Ged Maheux
Grumpy. Kellogg’s recently discontinued the cereal I’ve been eating my entire adult life - Smart Start. I’ve reverted back to my childhood cereal of Life for now, but it’s no Smart Start. The quest for a replacement begins. 😓
Sep 6, 2025 at 2:49pmIvory for iOS
Show threadGed MaheuxSep 6, 2025

This seems promising. Would be funny if it was really just Smart Start rebranded. 😅

Also… “VECTOR”?? Guess it’s going after Gen Alpha? Why not just use the “most popular” letter X? 😜

“Try Kellogg’s new X-FLAKES! They’re FLAVOR EXTREME!” 🤣💀

Show threadConlan SpanglerSep 6, 2025
@gedeonm “X-Flakes” would actually be a pretty cool name for a cereal.
Show threadA. Lee Bennett Jr.Sep 6, 2025
@gedeonm Yeesh. Appears that Vector has more sugar in it than Life.
Show threadGed MaheuxSep 6, 2025
@leebennett Booo!
Show threadJoe RodricksSep 6, 2025
@gedeonm it’s pronounced “Ten Flakes”
Show threadGed MaheuxSep 6, 2025
@JoeRodricks Man that was a good one. 😂
Show threadSte GrainerSep 6, 2025
@gedeonm At least it’s not bitmap. You’d feel way more bloated after that.
Show threadA. Lee Bennett Jr.Sep 6, 2025
@gedeonm I’ll be curious what you find/settle on. I’ve eaten Life for a long time but have always thought I should back off. In spite of healthy connotations, Life actually has quite a bit of sugar.
Show threadSean HeberSep 6, 2025
@gedeonm weird - that box and name is utterly unfamiliar to me. Maybe it was regional or known by some other name in some places? Odd. (Or maybe I just don't pay enough attention when I'm in the cereal aisle.)
Show threadGed MaheuxSep 6, 2025
@bigzaphod Been eating it for like 25 years. Stinks. This happened to my soap a few years back and that took a LONG time to adjust. Didn’t smell like myself. Meh.
Show threadBo JordanSep 7, 2025
@gedeonm @bigzaphod seriously, I wasn’t prepared for the emotional distress of midlife soap changes
Show threadBrendan@TapForms 🇨🇦Sep 7, 2025
@bigzaphod @gedeonm never seen Smart Start here in Canada. But we do have vector.
Show threaddubbsSep 6, 2025
@gedeonm This used to be my favorite too but I haven’t seen it in years
Show threadJohn HoodSep 6, 2025
@gedeonm Kellogg's Frosties fan here!
Show threadChancerubbageSep 6, 2025

@gedeonm

All my grocery shopping seems to be on the margin, as if I am the only customer. So many discontinued favorites! It’s like I’m killing them!

But it isn’t always sales. It is frequently a new hire at the manufacturer wanting to to notch their CV for promotion. A new product almost always has a positive sales spike they can brag about. Even if that product doesn’t hang around the employee has moved on. And marginal products formerly selling fine disappear in the shelf space shuffle.

Show threadDarrin HornSep 6, 2025
@gedeonm guess you will have to go to the old standby. My favorite. Captain crunch
Show threadJoe BezdekSep 6, 2025
@gedeonm whoa…I’m a Life and Smart Start man myself. Cereal Brothers! 😀
Show threadGed MaheuxSep 6, 2025
@joebez He likes it! Hey Mikey!! 😅
Show threadAllen PikeSep 6, 2025
@gedeonm Looks similar to the Team cereal I grew up with, that was also discontinued. Vector is the closest but is more sugary. Senseless tragedy
Show threadBrother Holmes Sep 7, 2025
@gedeonm I also liked Smart Start. After I couldn’t find it anymore I switched to Raisin Bran Crunch. It’s not the same, but it’s good enough for me.
While I was searching for a replacement, I also happened upon Quaker Oh’s, which are definitely a sometimes cereal. They are satisfyingly crunchy but sweet. Not kid cereal sweet, but I feel a little guilty eating them.