What happened to William Post?

William “Bill” Post, the renowned figure credited with the invention of the beloved toaster pastry, Pop-Tarts, has passed away at the age of 96.

Post’s journey began as a part-time worker during his high school years, washing trucks at the Michigan-based Hekman Biscuit Co., which later evolved into Keebler Co. After serving in the Army Air Corps in occupied Japan during World War II, Post returned to Hekman and steadily ascended the corporate ladder.

By the age of 21, Post had already assumed the role of personnel manager, showcasing his versatility by contributing to various facets of the business, including sales and production. It was during this time that Kellogg’s executives approached him with a groundbreaking concept—a toaster-friendly pastry resembling “a piece of pie, the shape of a slice of bread, fork marks around the edge, two pieces of dough with some filling in.” Post, leveraging his expertise, transformed this idea into a tangible product.

While Post is often lauded as the inventor of the Pop-Tart, his obituary highlights his perspective: “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.”

In 1964, Pop-Tarts made their debut with four original flavors: strawberry, blueberry, brown sugar cinnamon, and apple-currant. Six decades later, this beloved toaster pastry continues to captivate consumers, with approximately 3 billion units sold in 2022 alone.

In 1967, Post relocated to Illinois, where he commenced his tenure at the Keebler corporate offices. Retiring as a senior vice president at the age of 56, he remained a valued consultant at Kellogg’s behest for the subsequent two decades, leaving an indelible mark on the company’s legacy.