#18: Sugar Rice Krinkles Cereal

The sight of the Sugar Rice Krinkles box featuring Krinkle the Clown might strike fear rather than nostalgia in today’s world. In the 1950s, this character was beloved, symbolizing a sugar-coated cereal that enjoyed two decades of success. By 1969, however, Post decided to discontinue the product. The reasons could range from changing societal tastes to the company’s pursuit of alternative profit avenues. Despite its eventual disappearance, Sugar Rice Krinkles left a memorable, somewhat eerie, mark on cereal history.

In hindsight, the competition might have been too fierce for Sugar Rice Krinkles. Kellogg’s Rice Krispies, a heavyweight in the cereal aisle since 1927, and the later introduction of Cocoa Krispies in 1958, likely contributed heavily to Krinkles’ downfall. The cereal market is cutthroat, and standing out requires more than just a catchy mascot or a sweet taste. Ultimately, it seems Sugar Rice Krinkles couldn’t keep pace with its more enduring counterparts, leading to its retirement from the breakfast table.