General Mills discontinues 3 cereal flavors. See which ones.
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Breakfast idea: Cereal bar recipe
These homemade cereal bars are perfect for back-to-school or as a grab-and-go snack.
Problem Solved
General Mills is pulling three specialty cereals from shelves, a representative for the company confirmed to USA TODAY.
The company is discontinuing:
Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch (introduced in early 2013) Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheerios (introduced in 2017) Honey Nut Cheerios Minis products (announced as a new addition in early 2024)
Cereal enthusiast and social media user Kayla Simonsen, also known as the Cereal Queen on Instagram, first broke that the cereal was getting the axe in an Instagram post on June 4.
"Of the 3, It baffles me the most that Cheerios would discontinue the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheerios," Simonsen said in the social media post, adding that people should "grab these while (they) can, because what's on shelves is what's left."
Why is General Mills discontinuing the cereals?
General Mills did not elaborate on why it discontinued the products, but said in a statement on June 17 that it is introducing new cereals for customers to try, like Cheerios Oat Crunch Chocolate.
Frosted Lemon Cheerios will also return for a limited time this summer.
'Much like Frosted Lemon Cheerios, which returned by popular demand, we continue to listen to our fans as we evolve our offerings,' the company said.
Discontinued cereal may have done better if it were more widely available, Simonsen says
Simonsen said Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheerios were 'fantastic' in her June 4 Instagram post.
She also offered her take on what could've helped the Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch cereal last longer.
'The medley (oat) crunch version of honey nut cheerios were so underrated,' she wrote. 'I feel if they had been more widely available from the start that the sales would have been great. It combined HN cheerios, multigrain based flakes that had graham flour in them, & the best honey clusters of granola w/almonds. It was perfection honestly.'
According to General Mills, the company recently released a line of Cheerios Protein cereal, which comes in flavors such as cinnamon, strawberry, and cookies and creme. The line debuted this year.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business of Fashion
an hour ago
- Business of Fashion
Why Influencers Are Courting Legacy Media
As a rookie interior designer, Bilal Rehman was able to build a public profile for himself by sharing videos of his work on TikTok — showing viewers a project reveal, or a visit to a marble warehouse. But as his follower count grew, his professional reputation became more and more linked to TikTok, rather than his CV. 'The high-end client was not really taking me seriously,' he said. So Rehman decided to hire a publicist, who eventually landed him coverage in the likes of Architectural Digest and Elle Decor. Being next to established names in the space helped elevate his professional credibility, he said — and got him new accounts. 'It shows your business in a light that allows people to take it much more seriously,' said Rehman, who now boasts a multi-million business. It may seem counterintuitive that, at a time when influencer marketing reigns supreme and the power of traditional media is a fraction of what it used to be, that a TikTokker with more than half a million followers would seek out mainstream news coverage. But as more creators seek to build lasting careers beyond online fame, many now seek out the legitimacy and prestige that comes with a mention in publications such as Vogue and The New York Times. Often, it's a win for both sides: For publishers, featuring influencers is a way to engage younger audiences who are more likely to watch a TikTok than read an article. For influencers, landing coverage in a mainstream outlet can lend them professional credibility and even grow their follower count. 'Press coverage can lead to bigger opportunities — speaking gigs, brand ambassadorships, book deals, TV appearances — it can open that door,' said Ali Wald, director of talent at influencer management firm DBA. 'It's that cross pollination on platforms that can really expand your audience.' But landing publicity isn't easy. Pitching to traditional media outlets requires a timely angle and plenty of patience — a process much slower than having a TikTok go viral. 'Everyone wants press now, but not everyone is deserving of press,' said Rachel Granger, the founder of Blue Jeans Public Relations, who represents influencer-led brands like Paige Lorenze's Dairy Boy and Bridget Bahl's The Bar. 'If you want to market yourself as an influencer, you have to think about 'What are my offerings?' You're essentially trying to build yourself as your personal brand. If there was an article that came out about you, what would you want that headline to be?' Why Influencers Need Coverage With countless creators trying to make it big on TikTok and Instagram, they're more in need than ever of ways to stand out. Nabbing a mention in a legacy publication has emerged as one of the most effective. 'There's so many creators out there. You could be the most popular person in one corner of the internet, and there's a whole swath of people who have never heard of you,' said Danielle McGrory, founder of the PR agency Communité. A mention in a major news outlet can lead to new followers outside your pre-existing base as well as potential brand partners and wholesale accounts if you're launching your own brand. It's also essential to building a profile outside of your own social platforms, where Instagram Stories disappear within 24 hours and TikTok videos get buried. A reference in Elle or Who What Wear, on the other hand, will remain a top result on Google. This will continue to be the case as people increasingly use generative AI chatbots, which are more likely to scrape websites than social media. When to Hire a Publicist If an influencer is considering hiring a publicist, they should view it as a 'strategic investment' in their business — not an ego boost, Federica Dell'Ungaro, PR director at influencer consulting firm Idalia Inc. A good first gauge is if an influencer should think about hiring a PR is if they're seeing an uptick in inbound press inquiries. Transitional moments such as when they launch a brand or publish a book also make for a natural inflection point. Influencer Kenzie Elizabeth, for example, hired Granger just ahead of the launch of her home goods and stationery label Friend of Mine, in order to reposition herself as 'more of a founder, less influencer' in the public eye, she said. Particularly considering the expense, it's simply not worth the investment unless influencers have a specific business objective in mind. Granger won't take on influencer clients unless they have a product or brand to promote beyond their content. 'A publicist's job is to create moments, but it's not to create magic,' said Maggie Sellers, a content creator and host of the podcast 'Hot Smart Rich.' 'If there's nothing going on in your business as an influencer that is going to be news to the public, then it's going to make their job really hard, and you guys are ultimately not going to have a successful relationship.' How to Make It Work Successfully garnering a mention in the press is not all that different from how publicity works for a brand or a product: it requires a definitive hook. There are thousands of creators who could be positioned as a 'style expert' or a 'beauty guru' — particularly if they don't have professional credentials to back that up. 'Not every influencer is shaking up the fashion space or taking over the world,' said Granger. 'You have to find what their niche is.' Influencers who are backed by real-world credentials — such as a dermatologist or a stylist — have an edge, but leaning on personality and life experiences, too, helps creators stand out. 'The human story is the main selling point,' said Dell'Ungaro. When pitching her client Julia Comil, for example, Dell'Ungaro honed in on her perspective as a French woman living in Los Angeles, which helped her land coverage in Hello! and LA Magazine in articles about how to adapt French style to the US and her time at couture week in Paris, respectively. Granger has been able to land several tennis-themed placements for her client Lorenze, who is dating professional tennis player Tommy Paul. Local outlets where talent's name may carry more weight can also be a natural placement. Similar to pitching a fashion or beauty client, PRs should research editors and reporters who cover influencers more frequently and then pitch accordingly. That's all the more important given the fact that coverage of influencers is still an emerging space in media. It's imperative the publicist and the influencer are on the same page. Rehman, for instance, said that an earlier publicist he worked with focused too much on pitching stories around his identity as a gay man during Pride Month, rather than zeroing in on his interior design business. 'You have to find a publicist that completely sees the vision and gets you, your brand and stands behind that,' said Elizabeth.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
5 US Technology Growth Stocks to Ride the Digitalisation and AI Waves
We are lucky to be living in the technological age. Technology has helped to make our lives more convenient and efficient, and has also enabled us to communicate better with one another. The advent of artificial intelligence and social media has opened up a wealth of information that we never thought possible. These trends are still nascent, and there is much more progress to be made on the technological front. To gain a front-row seat to this action, here are five US technology growth stocks that you can consider for your buy watchlist. Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) Meta Platforms is a social media behemoth that owns products such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. The company delivered a stellar financial performance for the first half of 2025 (1H 2025). Revenue rose 18.9% year on year to US$89.8 billion while operating profit increased by 32.6% year on year to US$38 billion. Net profit improved by 35.4% year on year to US$35 billion. Meta Platforms also generated a positive free cash flow of US$20.1 billion for 1H 2025, a 16.4% year-on-year decline. The fall in free cash flow was attributed to increased spending on AI initiatives by Meta, as CEO Mark Zuckerberg intends to build a new superintelligence AI lab. This new lab will focus on developing the new generation of Meta's models. The board has recommended a quarterly dividend of US$0.525 per share. Total capital expenditure for 2025 is expected to be in the range of between US$66 billion to US$72 billion. Meta Platforms is still demonstrating healthy growth in user numbers, with family daily active people (DAP) rising by 6% year on year to 3.48 billion. Palantir (NASDAQ: PLTR) Palantir is a software and data analytics company that harnesses AI to analyse data and deliver insights. For 1H 2025, the technology company posted a brilliant set of results. Revenue jumped 43.8% year on year to US$1.9 billion while operating profit more than doubled year on year to US$445.4 million. Net profit soared 125.6% year on year to US$540.8 million. Palantir also generated free cash flow of US$835.7 million, more than triple the US$268.2 million that it churned out in 1H 2024. The business is also seeing an increasing number of customers, with customer count climbing 43% year on year to 849. Of this number, 692 were commercial customers, which saw a 48% year-on-year growth in numbers. During the second quarter of 2025 (2Q 2025), Palantir closed 157 deals of at least US$1 million, of which 42 were at least US$10 million in size. For 2025, Palantir is raising its revenue guidance to between US$4.142 billion to US$4.15 billion. This represents a year-on-year revenue increase of 44.7% at the midpoint of Palantir's guidance. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Microsoft is a technology company that develops and licences computer software (MS Office). The company also provides cloud services, video games, and runs a business networking site, LinkedIn. For its fiscal 2025 (FY2025) ending 30 June 2025, Microsoft reported a 15% year-on-year increase in revenue to US$281.7 billion. Operating profit increased by 17.4% year on year to US$128.5 billion while net profit improved by 15.5% year on year to US$101.8 billion. Like Meta Platforms, Microsoft also saw its capital expenditure level increase by 45% year on year to US$64.6 billion. As a result, free cash flow dipped by 3% year on year to US$71.6 billion for FY2025. The software and cloud company paid out a quarterly dividend of US$0.83, 10.7% higher than a year ago. Microsoft continued to invest heavily in data centres, AI, and more talent. The company predicted that its FY2026 capital expenditure will top US$100 billion, a further increase from FY2025. Lemonade (NYSE: LMND) Lemonade uses AI and behavioural economics to power its insurance platform, and offers homeowner, pet, car, and life insurance. The company is gaining traction in the insurance space with its cutting-edge algorithm, and is seeing revenue leap 30.8% year on year to US$315.3 million for 1H 2025. The total number of customers continued to climb, increasing by 24% year on year to 2.7 million. Lemonade's in-force premium stood at US$1,083, up 29% year on year, while premium per customer inched up 4% year on year to US$402. The company is expanding geographically with the launch of car insurance in Colorado in 1Q 2025, where the business has witnessed higher cross-sale conversion rates. In July, Lemonade continued to expand in the US with the launch of its car insurance service in Indiana. Management communicated that its car insurance division will be a key growth driver for the business and is now available in states representing around 42% of the US car insurance market. Upstart (NASDAQ: UPST) Upstart operates an AI lending marketplace that connects millions of consumers with more than 100 banks and credit unions. With its AI model, lenders can approve more borrowers at lower rates, with more than 90% of loans being fully automated. The company reported a sterling set of earnings for 1H 2025 as revenue shot up 48.7% year on year to US$426.3 million. The business eked out a small net profit of US$3.2 million for the half year, reversing the previous year's net loss of US$119.1 million. The number of loans originated on Upstart's platform more than doubled year on year to 613,305. Transaction volume leapt 121% year on year to US$4.95 billion. For 2025, Upstart expects total revenue to be around US$1.055 billion. Singapore's stock market is on a historic run, but can it last? We'll explore where interest rates are heading, whether blue-chip earnings can keep growing and more. Get the clarity you need — sign up now for our free webinar. Generative AI is reshaping the stock market, but not in the way most investors think. It's not just about which companies are using AI. It's about how they're using it to unlock new revenue, dominate their markets, and quietly reshape the business world. Our latest FREE report 'How GenAI is Reshaping the Stock Market' breaks the hype down, so you can invest with greater clarity and confidence. Click here to download your copy today. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Telegram for the latest investing news and analyses! Disclosure: Royston Yang owns shares of Meta Platforms. The post 5 US Technology Growth Stocks to Ride the Digitalisation and AI Waves appeared first on The Smart Investor.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cracker Barrel Responds to Fans Who Are Not Pleased with the Chain's Remodeling Efforts
A Cracker Barrel spokesperson told PEOPLE that the chain is "very pleased" with the remodels, while recognizing "that there may be a vocal minority"NEED TO KNOW Cracker Barrel fans are still upset with the chain's remodeling efforts, one year after the renovations began Followers continue to comment on Cracker Barrel's Instagram to critique the remodel's "bland" look A Cracker Barrel spokesperson told PEOPLE that they are "very pleased" with the remodels, while "we recognize that there may be a vocal minority"It has been a year since Cracker Barrel started renovating its formerly knick-knack-ridden restaurants, and fans are still angry. The Southern-inspired part-restaurant, part-store chain announced a 3-year plan to 'evolve' in May 2024. Yet, more than a year later, fans are still commenting their complaints on an Aug. 5, 2024, Instagram post about the restaurant's 'new look.' The video has a Cracker Barrel district manager walking followers through the space's changes, like new lighting, seating and paint color. As of this story's publication, there are more than 2,000 comments on the video. Many of the comments are complaints about the new 'bland' appearance, while others are compliments on the 'modern' look. The mundane video continues to get (positive or negative) comments more than one year after posting. The 56-year-old chain is inspired by old country stores and used to be decorated with brown-colored walls covered in antique farm tools and historical family portraits. According to a 2022 Cracker Barrel blog post, each store averaged between 950 and 1,000 authentic antiques per location. The new appearance, which 40 locations have received as of May, according to The Wall Street Journal, has a fresh coat of white paint on the walls, modern light fixtures and antiques organized into shadow boxes. A spokesperson at Cracker Barrel told PEOPLE on Monday, Aug. 11, 'We are very pleased with the trajectory of our remodeled stores. Feedback from both guests and team members has been overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic about the refreshed dining and shopping experience. All of the elements of our remodels were informed by direct input from our guests and team members alike – these changes are for them.' The spokesperson continued, 'As with any change, we recognize that there may be a vocal minority who feel differently. However, the strong performance of these locations affirms that we are moving in the right direction. We hope people who haven't yet visited a remodeled store will visit us and experience the country hospitality proudly on display at every table and in every dish.' Cracker Barrel employees offered their insights as to why they like the changes in a Reddit forum. In response to a poster claiming the new changes make the restaurants look like McDonald's, one Redditor wrote that the remodel is going to help with cleanliness. When talking about the white walls, the person wrote, 'They actually help us spot dirt and messes more easily. Try cleaning brown off of a brown wall!' Plus, the antique lanterns and globes would 'need meticulous cleaning every night.' The poster wrote, 'While they were part of the charm, they also trapped dust and grease.' Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
