– Bill Post, Father of the Pop-Tart, Dies at 96 – DNyuz
– Bill Post, Pop-Tart Inventor, Passes Away at 96 – DNyuz.
Bill Post, Father of the Pop-Tart, Dies at 96
Background and Biography
William “Bill” Post, the legendary Michigan man who is widely credited with inventing the iconic breakfast treat known as Pop-Tarts for the Kellogg’s company, passed away on Saturday at the age of 96, according to an online obituary. Born in 1927, Post grew up on the south side of Grand Rapids and went on to serve in the Army Air Corps in occupied Japan. He married his high school sweetheart and eventually became a plant manager at the Keebler Company, known as Hekman at the time.
The Invention of Pop-Tarts
In the early 1960s, Post’s life took a fateful turn when he received a phone call from a Kellogg’s official who wanted to tour his factory. They expressed a desire for a toaster-friendly snack but didn’t know how to create one. Kellogg’s partnered with Keebler, and Post assembled a team to tackle the challenge of creating a toastable treat. After months of experimentation, they successfully developed a prototype with a delicious filling sandwiched between layers of dough.
Despite facing skepticism from friends and colleagues, Post’s creation, the Pop-Tart, quickly became a sensation. The initial release of the four original flavors – Strawberry, Blueberry, Brown Cinnamon Sugar, and Apple-Currant – sold out rapidly. The success continued to grow over the years, with Pop-Tarts generating billions in sales for Kellogg’s.
A Snack Phenomenon
Pop-Tarts have remained a beloved snack, and their popularity shows no signs of waning. In 2022 alone, over three billion Pop-Tarts were consumed, contributing to Kellanova’s snacking division earning nearly one billion dollars in U.S. sales. With countless flavors introduced since the ’60s, Post always maintained that his favorite was the classic Strawberry. He even kept a supply of them in his car, which proudly displayed a license plate that read “POPTART.”
Legacy and Final Words
Post continued to work in the food industry until his retirement in the 1980s. He then served as a consultant to Kellogg’s for the next two decades. Although his contributions to the creation of Pop-Tarts are not officially recognized on the product’s website, his impact on snack food history is undeniable.
Bill Post passed away just months before the expected release of the Netflix film, “Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story,” directed by Jerry Seinfeld. The movie, set in Michigan in 1963, delves into the ambitious and surprising world of Pop-Tarts.
Post’s son, Dan, revealed that his father was aware of the movie’s development and was amazed at the lasting impact of his creation. Beyond being the father of Pop-Tarts, Bill Post was a beloved family man who will be deeply missed.
Bill Post is survived by his two children, four grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. He is reunited in death with his wife of 72 years, Florence.
Rest in peace, Bill Post, the man who brought joy to breakfast tables around the world with his delicious invention, the Pop-Tart.
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– Bill Post, Father of the Pop-Tart, Dies at 96
– DNyuz article on Bill Post, Father of the Pop-Tart, Dies at 96.
