Breakfast used to include cereal or granola and other stuff like bacon and eggs. When the 60's came around, Kellogg's decided to change that forever. Starting in the 60's Kellogg's decided to make a toaster pastry come to life.
And its life started with packaged dog food. Here's the story.
In the early 1960's a toaster pastry company named their creation "Toaster Pop'ems" Showing a filling of strawberry or blueberry or any other flavor.
In 1964, the Kellogg's company started their own version. The first name for the product was called "Country Squares"
The name wasn't popular, and the product wasn't selling well. Eventually...they decided to call the product "Pop Tarts." from Andy Warhol's Pop Art phase that he was going through at the time. The name made this product a hit.
Pillsbury soon said, 'HOLD MY BEER!' and made their own versions of toaster pastries named 'Toaster Strudel'. It was considered a toaster pastry that was meant for the freezer. It even had its own packaging of frosting you would put on yourself.
It was pretty good and sometimes it would claim it was better than Pop Tarts. I would be the judge of that.
Around the 90s, both Pop Tarts and Toaster Strudel were in a battle with each other claiming they were better than the other.
They even had so many flavors. For Pop Tarts, they had these ads that had little kids about my age telling grownups not to run out without eating. They started with unfrosted flavors until they started adding frosting.
Toaster Strudels had their interesting flavors as well. One being chocolate. They had other flavors as well like orange and even Cinnamon Toast Crunch...which I find repulsive. Pop Tarts had their own limited time flavors which involved sodas.
There are other brands as well even after both Toaster Strudel and Pop Tarts were around. Some claimed to be healthier than both.
I doubt that...but it seemed some of them are from small companies trying to make their own version. Some work...some don't. Some didn't even last very long. Like the original.... remember them Toast'em pastries?
In 2004, the Movie Mean Girls referenced Toaster Strudels as one of the mean girls, played by Lacey Chabert, said that her father was the inventor of Toaster Strudels. Around 2020, almost years after the movie came out, they made a Mean Girls flavor with strawberry filling and pink icing.
The real inventor of Toaster Strudels was Joe Perozzi, and he invented them in the 70's. Might have been true...but who knows. Still a great quotable movie.
Pop Tarts tried to make an ad dissing Toaster Strudels claiming they fry them while Pop Tarts claims they bake theirs.
It hurt sales for Pillsbury when that ad came out. But not for long. What do I think is best? I tried both and thought Pop Tarts were better. Why...because it doesn't take a long hassle to make. Plus...the Toaster Strudels are flaky, and I'm not a fan of the flaky crust.
Today, both Pop Tarts and Toaster Strudels are doing great in sales...but are trying to become healthier as well. Pop Tarts have made protein packed Pop Tarts for people that are low on their protein. Toaster Strudels is trying to use less sugar. Is it working? I don't know...I don't eat Toaster Strudels. The only Pop Tart flavors I'll eat is unfrosted Strawberry and S'mores. That's it.
Pop Tarts even made a movie starring Jerry Seinfeld who loved the Pop Tarts from his childhood. It was ok. Still eat Pop Tarts today.
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