The corn flake was an accident. Tony Chapman says what Kellogg's built from that accident was one of the most effective kid marketing systems ever put on a grocery store shelf.

Cereal was shelved at grocery cart height on purpose. The toy inside was more exciting than the cereal itself. Tony Chapman says pester power, a kid bugging a parent until the box came home, was the engine behind the whole category. He knows because he lived it, dumping Honeycomb on the table and facing his mother's reaction when the decoder ring inside failed to decode anything meaningful.

Now cereal is declining and Toy Story 5 is attempting a revival through in-box characters. Tony Chapman says the generation that would need to get excited about that is the same one that doomscrolls at the breakfast table, and the algorithm is already feeding them something more appealing.

Topics: breakfast cereal nostalgia, Kellogg's history, cereal box toys, Toy Story cereal promotion, pester power marketing

GUEST: Tony Chapman | http://chatterthatmatters.ca

Originally aired on 2026-05-01

The corn flake was an accident. Tony Chapman says what Kellogg's built from that accident was one of the most effective kid marketing systems ever put on a grocery store shelf.
Cereal was shelved at grocery cart height on purpose. The toy inside was more exciting than the cereal itself. Tony Chapman says pester power, a kid bugging a parent until the box came home, was the engine behind the whole category. He knows because he lived it, dumping Honeycomb on the table and facing his mother's reaction when the decoder ring inside failed to decode anything meaningful.
Now cereal is declining and Toy Story 5 is attempting a revival through in-box characters. Tony Chapman says the generation that would need to get excited about that is the same one that doomscrolls at the breakfast table, and the algorithm is already feeding them something more appealing.
Topics: breakfast cereal nostalgia, Kellogg's history, cereal box toys, Toy Story cereal promotion, pester power marketing
GUEST: Tony Chapman |<a href="http://chatterthatmatters.ca"> http://chatterthatmatters.ca</a>
Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-05-01

Shane Hewitt & The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world—always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.

From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane’s signature style—thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.

If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt &amp; The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world&mdash;always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.
From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane&rsquo;s signature style&mdash;thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.
If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.