Grand Rapids Man Credited With Bringing Pop-Tarts To Life Has Passed Away

William "Bill" Post, the inventive mind behind the beloved Pop-Tart has passed away at the age of 96.

Bill was raised on the south side of Grand Rapids, one of seven children of Dutch immigrants, and graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School.

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In 1967 Post moved to Illinois and began working at the corporate offices of the Keebler Company.

Post, who was the plant manager for Keebler, played a major role in creating the iconic toaster pastry.

How The Pop-Tart Was Invented

In 1964, Kellogg approached Keebler, seeking a product for the toaster.

Post and his team developed the now-famous pastry with its signature frosting and fruit fillings.

The process involved innovative techniques, such as layering dough and perfecting the frosting to withstand the heat of a toaster.

What Were Pop-Tarts Original Flavors?

The original flavors strawberry, cinnamon sugar, blueberry, and apple currant were a hit and quickly gained popularity, especially among kids.

Post's children even served as taste testers for the early versions.

Now in 2024, there are 20 standard Pop-Tarts flavors

Pop-Tarts Goes Nationwide

The success of the Pop-Tart led to its nationwide launch in 1964, and it has since become a breakfast staple for millions of people.

The next time you grab a Pop-Tart from the vending machine at work or throw a box in your shopping cart at the store make sure you remember William "Bill" Post and his amazing team that gave us this iconic treat.

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