The Debut of “Interview with a Pro”

The Pro:

• Teresa Paulsen weighs in with expanded analysis on how a company is handling consumer backlash.

Interview Topic Background:

There is more to cover on the ongoing WK Kellogg’s “CerealGate” incident. Since the initial public backlash, WK Kellogg’s has not pubicly responded.

• From Salon, March 10: "Let them eat cereal": How accusations of "greedflation" fueled consumer ire against Kellogg's

  • On Feb. 21 — WK Kellogg Co. CEO Gary Pilnick also suggested customers eat cereal for dinner, likely because instead of positioning it, as the advertisement had, as a little treat, he suggested it as a solution for families feeling throttled by food inflation. 

  • This period of sustained grocery inflation, even as the price of other goods comes down, has caused frustration for a lot of American customers.

  • Pilnick’s comments have led to widespread calls for a boycott of Kellogg’s products

• Analysis from Truescope points out, among other things, that some consumers are weighing in online with a different perspective: they enjoy eating cereal for dinner.

• Meanwhile, WK Kellogg's has enjoyed a share price increase of 15% year to date.

Watch my interview with Paulsen: