STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE CEREAL

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE CEREAL

General Mills

           

Strawberry Shortcake was created by Muriel Fahrion for American Greetings in 1977. The character soon became popular enough to grow beyond greeting cards and posters into a scented toyline developed by Kenner. Eventually, Strawberry was brought to life in a series of half-hour animated specials beginning in 1980 with Russi Taylor in the lead role.

            After the first two specials, the third in 1982 was heralded in with the aid of a new cereal by General Mills. As one would expect, Strawberry Shortcake Cereal was meant to taste something like strawberries, and came in the form of little pink balls. The cereal, however, didn’t fare as well as the company’s other strawberry offering, Frankenberry, and only lasted on shelves for a few months. The cereal was around long enough to feature a selection of premiums, including a send-away offer for a mug and bowl set, a storybook and record, and a chance to win 1 of 10 dream collections of Strawberry Shortcake merchandise, with a second prize being a Strawberry Shortcake doll. Some boxes also came with a coupon for 15 cents off. The back of the original box introduced consumers to the world of Strawberry and her friends in both a detailed and an easy-reader format, while subsequent boxes detailed their respective premium offers.

            There were several different commercials for the cereal. In one, Strawberry interacts with Mr. Sun (Romeo Muller) while another has them joined by her friends Apricot (Joan Gerber) and bunny Hopsalot. Another had her sharing the cereal with Lemon Meringue (Melleny Brown) and frog Shoofly. The final had Huckleberry Pie (Julie McWhirter) and Pupcakes paying Strawberry a visit for some of her cereal.