Cheerios grows through the years
Walk down the grocery aisle and you can find more than a dozen varieties of Cheerios. The General Mills brand has grown significantly since the debut of Cheerioats in 1941. Honey Nut Cheerios, the top-selling branded cold cereal in 2011, arrived in 1979.
1941 Cheerioats/Cheerios
1979 Honey Nut Cheerios
1988 Apple Cinnamon Cheerios
1992 Multi Grain Cheerios
1995 Frosted Cheerios
2003 Berry Burst Cheerios
2006 Yogurt Burst Cheerios
2006 Fruity Cheerios
2008 Oat Cluster Cheerios
2009 Banana Nut Cheerios
2010 Chocolate Cheerios
2011 Cinnamon Burst Cheerios
2012 Dulce de Leche Cheerios
2012 Multi Grain Peanut Butter
Source: General Mills
1941 THE BEGINNING
The cereal hit the shelves as Cheerioats but changed its name in 1945 to avoid conflict with Quaker Oats.
1942
Cheeri O'Leary becomes the cereal's first marketing mascot.
1961
The "Big G" logo appears on General Mills cereal boxes for the first time.
1979
Honey Nut Cheerios is released and the bee mascot, named Buzz Bee in a nationwide contest in 2000, debuts.
2000
Cheerios marked the beginning of the 21st century with a special, short-run cereal, Millenios.