One of the most recognized and most popular breakfast cereals is Cheerios. The little round sand-colored are oat-flavored morsels. Cheerios are a favorite and familiar among babies, children, teens and adults. Cheerios are not only savored as a breakfast treat; they are eaten and enjoyed all day long.
History
Cheerios made its debut in 1941 as the first ready-to-eat oat cereal that did not require cooking. It was introduced by General Mill located in Golden Valley, Minnesota.
Inventor
Lester Borchardt, an employee at General Mills, receives credit for inventing Cheerios. It was first sold as Cheeri Oats, however another company already owned that name. In 1945, its name was officially change to Cheerios.
Mascot
The first mascot for Cheerios was a cartoon character called Cheeri O'Leary. In 1949, Cheerios sponsored the popular "The Lone Ranger" radio show. Its mass appeal grew and propelled Cheerios to be the top breakfast cereal.
Worldwide Acceptance
Cheerios are enjoyed all over the world in somewhat different versions than the variety popular in the United States. Overseas, Cheerios is sold by Cereal Partners under the Nestle brand. In England and Ireland, they are marketed with five grains and four oat colors: maize, oat, barley, wheat and rice.
New Brands
As sugary cereals grew in popularity, Cheerios embraced the competition by introducing a new brand of Cheerios with a twist of honey and nuts. Honey Nut Cheerios became a big success in 1979 and was soon followed by Apple Cinnamon, MultiGrain, Frosted, Millenios and Berry Burst Cheerios.
Healthy Alternative
Many believe breakfast to be the most important meal of the day. Endorsed by the Heart Foundation, Cheerios claims it is loaded with essential nutrients, fights cholesterol and is a smart choice for the morning meal and as a snack.
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