Bowl of Wheaties cereal

Wheaties

The Breakfast of Champions.
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Helping people perform like champions since 1921

As our first ready-to-eat cereal, Wheaties debuted in 1921 as Washburn’s Whole Wheat Flakes. Since then, they’ve become an icon of sporting, thanks to their 100% whole grain flakes and B vitamins.

Fun facts

Washburn Crosby Whole Wheat Flakes

From accident to icon

Wheaties was created at Washburn Crosby Company in 1921 as a result of an accidental spill of a wheat bran mixture into a hot stove, which crackled and sizzled into a crisp flake. 
Original Wheaties box

What’s in a name?

After Jane Bausman, wife of a company export manager, won an employee contest, the name Wheaties was official — beating out “Nutties” and “Gold Medal Wheat Flakes.”
Wheaties quartet who sang the first radio ad

First in radio

Wheaties recorded the first-ever commercial radio jingle on December 24, 1926, to the tune of She’s a Jazz Baby, by Bill Holcome and David Miller.

Record-holders since 1926

1926 – First ever singing radio commercial, “Have you tried Wheaties?”

1934 – First woman on a Wheaties box, aviator Elinor Smith

1952 – First African American athlete on a Wheaties box, Roy Campanella

1987 – First team depicted on a Wheaties box, 1987 World Series Champion Minnesota Twins

1992 – First non-orange Wheaties box, red and black in honor of the Chicago Bulls

19 times – most appearances on a Wheaties box by Michael Jordan

7 spokespersons since 1958: Bob Richards, Caitlyn Jenner, Mary Lou Retton, Walter Payton, Chris Evert, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods

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