The Real Reason The Shape Of Trix Cereal Keeps Changing
While there is ample competition, perhaps the most memorable of all the cereal slogans is that of Trix. "Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids," is a punchline that has echoed through living rooms and playgrounds since the ad campaign first gained traction. And while the slogan has been around since the 1960s, and is still used to this day, the actual Trix that are being marketed by the ad have changed significantly (via Scoop).
From the inception of Trix until 1991, the cereal came in tiny, colorful, puffed balls. At the beginning of the 1990s, Trix shaped like berries, oranges, lemons, and watermelons were introduced. In 2006, round shapes returned. Then in 2015, General Mills, the maker of Trix and other cereals such as Reese's Puffs, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch, announced that they would no longer be using artificial coloring in their cereals (via CNN). Presumably because the fruits didn't look quite as vibrant without the use of artificial coloring, the company continued on the path of the original rounded variety (via Delish).
The return of the fruit shapes
However, there was an uproar among the customer base and General Mills decided to bring back the fruit-shaped Trix in 2018 citing "overwhelming consumer feedback" (via USA Today). How much customer feedback is considered overwhelming? About 20,000 inquiries in regards to the situation were received over the course of two years. General Mills Marketing Director Scott Baldwin said that consumers were making it "loud and clear that they wanted to see the iconic shapes back in their bowls." People really loved their fruit-flavored Trix, it appears.
But citing the fact that the round version without artificial coloring developed its own fan base, the company will provide both the artificially-colored, fruit-shaped option, called "Classic Trix," as well as the naturally-colored, round options going forward (via CNBC).
It also looks like the general public shouldn't expect any more twists and turns when it comes to the shape of Trix going forward, because the fruit shapes are here to stay (via PR Newswire).