Talk:Breakfast cereal industry
Read with interest your brief history of the breakfast cereal industry. Both in the first paragraph and last sentence you refer to an "oligopolistic industry controlled by four corporations." I do not see any specific citation. Given the generally negative connotation associated with the term, oligopoly, think it would be appropriate to provide a context for this observation in order to maintain a neutral point of view.
Though not a huge consumer of cereal, my impression is that the industry is quite price/product competitive and not aware of any recent price fixing actions against the industry. I can always shop at Wild Oats and get cereal out of barrel. The big four certainly dominate the national market but not sure that constitutes an oligopoly. I am equally certain that some once referred to the US auto industry as an oligopoly - so much for that one. Bill Falter 15:11, 29 September 2007 (CDT)
- that's a good point and I will look around for recent statistics. An industry is an oligopoly if four firms control 75% of sales--that means they compete primarily with each other, and I believe that is the case today and for 100 years. Richard Jensen 15:23, 29 September 2007 (CDT)
- Also, you forgot the checklist Richard!!! --Robert W King 15:37, 29 September 2007 (CDT)
- that's a good point and I will look around for recent statistics. An industry is an oligopoly if four firms control 75% of sales--that means they compete primarily with each other, and I believe that is the case today and for 100 years. Richard Jensen 15:23, 29 September 2007 (CDT)
"Generic" brands
What about 'em? Less packaging, less advertising, etc. make for good business I hear. I grew up in the Twin Cities, so I ate lots of General Mills cereals for breakfast, but I went to college in Northfield, MN where the aroma of the Maltomeal plant is so often smelled wafting across town.