General Mills is reintroducing its popular ‘Cereal Squad’ collectible toys in specially marked boxes of ‘Cinnamon Toast Crunch,’ ‘Lucky Charms,’ ‘Trix,’ ‘Honey Nut Cheerios,’ ‘Cocoa Puffs,’ and ‘Cookie Crisp.’ For the 2022 edition of ‘Cereal Squad,’ consumers are able to collect characters like Buzz the Bee, The Cinnamojis, Lucky the Leprechaun, Sonny the Cuckoo Bird, Trix the Rabbit, and Chip the Wolf, also known as the mascots for each of the cereals featured.
An exclusive addition for 2022 is the Wendell the Baker toy, widely recognized as General Mills’ most popular character from the ‘90s. Only a select number of boxes will contain Wendell, making him the rarest inclusion in the release. General Mills’ ‘Cereal Squad’ boxes are available starting September 2022.
Image Credit: General Mills
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Collectible Toys
- Opportunity for brands to release special edition collectible toys to increase brand loyalty and appeal to nostalgia.
- Nostalgia Marketing
- Opportunity for brands to use nostalgia marketing strategies that tap into fond memories of childhood and connect with consumers on an emotional level.
- Limited Editions
- Opportunity for brands to release limited edition products that create a sense of exclusivity and promote a sense of urgency to purchase among consumers.
Where This Applies
- Breakfast Cereals
- Opportunity for breakfast cereal brands to differentiate their products through collectible toys that can drive purchase decisions and boost sales.
- Toy Manufacturing
- Opportunity for toy manufacturers to partner with food and beverage companies to create collectible toys that can increase their market penetration and boost revenue.
- Marketing and Advertising
- Opportunity for marketing and advertising agencies to develop campaigns that play on nostalgia and create a strong emotional connection with consumers to improve brand loyalty.
