History of Cheerios

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The history of cheerios is unique in many ways. Perhaps cheerios is the only cereal in the world that has gained unprecedented popularity even after initial controversy over the brand name. A very few people actually know that it was launched with a different name called Cheeri Oats (because it is an oat-based, ready-to-eat cold cereal) and cheerios is its changed name due to its brand name controversy. The madness for cheerios as a cereal cannot only be seen in children but even adults find it too irresistible. That makes it one of the first ready to eat cereals amongst millions of people around the world.

Even as of today, cheerios leads the kids' cereal market in America and Europe. That's why cheerios's commercials, advertisements and promotions are geared towards children and young adults using animated movies, cartoons and pictures. Researchers say the history of cheerios dates back to year 1941 when on July 19 it was created and promoted as popular breakfast cereal for kids. Also, in other parts of the world such as in UK, it is sold by different company Cereal Partners under Nestle Brand. Recently, in 2008 they launched a new line of product called Snack Mix in two different flavors, Original and Cheese flavors.

Other most popular kids' food item is Twix candy, which is a chocolate covered cookie bar made by Mars, Inc. basically, every twix candy bar consists of butter cookie centrally filled with caramel with milk chocolate coating. It is quite smaller in cross section as compared to other popular candy bars in the world. As its name indicates Twix is usually packaged in pairs (twins).

As far as history of Twix candy bar is concerned, it was first introduced in the UK in 1967. However, when it comes to United States, it was introduced in 1979 and rest is the history. Surprisingly, Twix was known as Twix was Raider in many countries, such as Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, and Italy along with others. It was only in 1991 when Mars decided to standardize its name by changing its name to Twix.

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The Unusual History of Popcorn Machines

Popcorn machines have been around for more than 4,000 years and have evolved considerably since. These machines now use electricity to heat oil or air to heat large batches of corn kernels at a time. You can even make popcorn in the microwave or over an open fire in convenient packages. The earliest machines, however, look nothing like they do now.

Primitive Popcorn Machines

When an ancient culture in New Mexico discovered that a certain type of corn would 'pop' when it was heated, they immediately designed the world's earliest version of the popcorn machine. They would heat fine sand in the fire and add the kernels into the sand to make them pop.

Other cultures of the time made a game of popping popcorn. They would heat stones on the fire as hot as they could and pour the seeds onto it. The people of the village would then gather around the stones and catch the grains as they popped and flew into the air.

Eventually, primitive popcorn poppers became more popular and the snack quickly became an important part of several cultures. Many 4th century Mexican cultures would include popcorn kernels inside their funeral urns as an offering to the spirits in order to secure a safe passage to the next life. Native American tribes that appeared years later believed that spirits lived inside the kernels. The natives thought that the kernels popped when the extreme heat would anger the spirits.

Years later, Native North American cultures created prehistoric popcorn machines as well. However, popcorn became a staple food rather than a treat. The Iroquois tribes would use heated pottery to cook the kernels and use them to create foods such as soup and an early variety of breakfast cereal. Others would boil animal fat and simply dip the cob into it to cook.

The Evolution Of Popcorn Machines

By the 17th century, popcorn had become a common sight in the household, and due to the increase in demand, the race was on to come up with an easier way to crack the corn husks. Blacksmiths started to make popcorn machines by fashioning metal cones out of flat iron. Then, they threaded a metal spit into the center of the contraption so that it could rotate over the fire to prevent the corn kernels from burning.

In 1885, Charles Cretors designed and created the first of a long line of popcorn machines in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Cretors owned a sweet shop and had purchase a peanut roasting machine that didn't work as well as it should have. He soon altered the machine and began selling his products in and around the area via traveling salesmen as well as through his store. Eight years later, he attended the Chicago Columbian Exposition with his new machine and history was born.

Popcorn machines experienced widespread growth during the 1900s. Following his success at the Exposition in 1893, Charles Cretors mounted his corn popper onto a carriage creating the world's first mobile popcorn cart and made the world's first electric version a short time later. When it came to the actual selling of the machines, Fred Hoke and James Holcomb of Holcomb & Hoke Co beat Mr. Cretors to the punch in 1914. With prices ranging between $400 and $1300, these machines sold like hotcakes until the Great Depression caused the company to cease operations in 1934.

Today, popcorn machines look nothing like their earlier counterparts. They are available in virtually any size and create many different flavors and varieties of popcorn. The sleek and customizable machines are everywhere producing popcorn in mere minutes.

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A Short History of Cheerios

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Cheerios are famous breakfast cereal in a distinctive 'O' shape made from puffed oats. They are popular among children and adults since the 1940s. A US based cereal company called General Mills owns the Cheerios brand and is also marketed by Nestle in as many as 130 countries including UK. Cheerios has a variety of styles and flavors; it is advertised as a nutritious and healthy breakfast.

The breakfasts of the 19th century were typically made up of toast, fried eggs, bacon and sausages. Healthy diet was not considered as important. However, some doctors had noticed their patients responded better to urinary tract problems and bowel even to mood swings if they had a better balanced diet of cereals and vegetables. Unluckily, cereals turned out to be difficult to be made into convenient meals. Some experiments were carried out for producing bite sized cereal nuggets.

In the 20th century, the modern pressure cookers and food presses made cereals to be able to be used as main ingredient. The early breakfast cereals like corn flakes and grape nuts had surprising sales and encouraged other mills to develop their own cereal brands.

In 1941, Cheerios made from puffed oats were first released. Lester Borchardt and a team of people at General Mills who were the inventor of Cheerios tried to invent a machine they could use to create puffed cereal like puffed wheat. After spending a lot of time and money on the technique having no progress results, Borchardt's boss told them to quit the project. Borchardt was a smart man and knew that the idea was good, he decided to continue the development of the machine. After two months, they were finally rewarded with success resulting in a new product for General Mills.

The marketing campaign of Cheerios was quite aggressive. It was marketed as Cheeri Oats but another company was already using the name. This erupted in a short dispute and General Mills later agreed in 1945 to change the name to Cheerios. It has retained the name till today. In the early 1940s around the time when Cheerios brand was being advertised, a cartoon character was created by the company named Cheeri O'Leary which was its brand lucky charm. At that time, television was not very common that's why character was used in animated and printed form proving popular among children.

For competing with Kelloggs which had deep pockets and a loyal following, it required innovative thinking. General Mills under the management of James Bell who was the company owner were inspired to sponsor a radio show targeting children with a moral story for every episode. It was a happy coincidence that the creator of the Lone Ranger wanted a sponsor for syndicating the show throughout the US beginning in 1949. The association with Lone Ranger continued for 20 years and helped Cheerios in becoming a top spot as one of the popular breakfast cereal.

Cheerios developed a new character in the early 1950s to replace Cheery O'Leary. The television viewers were at such a point that made it favorable to market Cheerios on TV. It exclusively resulted in the Cheerios Kid and Sue hitting the airwaves.

General Mills invented more advertising innovations of the idea that the packaging for Cheerios needn't contain only the cereal. General Mills marketing department successfully co-branded boxes of Cheerios with the Disney Company through the late 1940s and 1950s offering exclusive discounts on comic books.

In the mid 1960s, the Cheerios brand was also used to good effect when its packing was chosen as a main source for promoting a new social and charitable endeavor started by General Mills known as Project Head Start. Healthwise, Cheerios have been well received. General Mills have claimed that Cheerios provide all of the necessary nutritional values of oatmeal. Cheerios is declared the only cereal able to help reduce cholesterol in populations.

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