Copy if you're Lucky

There are more exciting things to report on here than every time a cereal manufacturer changes a color, shape or marshmallow. That happens all the time, and for the most part is just gimmickry.

So, last week's official announcement that Lucky Charms would be introducing a permanent, new marshmallow in the shape of a unicorn immediately generated an eye roll from me. This followed another announcement less than two weeks earlier that the hourglass marshmallow would be discontinued. Big news, huh?

Normally this would be overlooked (despite the fact that some people actually care about this), but there appears to be something else going on here. This is the second time in the last few months that General Mills is stealing a page from the Kellogg playbook and incorporating it into Lucky Charms. This seems to be more than just coincidence.

Late last year we reported on the new Kellogg's Unicorn cereal that is coming out this March. With all the hype over unicorns lately, we should not be surprised that General Mills wants into the action as well, hence the new marshmallow and new boxes highlighting a unicorn!

And, of course, there was the other Kellogg moment at General Mills when they recently introduced Frosted Flakes Lucky Charms, blue box and all, playing off of Kellogg's successful Frosted Flakes cereal.

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but it makes me wonder if General Mills has given up on true innovation, and now is just reacting to whatever other good ideas they see out there?