Kellogg’s Corn Pops: 1951 – 2012..?

An interesting article was posted this past summer at 24/7 Wall St. about brands that are projected to disappear in 2012. Sears, Sony Pictures, Nokia and MySpace are on the list but on a more serious note Kellogg’s Corn Pops made the list as well.

Debuting in 1951 as “Sugar Pops”, the cereal was re-titled ”Sugar Corn Pops” in the late 1970s before finally settling on “Corn Pops” in the 1980s. I remember a few years back they changed the name yet again, this time simply to “Pops” (which I always found strange). Luckily, the cereal was restored to “Corn Pops” after only a few months.

Surprisingly, in the United States alone the cereal had a number of mascots over the years: Woody Woodpecker, Newt the Gnu, Sugar Pops Pete (a prairie dog cowboy), Whippersnapper (a cowboy), Big Yella (another cowboy) Poppy (a female porcupine) and most recently Sweet Toothasaur. Poppy was a mascot during the ’80s yet I have no recollection of her or anything of these other mascots. I can only remember tag-lines such as “Gotta have my Pops!” and “It’s hard to stop when it’s my Pops!” and the use of the JAWS theme in the commercials.

So what’s the reason Corn Pops is in mortal danger? Well, sales are down because people are looking towards healthier cereals and when you’re using BHT (something found in embalming fluid) as an ingredient you can’t really claim to be all that good for anyone to eat. Never mind the fact that everyone knows Corn Pops are covered in sticky, sweet sugary glaze. Falling sales are only half of it though. The price of corn is on the rise and that makes it harder for this brand to turn a profit.

Truthfully, there was nothing in the article that said Corn Pops was definitely going extinct. All the article was saying was that the brand was having a hard time and they were suggesting it’d be a wrap in 2012. Although I don’t eat Corn Pops as much as I did when I was a kid, I still get cravings for it and pick up a box every few months. It’d be a shame to think I could no longer do so come 2012.

So here’s to ya, Corn Pops. I tip my cereal bowl to you and I hope you can somehow find a way to soldier on in a world of raising costs and where people are choosier about what they consume.

Cereals From Beyond: ‘The Ghost of Christmas Cereals Past and Present’ Edition!

I’m back again for another post about cereals! This time I’m showcasing past and present cereals with a Christmas/winter/”holiday” theme. So crank up the heat and grab a blanket, a bowl, a spoon & some milk!

Holiday Lucky Charms (General Mills, 1990)

I remember this one! No different than regular Lucky Charms other than holiday-shaped marshmallow bits. There’s some conflicting reports (yes, conflicting reports about Holiday Lucky Charms) about what year this cereal came out in, either 1990 or 1991. There are two cereal boxes floating around and the one on the left is obviously older than the one on the right, I actually thought it looked like it came out in the late ’80s so I’m gonna go with 1990. The box on the right is from ’92. The 1990 box had cut out gift tags on the back.

Winter Lucky Charms (General Mills, 2001)

The successor to Holiday Lucky Charms. I know it’s a commercial sin to say “Christmas” on your product but you can’t say “Holiday” either?

Polar Crunch (Quaker, 2006)

I don’t really know what this has to do with winter other than the Cap’n wearing a scarf and gloves. I don’t think this cereal came back for a second year but I’d love to eat some blueberry Cap’n Crunch! Of course, it was silly for the Cap’n to try to compete with himself…

Christmas Crunch (Quaker, 1988)

The most iconic Christmas cereal of all time? What can I say? Just watch the commercial!

Ice Berry Pebbles (Post, 2006)

I’m not sure if this cereal is still kickin’ around but i remember it coming out. Strawberry Pebbles.

Winter Fruity Pebbles (Post, 2003)

I think it’s funny this is called “Winter Fruity Pebbles” yet the pieces are red & green. When I think of winter I think of blue & white. When I think of CHRISTMAS that’s when I think of red & green.

The Polar Express (Post, 2004)

This is actually a pretty cool holiday cereal. Cocoa & marshmallows. It’s amazing someone hasn’t done this more often with a holiday theme.

Holiday Rice Krispies (Kellogg’s, late ’90s/early ’00s?)

Red & green Rice Krispies but they aren’t the first holiday variation…

Ho Ho Holiday Rice Krispies (Kellogg’s, 1996)

I admit “Holiday Rice Krispies” has a bit more snap, crackle and pop to it but there’s just something really neat and wholesome about “Ho Ho Holiday Rice Krispies”. I guess with the word “ho” getting used so much these days, Kellogg’s probably thought it best to rename their holiday version of Krispies.

Holiday Fruit Loops (Kellogg’s, 2006)

Red, green and purple sprinkled Froot Loops. Sadly, I couldn’t find a better picture online but I’ve read this cereal was mainly available only in Canada. That explains all that French on the cover.

Bedrock Blizzard Pebbles (Post, 1998)

Both Fruity & Cocoa variations got their own “Bedrock Blizzard” upgrade for the holidays in 1998. Cocoa Pebbles had sprinkles and Fruity Pebbles were frosted.

Christmas Cookie-Crisp (Ralston, early ’90s)

I really miss the Cookie-Crisp Crook and Officer. =( Very weird seeing these mini-chocolate chip cookies changed to bright red and green.

Holiday Fruity Pebbles (Post, 1997)

Geez, Post, have you given us enough holiday Pebbles cereals yet? Just the standard red & green change up. Enjoy this classic Pebbles commercial!

Cereals From Beyond: Halloween Limited Edition!

Cereal and Halloween. Isn’t that combination the whole world can rally behind? Let’s all agree that they are two great things that go great together and build from that.

Welcome to a very special Halloween Limited Edition of Cereals From Beyond! Some of these cereals are dragged out from their coffins every year about this time to cash-in on Hallowween, so while they technically may not be dead, they are dead in spirit and that’s good enough to make another Cereals From Beyond entry!

Cap’n Crunch’s Halloween Crunch (Quaker Oats, 2007)

Halloween Crunch has been around for the last couple of years but the box pictured above is the 2010 edition. The cereal ghosts turn the milk GREEN! How they do that?!? I’ve never had Halloween Crunch before but I think I need to see this for myself…

Casper Sugar Chex (Ralston, 1970)

I couldn’t find much info on this cereal but it’s easy to assume this was sweetened Corn Chex. It appears Casper was the cereal’s mascot and so this was not just a seasonal promotion. There’s also a red box but I don’t think there’s an actual difference in the cereal and Casper surrounded by orange looks much more cooler and Halloweeny!

Candy Corn Corn Pops (Kellogg’s, 2001)

Okay, this looks and sounds absolutely disgusting! Looks, I get that candy corn is a great fall and holiday tradition. It’s just a nice color scheme and all, but I hate the stuff! I hate candy corn, I hate mellowcreme harvest and pumpkin mixes… It smells gross and it tastes gross. I can’t imagine Corn Pops (which has never been a favorite of mine) that have a candy corn flavor are all that “special”, despite what the text on the box says.

Even the cereal box itself is absolutely ugly. What’s up with all the fluorescent colors and poorly drawn psychotic scientist? I admit the idea of “Candy Corn Corn Pops” is a very good piece of marketing and was/is probably enough to get people to buy this cereal but design a better box, guys!

Frankberry & Count Chocula Universal Monster Editions (General Mills, early 2000s?)

For the life of me I cannot remember what year these came out. I’m guessing early 2000s but late ’90s is possible as well. This was another example of great marketing — the Monster Cereals teaming up with the Universal Monsters! Great artwork. Hm. That reminds me. I need to pick up some Monster Cereals and watch some of the Universal classics soon!

Halloween Rice Krispies (Kellogg’s, 1980s?)

I saved my favorite cereal box out of this batch for last! Again, I can’t find much info in regards to the year of these things. This looks like it was from maybe the early or mid ’80s and I have a vague recollection of eating them. Or maybe I’m remembering eating Rice Krispies with orange food coloring… Nevertheless this is an awesome piece of cereal box art and you can’t go wrong with orange Rice Krispies!

Cereals From Beyond 6

It’s been awhile, let’s get going…

The Addams Family (Ralston, 1991)

Another licensed cereal from Ralston, this one was tieing into the first Addams Family movie. The cereal actually looks pretty cool with all those skulls. The cereal had a pretty cool giveaway – flashlights in the shape of Fester, Cousin It, Thing and Lurch. Not sure how this one tastes, I don’t remember ever having any but I do remember seeing it at dollar stores. That’s where all Ralston cereals go. In fact, I bet I could go to the local dollar shop today and find a box.

Cabbage Patch Kids (Ralston, 1985)

The selling point for this cereal was that it was low in sugar. Even though I would have been turning four years old that year, I seem to have memories of eating this. Not exactly sure of the taste, but it seems like it may be like Kix. There was a number of different boxes for this cereal featuring photographed Cabbage Patch Kids in action. I remember the commercial too.

Dino Pebbles (Post, late 1980s)

On the other end of the spectrum from low sugar Cabbage Patch Kids cereal, supposedly, this particular cereal had move marshmallows per box than any other cereal. Sounds like a winner to me! I know I had it at one point or another but I’ve never been a big fan of the Pebbles cereals, so I didn’t eat it much.

The Very First Christmas Crunch Commercial

In honor of scoring the very LAST box of Christmas Crunch at the grocery store the other night, I figured it would be nice to show off the very first Christmas Crunch commercial back when it debuted in 1988.