William Post, Creator of Pop-Tarts, Dies at 96

William Post, the creator of Pop-Tarts, has died at the age of 96.

Post, who came up with the idea of the popular snack food, served as the plant manager of Keebler Company in the early 1960s. During that time, he was tasked with developing a shelf-stable toaster pastry.

Post reportedly developed what would later be known as Pop-Tarts over four months. Soon, the breakfast pastry would become one of the most beloved snacks of a generation of kids who could prepare it for themselves by heating it up in a toaster.

Ironically, the original name for Pop-Tarts was called “Fruit Scone,” per the company’s official website. Instead, the creators decided to piggyback on the pop culture movement of the era and renamed the products Pop-Tarts.

The treats made their debut in 1964 with four original flavors: strawberry, blueberry, brown sugar cinnamon, and apple-currant. Today there are 20 to 30 flavors on the market at any time.

His official obituary, listed online at MKD Funeral Homes, shared information about the man who developed the iconic treat. Post began working at the Hekman Biscuit Company, later known as the Keebler Company, starting at the age of 21.

20 years later, he was the company’s plant manager. Then, William LaMothe, a Kellogg’s executive, asked if their idea for a shelf-stable snack food had potential.

Post said, “I assembled an amazing team that developed Kellogg’s concept of a shelf-stable toaster pastry into a fine product that we could bring to market in the span of just four months.” This collaboration between Kellogg’s and Keebler would result in the former purchasing the latter and merging their extraordinary food ideas. He would work for the company as its senior vice president until age 56 and remain a consultant for 20 years.

Post was preceded in death by his wife, Florence, in 2020. He is survived by his children, Dan and Jackie Post and Rachel and John DeYoung, his grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.