William “Bill” Post, the man credited with inventing the famous toaster pastry Pop tartsHe died at the age of 96.
Post worked as a plant manager for the Michigan-based Hekman Biscuit Company, later known as the Keebler Company, when Kellogg's asked the company to create a new breakfast product.
The inventor of Pop-Tarts began his career as a part-time worker at the Hickman High School truck wash. After serving in the Army Air Corps in occupied Japan during World War II, Post returned to the company and worked his way up the corporate ladder.
By age 21, Post was the company's personnel director and worked in all aspects of the business, including sales and production. That's when Kellogg executives approached him.
The executives had an idea for something “like a piece of pie, shaped like a slice of bread, fork marks around the edge, and two pieces of dough with some filling” to put in the toaster. Post took the idea and turned it into an actual product, according to Kelanova.
“At this point Bill is often credited with inventing the Pop-Tart.” Post obituaries. But to be precise, Bell said, “I've assembled a great team that has developed Kellogg's concept of shelf-stable toasted pastries into a quality product that we can bring to market in just four months.”
Pop-Tarts first appeared to the public in 1964 In four original flavors: Strawberry, Raspberry, Brown Sugar, Cinnamon and Apple Currant. The toaster pastries remain a customer favorite 60 years later around 3 Billion sold in 2022.
In 1967, Post moved to Illinois and began working in the offices of Kepler Corporation. He retired as senior vice president at age 56, but remained as a consultant at Kellogg's request for the next 20 years.
“Devoted student. Bacon advocate. Beer scholar. Troublemaker. Falls down a lot. Typical coffee enthusiast.”