Quaker Oats, Creating the "Quaker Man"
November 11, 1882
The rosy-cheeked, white-haired man smiling at consumers on the front of the Quaker Oatmeal box known amongst insiders as “Larry” has been the face of the brand for the past 135 years. Starting in 1877, Quaker Oats depicted a full-length Quaker Man, sometimes holding a scroll. Though he does not represent an actual person, the image of a man dressed in Quaker garb was chosen because the brand embodied values of honesty, integrity, purity and strength. The iconic round box where Larry is most frequently found was first introduced in 1915 and continues to find its way onto supermarket shelves today.
In the same year as its release, Quaker Oats offered the first cereal box premium to buyers. By cutting out the picture of the “Quaker Man” and sending it in with one dollar, customers received a double boiler for cooking oatmeal. His slogan “Nothing is better for thee, than me” brought the company success for years. More recently, in 2012, the brand reimaged the Quaker Man, giving him a slimmer, somewhat younger look. Though the changes are subtle, the makeover was designed to reinforce the idea that oatmeal is a healthy meal for breakfast. The oatmeal itself has not changed.