10 Cereal Facts That Made Breakfast History
A look at the moments, mascots and ads that helped turn General Mills’ cereals into breakfast icons.
This National Cereal Day, explore 10 fascinating facts from our cereal archives.
1. The Perfect Flake Took 36 Tries
In 1921, Washburn Crosby’s head miller tested 36 varieties of wheat and tried many methods before perfecting a tasty Wheaties flake that would not crumble in the box.
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2. “Breakfast of Champions” Was Born at the Ballpark
In 1933, Wheaties earned its legendary slogan “Breakfast of Champions,” thanks to a baseball broadcast agreement that included a large advertising sign at the ballpark. Sports marketing and cereal became a winning combination.
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3. Kix Almost Became a Party Snack
During early product testing in 1937, consumers shared that they served Kix in a bowl like popcorn at a party and it was a hit!
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4. Cheerios Debuted with a Different Name
Cheerios debuted in 1941 as Cheerioats; a year later, Cheeri O’Leary, the first female mascot in the cereal aisle, was introduced. She wasn’t around long but she was perfectly timed with the rise of women in the workforce during WWII. By 1945, the name was officially changed to Cheerios.
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5. Trix Wasn’t Always Fruit Shaped
When Trix debuted in 1954, it was a simple trio of raspberry red, orange orange, and lemon yellow spheres. In 1991, Trix transformed into fun, fruit-shaped pieces including red raspberry clusters, yellow lemon wedges, purple grape clusters, green lime balls, and orange wedges. These fruit shapes became an iconic feature for Trix lovers in the 90s, and while they disappeared in 2006, they returned in 2018 due to fan demand.
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6. Lucky the Leprechaun was Replaced (Briefly!)
In 1975, Lucky the Leprechaun was briefly replaced – at least in New England – by a different mascot, Waldo the Wizard. Friendly but forgetful, Waldo spent each TV commercial searching for his misplaced Lucky Charms. Although the character brought a different charm to the screen, within a year, Lucky reclaimed his spot on every box of Lucky Charms.
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7. Honey Nut Cheerios Has Held the Top Spot for 17 Years
Since its debut in 1979, Honey Nut Cheerios grew in popularity to become Cheerio’s best-selling flavor, a title its held since 2009. Over the years, more than 50 additional flavors have been released, including earlier editions like Frosty O’s and Cinnamon Nut Cheerios, which helped pave the way for its success.
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9. Reese’s Puffs Released Ringtones
Reese’s Puffs have always been on the cutting edge of culture. In 2005, every box featured a code inside that fans could redeem for a free ringtone, blending breakfast with the rising world of mobile tech.
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10. The Bakers Came Before the Squares
Before the Crazy Squares appeared on the Cinnamon Toast Crunch box in 2009, the cereal featured three bakers – Wendell, Quello and Bob, who first appeared in 1987 and sang a jingle promoting the cereal’s delicious taste of homemade cinnamon toast.
