One Last Bowl? We're Not Ready to Say Goodbye to ProNutro!

Photo Credit: ProNutro

We’ve grown up with it, loved it and eaten it for generations. Now ProNutro is disappearing… but what if this isn’t the end of its story?

South Africa (24 September 2026) – South Africa, we have a challenge for you. And it involves breakfast.

For 64 years, ProNutro has been part of our mornings and our memories. Generations of South Africans have grown up eating it. Yesterday, news broke that the iconic cereal is disappearing because its manufacturer cannot recreate the original product. The news spread like wildfire in many of my WhatsApp groups. ProNutro has a cult-like following. And if I am being honest, I may be part of that “cult”. The original ProNutro, the one before the change, was my FAVOURITE. And now it’s gone.

But here’s the thing about South Africans… when something is broken, we tend to fix it. And even when it looks like there is no hope, we create it ourselves. ‘n Boer maak ‘n plan.

So while we are reporting on the sad news, we also think it’s time for someone to “maak ‘n plan” for ProNutro.

On Wednesday, the 23rd of September 2026, a day before Heritage Day, PepsiCo confirmed it would discontinue ProNutro in South Africa after efforts to recreate the original cereal’s taste and texture proved unsuccessful. The announcement followed months of complaints from consumers unhappy with the reformulated version. The company’s original manufacturing equipment had become outdated and modernising production unfortunately changed the product South Africans had loved for decades.

But does that mean nobody else could make it? South Africa has talented food scientists, innovative entrepreneurs, passionate ProNutro enthusiasts and an established food manufacturing industry. Surely there’s someone who might be interested in exploring whether ProNutro could have a second life? Could a local manufacturer approach PepsiCo about purchasing or licensing the brand? Could our food scientists find a way to recreate the original taste and texture? And would South Africans support a proudly local business that managed to bring their favourite breakfast cereal back?

We think that answer is yes. Or a very hopeful maybe.

Obviously, there are technical and intellectual property challenges to consider. PepsiCo owns the brand and there’s currently no indication that it intends to sell or license it. But we believe it’s a conversation worth having, especially when so many people have a deep connection to a product that’s been part of our lives for generations.

And that’s where Good Things Guy comes in. We’re putting the challenge out there to South Africa’s food manufacturers, entrepreneurs, scientists and investors. If you believe there’s a way to bring back the ProNutro we remember, now is the time to step up. You need to save ProNutro, not just for me (although I am a little selfish here) but for all the South Africans who love the product. And the timing couldn’t be more appropriate. Today is Heritage Day, and while we celebrate our cultures and everything that makes South Africa special, we’re also reminded that our heritage includes the things we grew up with. ProNutro is one of them… wouldn’t it be the best “good things” story if it didn’t end here?

We are manifesting this. And we cannot wait to hopefully report on the good news that one of our favourite brekafast cereals has been given a second chance by people who saw an opportunity where others saw the end of the road.

Who knows, you could even name the new cereal “‘n boer maak ‘n plan”. Now there’s an idea.

Happy Heritage Day South Africa. Hopefully next year, this time, we will have some good news about ProNutro for you.