More General Mills Halloween

For many years General Mills has been known for its "monster cereals" (i.e. Count Chocula, Boo Berry and Franken Berry). This year, just in time for Halloween, General Mills appears to have made some of their regular cereals a little more ghoulish. Actually the designs are rather cute and should catch people's attention. So far I've seen Trix and Honey Nut Cheerios boxes.

Anyone else seen any others?


Technorati Tags: cereal, Trix, Cheerios, halloween, breakfastbowl

Breakfast politics

Just when you think you've had enough of politics, AirBed&Breakfast has come up with Obama O's and Cap'n McCain's cereals.

These are real cereals in limited edition boxes. But before you rush out to buy the boxes take note that these collectors' editions are not cheap. They are $39.00 each, plus shipping.

I bet they'll sell out!

Technorati Tags: cereal, election, breakfastbowl

[me]&goji

Following in the footsteps of German cereal innovator, mymuesli, is an American company called [me]&goji. This New England upstart promises "custom artisanal cereal" that is "designed by you, handmade by us". Like with mymuesli you pick the ingredients and they put them all together and send them to you in a plastic cereal capsule. Some of the ingredient choices are quite exotic, and include such things as goji berry, chia seed, and macadamia. In all there are over 40 natural and organic ingredient choices. The cost starts at $4.90 for a 600g (21oz) capsule (but couild easily be much higher depending on your ingredient choices) plus USPS shipping. Not cheap, but when you are innovative and unique you don't necessarily have to be.

As I've stated before with mymuesli, this is an innovation to watch.

Technorati Tags: cereal, mymuesli, [me]&goji, breakfastbowl

Sugar Culprits

Despite recent attempts to improve the nutritional quality of cereals marketed to children, there are still some cereals to avoid, at least according to a new report from Consumer Reports. Studying 27 cereals marketed to children they found that some were two were more than 50 percent sugar (Post Golden Crisp and Kellogg's Honey Smacks), and nine were at least 40 percent sugar. Only four of the studied cereals rated "very good".

After Golden Crisp and Honey Smacks, the next least healthful cereals are Cap'n Crunch's Peanut Butter Crunch, Cap'n Crunch, Apple Jacks, Froot Loops, and Corn Pops.

Is anyone really surprised?

Source: MarketWatch

Technorati Tags: cereal, nutrition, sugar, breakfastbowl

Frosty O's

While not a record, today a 70's empty box of General Mills' Frosty O's sold on ebay for $761.99! (ebay item 300261546913).

The rare nature of this box along with its nostalgic value certainly contributed to the high selling price. More indication of the emotional connection many people have with cereal.


Technorati Tags: cereal, boxes, collectibles, breakfastbowl

Starbucks goes cereal

Coffee chain Starbucks has been looking for a boost for its business, and may have found it: oatmeal. Recently Starbucks introduced hot oatmeal for breakfast, served with mixed nuts, dried fruit or brown sugar according to preference. According to a Reuter's report, Michelle Gass, senior vice president of marketing is quoted as saying, "It is the single highest volume (food) item in our history". It makes sense since their highest coffee sales are in the morning.

Maybe we will see more cereal offerings in the future?

Technorati Tags: cereal, starbucks, breakfastbowl

Flutie Flakes returning

The MetroWest Daily News recently reported that Flutie Flakes will be returning this fall, 10 years after they originally introduced across the U.S. and Canada.

For those of you that don't know, Doug Flutie was the Heisman trophy winner who later played for the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers, after a time playing in the Canadian Football League. Ten years ago he launched his own cereal (actually rebranded generic frosted flakes) with the hope of raising money for an autism foundation he founded in honor of his son who was diagnosed with the condition. Ultimately he sold 3 million boxes.

What is even more significant about Flutie Flakes is that it made successful a new type of cereal: private label sports cereals and other foods. Since then PLB Sports has launched numerous other cereals and foods featuring such athletes as Dan Marino and John Elway, and both college and professional teams.

The 10th Anniversary relaunch of Flutie Flakes is certainly worth noting.

Technorati Tags: cereal, Flutie, PLB+Sports, breakfastbowl

More than O's

How do you build on a successful brand?

Extend it.

Without question General Mills' Cheerios is one of the most successful cereal brands, and the company has recognized this. From the original toasted O's recipe, the brand now encompasses ten different varieties.

The latest is Oat Cluster Cheerios Crunch, a combination of multi-grain O's and oat clusters. Crunchie clusters are popular right now (e.g. Post's Honey Bunches of Oats) so General Mills is picking up on an important trend.

I'm not into reporting on every new cereal that crops up. Many are far from exciting or being noteworthy. What captures my attention with this new variety is the way that these new extensions may be gradually straying from the original concept. Perhaps it is good marketing strategy in the short-term, but over the long-term if General Mills continues to extend Cheerios even further the brand could easily become diluted and meaningless.

How far can they go?

Technorati Tags: cereal, General+Mills, Cheerios, marketing, breakfastbowl

High School Musical Cereal

One of my fascinations with cereal is how it has tapped into pop culture over the years. Kellogg's latest offering is a perfect example. They just released High School Musical cereal to coincide with the highly popular Disney TV film that has a strong following among a certain segment of young teens. The vanilla-flavored, star-shaped cereal looks disgusting, but the cereal is not what this all about. Currently, Kellogg seems to be doing the best job in tying into popular themes. Early this year this also released a Kung Fu Panda Crunchers cereal, and one based on the latest Indiana Jones movie.

Technorati Tags: cereal, Kellogg, High+School+Musical, breakfastbowl

YogActive

I've been gone a lot this summer (which explains the sparse blogging), and one of my trips took me to Canada. While most Canadian cereals are the same as their U.S. counterparts (except for bilingual English and French boxes), there are some unique products worth noting.

This year I was intrigued with YogActive, a German cereal that is being imported into Canada and sold by mainstream stores like Walmart. Available in nine different flavors, including mandarin orange and strawberry-dark chocolate, what makes them truly stand out is the fact that they are a probiotic food, containing 15% yogurt pearls with active Lactobacillus acidophilous bacteria. While not the only probiotic cereal on the market, this is the first brand devoted to this type of functional food. 

Innovative.

Technorati Tags: cereal, YogActive, probiotic, breakfastbowl