vs. Honey Nut Cheerios
Cinnamon Toast Crunch vs. Corn Pops

March Cereal Madness - Round 4: Honey Nut Cheerios vs. Life

This is part of our quest to discover the best cereal, according to you the true fans! Each day a new poll will be taken, leading to an eventual winner. For more information check the original post.

OK, it's actually APRIL, but we are now in Round 4 and down to only 7 cereals in our head-to-head battles! Each day we pit two cereals against each other, and you get to choose which one will move on to the next round. To vote, check out the poll below.

MISSED A PREVIOUS POLL? It's not too late to do other recent polls, although act quickly as each one is only available for five days:

Round 3 - Cinnamon Toast Crunch vs. Corn Pops
Round 3 - Frosted Flakes vs. Lucky Charms
Round 3 - Rice Krispies vs. Wheaties
Round 3 - Oatmeal Squares vs. Special K Original

WINNERS. See the poll winners so far, at the bottom of the post.





WINNERS SO FAR

Qualification Round 1 - Honey Nut Cheerios
Qualification Round 2 - Original Special K
Qualification Round 3 - Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries
Qualification Round 4 - Rice Chex
Qualification Round 5 - Mini-Wheats Original
Qualification Round 6 - Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch

Round 1
All Bran vs. Honey Nut Cheerios
Alpha-Bits vs. Apple Jacks
Rice Chex vs. Corn Bran Crunch
Cocoa Puffs vs. Cookie Crisp
Corn Flakes vs. Crispix
Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch vs. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Fiber One vs. Frosted Mini-Wheats Original
Corn Pops vs. French Toast Crunch
Grape Nuts vs. Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries (TIE)
Froot Loops vs. Frosted Flakes
Kix vs. Life
Golden Crisp vs. Golden Grahams
Oatmeal Squares vs. Raisin Bran
Honeycomb vs. Honey Smacks
Rice Krispies vs. Shredded Wheat
Krave vs. Lucky Charms
Special K Original vs. Total
Fruity Pebbles vs. Reese's Puffs
Trix vs. Waffle Crisp

Round 2
Honey Nut Cheerios vs. Rice Chex
Apple Jacks vs. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Crispix vs. Frosted Mini-Wheats Original
Cocoa Puffs vs. Corn Pops
Grape Nuts vs. Life
Frosted Flakes vs. Golden Grahams
Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries vs. Oatmeal Squares
Honey Smacks vs. Lucky Charms
Rice Krispies vs. Special K Original (TIE)
Reese's Puffs vs. Waffle Crisp

Round 3
Frosted Mini-Wheats Original vs. Honey Nut Cheerios

March Cereal Madness - Round 3: Oatmeal Squares vs. Special K Original

This is part of our quest to discover the best cereal, according to you the true fans! Each day a new poll will be taken, leading to an eventual winner. For more information check the original post.

OK, it's actually APRIL, but we are now in Round 3 and still running our head-to-head battles! Each day we pit two cereals against each other, and you get to choose which one will move on to the next round. To vote, check out the poll below.

MISSED A PREVIOUS POLL? It's not too late to do other recent polls, although act quickly as each one is only available for five days:

Round 3 - Frosted Mini-Wheats Original vs. Honey Nut Cheerios
Round 3 - Cinnamon Toast Crunch vs. Corn Pops
Round 3 - Frosted Flakes vs. Lucky Charms
Round 3 - Rice Krispies vs. Wheaties

WINNERS. See the poll winners so far, at the bottom of the post.





WINNERS SO FAR

Qualification Round 1 - Honey Nut Cheerios
Qualification Round 2 - Original Special K
Qualification Round 3 - Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries
Qualification Round 4 - Rice Chex
Qualification Round 5 - Mini-Wheats Original
Qualification Round 6 - Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch

Round 1
All Bran vs. Honey Nut Cheerios
Alpha-Bits vs. Apple Jacks
Rice Chex vs. Corn Bran Crunch
Cocoa Puffs vs. Cookie Crisp
Corn Flakes vs. Crispix
Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch vs. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Fiber One vs. Frosted Mini-Wheats Original
Corn Pops vs. French Toast Crunch
Grape Nuts vs. Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries (TIE)
Froot Loops vs. Frosted Flakes
Kix vs. Life
Golden Crisp vs. Golden Grahams
Oatmeal Squares vs. Raisin Bran
Honeycomb vs. Honey Smacks
Rice Krispies vs. Shredded Wheat
Krave vs. Lucky Charms
Special K Original vs. Total
Fruity Pebbles vs. Reese's Puffs
Trix vs. Waffle Crisp

Round 2
Honey Nut Cheerios vs. Rice Chex
Apple Jacks vs. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Crispix vs. Frosted Mini-Wheats Original
Cocoa Puffs vs. Corn Pops
Grape Nuts vs. Life
Frosted Flakes vs. Golden Grahams
Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries vs. Oatmeal Squares
Honey Smacks vs. Lucky Charms
Rice Krispies vs. Special K Original (TIE)
Reese's Puffs vs. Waffle Crisp

March Cereal Madness - Round 3: Rice Krispies vs. Wheaties

This is part of our quest to discover the best cereal, according to you the true fans! Each day a new poll will be taken, leading to an eventual winner. For more information check the original post.

OK, it's actually APRIL, but we are now in Round 3 and still running our head-to-head battles! Each day we pit two cereals against each other, and you get to choose which one will move on to the next round. To vote, check out the poll below.

MISSED A PREVIOUS POLL? It's not too late to do other recent polls, although act quickly as each one is only available for five days:

Round 2 - Reese's Puffs vs. Waffle Crisp
Round 3 - Frosted Mini-Wheats Original vs. Honey Nut Cheerios
Round 3 - Cinnamon Toast Crunch vs. Corn Pops
Round 3 - Frosted Flakes vs. Lucky Charms

WINNERS. See the poll winners so far, at the bottom of the post.





WINNERS SO FAR

Qualification Round 1 - Honey Nut Cheerios
Qualification Round 2 - Original Special K
Qualification Round 3 - Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries
Qualification Round 4 - Rice Chex
Qualification Round 5 - Mini-Wheats Original
Qualification Round 6 - Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch

Round 1
All Bran vs. Honey Nut Cheerios
Alpha-Bits vs. Apple Jacks
Rice Chex vs. Corn Bran Crunch
Cocoa Puffs vs. Cookie Crisp
Corn Flakes vs. Crispix
Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch vs. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Fiber One vs. Frosted Mini-Wheats Original
Corn Pops vs. French Toast Crunch
Grape Nuts vs. Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries (TIE)
Froot Loops vs. Frosted Flakes
Kix vs. Life
Golden Crisp vs. Golden Grahams
Oatmeal Squares vs. Raisin Bran
Honeycomb vs. Honey Smacks
Rice Krispies vs. Shredded Wheat
Krave vs. Lucky Charms
Special K Original vs. Total
Fruity Pebbles vs. Reese's Puffs
Trix vs. Waffle Crisp

Round 2
Honey Nut Cheerios vs. Rice Chex
Apple Jacks vs. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Crispix vs. Frosted Mini-Wheats Original
Cocoa Puffs vs. Corn Pops
Grape Nuts vs. Life
Frosted Flakes vs. Golden Grahams
Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries vs. Oatmeal Squares
Honey Smacks vs. Lucky Charms
Rice Krispies vs. Special K Original (TIE)