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StoryDecember 6, 2019

Honey Bunches of Oats®, the cereal that started with a smile

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An old commercial image of Honey Bunches of Oats

Our top-selling cereal brand exists today thanks to a long-time employee’s idea.

Vernon J. Herzing wanted to create a new kind of cereal that would make his daughter smile. It was his way of continuing our legacy of innovation begun by C.W. Post 125 years ago.

One delicious mixture

The idea came to Herzing in 1986. One Saturday afternoon at home, he began combining different Post cereal varieties and formats together into one delicious mixture. His daughter Kimberly would then taste them.

After numerous tries, Herzing discovered the ideal combination of sweetness and crunch. Little did he know that his passion for invention would change Post forever.

The cereal was officially dubbed Honey Bunches of Oats® and began appearing on store shelves across North America in 1989.

Hitting the sweet spot

Honey Bunches of Oats® was an immediate success largely due to its all-family appeal, hitting the perfect “sweet spot” spot between great taste and health.

Consumers of all ages loved its medley of grains, flakes and crunchy granola bunches. In fact, when Honey Bunches of Oats® was invented, it was one of a kind. No other cereals on the market incorporated various pieces as a medley.

Today, Honey Bunches of Oats® remains a product that everyone in the family enjoys.

Thanks to Herzing’s idea — and his daughter’s help in taste-testing — Honey Bunches of Oats® continues to make people of all ages smile a little more at breakfast time.