General Mills Releases Eight New Cereals as Its Retail Prices Rise

Eight new cereals will be joining General Mills’ robust cereal lineup later this year and early next year. To the delight of cereal fans, the new offerings range from brand new flavors to twists on existing brands. While its classic flavors will always be choice favorites, General Mills does not shy away from new offerings to incentivize cereal lovers.

Meet our eight all-new permanent cereals! 🥣 From CinnaGraham Toast Crunch to @ratiofood KETO granola, there's something for everyone in the family. ❤️ All products will be available at grocery retailers nationwide by January 2022. pic.twitter.com/1tF2jF6ez8

— General Mills (@GeneralMills) November 15, 2021

Over the past year, General Mills has released dozens of new cereals. From seasonal offerings to limited-edition celebrity collaborations, the Cheerios maker is pushing the idea that cereal is more than just a breakfast food. Of the new cereals, three brands are adding new flavors, and five are entirely new cereals. Here are the newest General Mills cereals that will be hitting the shelves at the end of this year:

• CinnaGraham Toast Crunch is a “Cinnadusted” cereal featuring the sweet honey flavor of graham crackers with the classic taste of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
• Reece’s Puff’s Cluster Crunch merges crispy corn cereal clusters with peanut butter and chocolate flavors.
• Strawberry Banana Cheerios is made with strawberry and banana puree and is the latest line extension to the robust Cheerios portfolio.
• PJ Masks Cereal features corn cereal in a midnight berry flavor with marshmallows and is inspired by the animated superhero series.
• Plentifull is another new brand set to launch with two flavors: cinnamon almond butter and peanut butter. The cereal is made with 32 grams of whole grain per serving and real peanut and almond butter.
• Ratio is expanding its line of granola bars and yogurt dairy snacks with the debut of two flavors: coconut almond and toasted almond. The new cereal contains eight grams of protein, one gram of sugar and is made with almonds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.

Related: General Mills Acquires Tyson Foods’ Pet Treat Business for $1.2 Billion

The cereal unveilings come as General Mills announced its retail prices would be rising in mid-January of 2022. The brand notified customers of price hikes across dozens of brands, including Annie’s, Betty Crocker, Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Reece’s Puffs and many more, meaning General Mills new cereals may also come at a higher cost than consumers are accustomed to.

While the news mainly pertains to the American market, it is likely that General Mills’ prices will rise for customers worldwide, with reports estimating the company plans to raise prices by around 20 percent. Its plans are the latest proof that rising grocery prices won’t be going away any time soon for some of the most familiar food brands. General Mills is just one of many food manufacturers to announce price hikes beginning in 2022, including Kraft Heinz, Mondelēz, Tyson and Procter & Gamble.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, grocery prices climbed one percent in October from the previous month and were 5.4 percent higher than at the same time last year. Inflation on food, beverages and household items is expected to climb to eight percent during the first half of 2022, according to market research firm IRI, which tracks price trends across big-box stores, wholesalers, supermarkets and other retail channels.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, food manufacturers and grocery stores have faced higher costs for commodities, labor and transportation — all of which have escalated in recent months, prompting companies to raise prices further to minimize the impact.

Along with raising retail prices, General Mills plans to sell its European dough businesses to Cérélia, a global supplier of ready-to-bake dough solutions. Earlier this month, media reports suggested that General Mills is also considering selling its Progresso Soup and Hamburger Helper brands, which could potentially generate $3 billion. In March, the company announced it would be selling 51 percent controlling interest in Yoplait to Sundiaal, a French dairy cooperative.

Whether General Mills’ new cereals will be a hit with consumers remains to be seen, but one thing that’s sure is that consumers can expect to pay more for their favorite snacks, soups, cooking brands and cereals next year.