Toaster Strudel is the brand name of a
toaster pastry, prepared by heating the frozen pastries in a
toaster and then spreading the included
icing packet on top. The brand is historically notable for being stored
frozen, due to innovations in 1980s food manufacturing processes.[2]
History
The Toaster Strudel is marketed under the
Pillsbury brand, formerly of the Pillsbury Company. The product has found considerable success since being deployed in 1985[2][3] as competition with
Kellogg'sPop-Tarts brand of non-frozen toaster pastries.[4] In 1994, the company launched the
advertising slogan "Something better just popped up".[1] As of August 2013[update], the company increased the
foreign branding, launching a brand ambassador character named Hans Strudel, and the new slogan of "Get Zem Göing".[5]
In 2001,
General Mills acquired the Toaster Strudel product line with its purchase of Pillsbury.[6] In 2023, General Mills used the advertising slogan, "Gooey. Flaky. Happy".[7]
Varieties
Toaster Strudels come in several flavors, with
strawberry,
blueberry, and
apple flavors being the most common varieties. They also come in flavors such as
cinnamon roll,
chocolate, and
boston cream pie.[8] In 2020, the company released a limited-edition "Mean Girls" Toaster Strudel, which featured pink icing instead of the brand's traditional white icing.[9]
In popular culture
In the 2004 film Mean Girls, it was fictionally claimed that Gretchen Wieners' family fortune was due to her father's invention of the Toaster Strudel.[10][11][12]
^
abRamirez, Anthony (December 23, 1985).
"In Hot Pursuit of High-Tech Food". Fortune Magazine. Sarah Smith, research associate. Fortune.
Archived from the original on August 9, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2013.