Cheerios® cereal is celebrating its 70th birthday this year. It is a great name and logo. Simple. Suggestive — happy, fun and “O” shaped. The logo and packaging has been remarkably consistent for years. Kids love it – it is fun and easy to say.
Believe it or not, the product was initially launched as “Cheeri-oats” for the first four years. And it was changed because of a trademark dispute with Quaker Oats! I’d say the change worked out rather well!
Some other Cheerios facts (from “Cheerios cereal celebrates its 70th birthday” via ABC 7):
- Cheerios are produced at a plant in Buffalo.
- In 1979, Honey Nut Cheerios were introduced, followed by Apple Cinnamon Cheerios in 1988, MultiGrain Cheerios in 1992, Frosted Cheerios in 1995, Berry Burst Cheerios in 2001 and Chocolate Cheerios in 2010.
- Since 2009, Honey Nut Cheerios have outsold plain Cheerios.
- Cheerios are made by heating balls of dough then shooting them out of a puffing gun at 100 mph.
USPTO Registrations:
- CHEERIOS – ready-to-eat cereal
– breakfast cereal
Lesson: sometimes a change of brand name – even when the result of a trademark dispute – is a positive move that makes a brand even better.
