Girl Scout Cookies for Breakfast

Who doesn't love Girl Scout cookies? Now General Mills is building on the brand equity and product preferences of Girl Scout cookie lovers as it introduces two new breakfast cereals, shown above.

The new cereals will be launched in January, 2017, as limited-edition products. Not surprising, given that Girl Scout cookies are also sold during limited periods. Thin Mints are the top-selling cookies, one reason why it's one of the two initial cereal flavors.

Another advantage is the association with the well-known Girl Scouts organization, which will get some money every time the cereals sell. That has to count for something when parents pass the cereal aisle in search of a breakfast cereal for the whole family.

Will the cereals become popular enough to be relaunched every year?

Girl Scouts, Cookies, and Social Media

The Girl Scouts are testing a limited cookie product line to cut costs and boost sales. Slow-selling items from previous years (such as Thank U Berry Munch) won't be available this year, but perennial best-sellers like Thin Mints and Trefoils will definitely be in the mix. Some products have been renamed: The Samoas, for instance, are now Caramel deLites. And prices are now higher in many urban areas--will this affect 2011 sales?

The Girl Scouts' marketers are putting social media to good use to spread the word about this year's cookie drive. Check the Twitter feed, Facebook page (with nearly 70,000 "likes") and app, YouTube Channel, and of course the group's main Web page.