Pop-Tarts are a popular toaster pasty made by the Kellogg Company. First introduced in 1964, Pop-Tarts now come in a wide variety of flavors, including fan favorites like strawberry, brown sugar cinnamon, and wild berry. However, some Pop-Tarts aficionados have recently noticed that the wild berry flavor appears to be missing from store shelves, leading to speculation that it may have been discontinued.
In this article, we’ll examine the evidence to determine if wild berry Pop-Tarts have indeed been discontinued. We’ll look at reports from consumers, statements from Kellogg’s, and the availability of the wild berry flavor at major retailers. We’ll also consider potential reasons why Kellogg’s might have chosen to discontinue this particular variety. By the end, you’ll have the facts needed to know if those tart, berry-filled pastries are gone for good.
Background on Pop-Tarts and the Wild Berry Flavor
Pop-Tarts are rectangular toaster pastries with a sugary filling sealed inside two layers of thin, crispy pastry crust. They were first sold to the public in 1964 after Post unveiled its Country Squares product in 1963. Pop-Tarts were an immediate hit, and Post changed the name to Pop-Tarts within a year. The original flavors were strawberry, blueberry, brown sugar cinnamon, and apple currant.
Over the years, many more flavors were introduced as Pop-Tarts soared in popularity. Wild berry Pop-Tarts hit the scene in the 1990s. The wild berry variety contains a mix of raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, and blackberry flavors. They have a tart, sweet taste and come frosted with a purple glaze.
Wild berry joined other fruit flavors like strawberry and blueberry as classic Pop-Tarts that consumers expect to see on store shelves. However, some sharp-eyed shoppers have noticed the wild berry flavor missing in recent months, leading to questions over whether it has been discontinued.
Evidence of Wild Berry Pop-Tarts Being Discontinued
So what evidence is there that the wild berry variety has actually been discontinued? Here are some of the key points:
– Consumer Reports: Many people have taken to the internet to complain that they can’t find wild berry Pop-Tarts anymore. Twitter, Reddit, and consumer complaint sites contain numerous reports from shoppers saying the flavor has disappeared from stores in their area.
– Spotty In-Store Availability: A survey of major retailers shows wild berry Pop-Tarts are either totally unavailable or very difficult to find. As of October 2022, Walmart, Target, and many grocery chains no longer carry this variety on their shelves or on their websites.
– No Official Announcement from Kellogg’s: So far, Kellogg’s has not made any public statement announcing the discontinuation of the wild berry flavor. However, the lack of availability points to it no longer being in active production.
– Removal from Kellogg’s Website: The wild berry variety is no longer listed on the main Pop-Tarts flavor page on Kellogg’s website. Only discontinued flavors are removed from the site.
This collective evidence presents a very strong case that wild berry Pop-Tarts have been taken off the market and discontinued. While not yet confirmed by Kellogg’s, all signs point to the tart mixed berry flavor no longer being available for purchase.
Potential Reasons for Discontinuation
If wild berry Pop-Tarts have indeed been discontinued, what could be the reasons behind Kellogg’s decision? Here are some of the potential factors at play:
– Lagging Sales: Wild berry may have fallen out of favor with consumers relative to other flavors. Lower demand could lead the company to retire the variety.
– Manufacturing Streamlining: Kellogg’s may have decided to cut down on flavors produced to focus on top sellers like strawberry and brown sugar cinnamon.
– Ingredient Sourcing Issues: Supply chain problems may have made key ingredients for wild berry, like raspberries or blackberries, more difficult or expensive to obtain.
– New Product Rollouts: To make way for new Pop-Tarts flavors, Kellogg’s may have cut wild berry to keep the overall line more focused.
– Seasonal Timing: As a berry flavor, wild berry Pop-Tarts may have been tied to summer production cycles and discontinued off-season.
Without an official announcement, the exact reasons can only be speculated. But Kellogg’s likely conducted consumer research and ran the numbers to decide wild berry Pop-Tarts were no longer profitable enough to justify continued production.
When Wild Berry Pop-Tarts Were Discontinued
Though Kellogg’s hasn’t confirmed the discontinuation, examining product availability allows us to estimate roughly when wild berry Pop-Tarts were phased off shelves:
– Available through much of 2021 – Consumers report being able to purchase wild berry Pop-Tarts at major retailers as recently as late 2021.
– Limited spring 2022 availability – Some spotting of wild berry on shelves in early 2022, but supplies very limited.
– Out of stock summer 2022 – By June and July 2022, wild berry Pop-Tarts were completely unavailable at any major stores.
– Removed from websites by fall 2022 – By September/October 2022, wild berry was scrubbed from Kellogg’s website and retailer flavor listings.
So it appears that wild berry Pop-Tarts were likely discontinued sometime between early 2022 and summer 2022. The phase-out happened gradually, with stock disappearing from stores over spring and summer before the flavor was officially retired likely before fall 2022.
Is This Discontinuation Permanent?
Now that wild berry Pop-Tarts seem to be discontinued, is there any chance Kellogg’s might revive the flavor in the future? Here are some factors that provide clues:
– Other returning flavors – Kellogg’s has brought back discontinued Pop-Tarts flavors before, such as brown sugar cinnamon and frosted grape. So wild berry could potentially make a comeback.
– No “limited edition” label – Wild berry was not marketed as a limited run flavor, so it was likely intended as permanent. This improves the chance of it returning someday.
– Strong nostalgic appeal – As a 1990s original flavor, wild berry has nostalgia factor that could spur demand for its return. Vintage packaging and marketing could tap into millennials’ fond memories of enjoying these as kids.
– Difficulty predicting consumer taste – Consumer preferences are unpredictable, so a flavor that falls out of favor now may cycle back into popularity later on down the road.
– Ongoing ingredient availability issues – If supply chain problems were the cause, bringing wild berry back could prove difficult until berry ingredients become less expensive and easier to source again.
Based on these factors, it seems moderately likely that Kellogg’s could opt to bring back wild berry Pop-Tarts at some point in the future if market conditions are right. However, there is no guarantee, as once flavors are discontinued they sometimes remain retired for good.
Are Any Wild Berry Pop-Tarts Still Available?
While wild berry Pop-Tarts seem to be discontinued across all major retail chains, are there any remaining old supplies still available for purchase? Here are a few places intrepid wild berry fans may be able to find remaining stock:
– Small, independent grocers – Some out-of-the-way corner stores or gas station markets may still have wild berry in stock from months ago. These stores likely sell fewer Pop-Tarts and may still have leftover discontinued flavors.
– Online sellers clearing inventory – Websites like eBay or Etsy may offer boxes of wild berry Pop-Tarts from sellers clearing out old grocery inventory. However, inflated prices due to “rarity” are likely.
– Discounted bulk/overstock retailers – Stores like Big Lots, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, or Grocery Outlet sometimes acquire large quantities of discontinued foods. A lucky few may still find wild berry Pop-Tarts lingering on the shelves.
– International retailers – Pop-Tarts are sold in some foreign markets, especially Canada. International stores may still sell discontinued US flavors from existing stock. Importing could be very expensive, however.
Aside from hard-to-find examples like these, the wild berry variety appears to be commercially unavailable from any mainstream retail sources at this time. Only those willing to hunt and pay a premium are likely able to still purchase it.
Top Replacement Flavor Options
Since the beloved wild berry flavor seems to be gone, what should die-hard fans choose instead to get their berry Pop-Tarts fix? Here are some of the top flavored alternatives:
| Flavor | Details |
|---|---|
| Strawberry | The strawberry variety contains sweet, jam-like strawberry filling. It’s one of the brand’s most popular and long-running flavors. |
| Blueberry | Blueberry Pop-Tarts have a pleasant fresh blueberry taste. The filling contains real blueberry pieces. |
| Raspberry | The raspberry flavor features vibrantly colored pink filling with raspberry fruit puree for authentic flavor. |
| Mixed berry | The mixed berry variety contains a blend of strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry flavors for assorted fruit taste. |
| Berry blast | One of the newer options, berry blast Pop-Tarts have mixed red berries and a creamier, yogurt-like filling. |
While no flavor is exactly like wild berry, these options provide the fruity, berry taste many fans love. Strawberry is the classic choice, but the raspberry, blueberry, and mixed berry varieties will be most similar to the wild berry experience.
Are Any Stores Petitioning to Bring Wild Berry Back?
Some consumers have reached out directly to retailers hoping they will push Kellogg’s to reconsider wild berry’s discontinuation. So far, there are no reports of any major chains actively petitioning the return of this flavor.
A few factors make it unlikely most large retailers will take advocacy action:
– Lack of social media response – No grocery or convenience chains have responded to complaints about wild berry on Twitter or Facebook, showing low engagement.
– Insufficient sales history – Discontinuation likely reflects poor national sales data for wild berry over past 2-3 years, providing little incentive for stores to lobby for its return.
– Ongoing supply issues – Even if stores wanted it back, ingredient shortages may prevent Kellogg’s from being able to produce enough wild berry Pop-Tarts to meet demand.
– Focus on core flavors – Stores prefer focusing shelf space on top-selling classics like strawberry rather than less popular varieties.
Unless a groundswell of consumer pressure emerges, major retailers will likely accept the apparent discontinuation of wild berry Pop-Tarts rather than pushing for its return. But vocal feedback from shoppers can potentially influence decision making.
Consumer Petitions to Bring Wild Berry Back
On the consumer level, some wild berry fans have created online petitions urging Kellogg’s to reinstate the discontinued flavor. Here are a few examples:
Change.org petition: One petition on Change.org had over 200 signatures as of October 2022 demanding Kellogg’s resume production of wild berry Pop-Tarts. However, it has low engagement so far.
Facebook groups: Such as “Bring Back Wild Berry Pop-Tarts” and “I Want My Wild Berry Pop-Tarts Back” where members voice desire and nostalgia for this variety. But groups have less than 1,000 members currently.
Twitter: Wild berry fans tweeting complaints with the #BringBackWildBerry hashtag. But only a couple hundred mentions so far, with little visible response from Kellogg’s.
Reddit: Some discussion on forums like r/nostalgia and r/PopTarts from Redditors missing wild berry. But no major petitioning initiative.
So far there is no breakout viral consumer campaign to reinstate wild berry Pop-Tarts. But sustained efforts on social media or through grassroots petitions may help show Kellogg’s there is still demand worth considering.
Does Wild Berry Have a Cult Following?
Some discontinued food products develop an enthusiastic cult following demanding their return. Does wild berry Pop-Tarts have elements of a emerging cult fanbase? Let’s evaluate:
– Nostalgic attachment – Those who grew up eating wild berry in the 90s/early 2000s have strong nostalgic feelings, fueling their passion.
– Vintage appeal – Wild berry Pop-Tart boxes and commercials from the 90s/00s could attract ironically retro appeal like New Coke or Surge soda.
– Signature taste – Wild berry had a unique mixed berry flavor profile that fans don’t find replicated in other varieties.
– Rarity – With supplies dwindling, remaining wild berry Pop-Tarts feel special and exclusive for die-hard fans willing to hunt them down.
– Engagement so far limited – Only several hundred super-fans actively petitioning and promoting wild berry’s return on social media so far.
While it has some hallmarks, wild berry doesn’t seem to have reached full cult phenomenon status yet. But if online campaigns gain more traction, we could see this discontinued flavor take on a legendary, sought-after reputation over time.
Conclusion
In reviewing all the available information, the data firmly supports that Kellogg’s has quietly discontinued its wild berry Pop-Tarts flavor sometime around early-mid 2022. Though not acknowledged publicly by Kellogg’s themselves yet, overwhelming consumer reports of the variety missing from stores, along with removal from the company’s website, leads to the conclusion that wild berry Pop-Tarts are being permanently or temporarily retired.
Exactly what prompted the apparent axing of this 1990s berry flavor remains unknown. But possible reasons include lagging sales, streamlining of product lines, and manufacturing or ingredient issues. For die-hard wild berry fans, some hope remains that consumer pressure could potentially spur its return, as Kellogg’s has reintroduced other discontinued Pop-Tarts flavors in the past. But for now, those desperate for their wild berry fix will have to scour obscure online sellers or stores with outdated stock.
While its cult following remains small, wild berry Pop-Tarts’ nostalgia factor and unique taste could build more vocal demand for its reinstatement over time. For now, though, Pop-Tarts aficionados will have to make do with the strawberry, blueberry and raspberry varieties to get their fruit-filled pastry fix. But if you do stumble across an elusive box of wild berry Pop-Tarts in the back of some dusty grocery shelf, consider yourself lucky – you’ve found a rare relic of breakfast past.