In the spring of 2008, the marketing manager of Wheaties was getting ready for a meeting to discuss ideas about how to reinvigorate one of the most iconic and well-known cereal brands in America, which over the preceding few years had experienced a steady decline in market share. The only limitation the manager would impose was that any new product could not replace the original Wheaties. Otherwise, she was open to any opportunity to differentiate Wheaties from the orange box and yet fully embody the brand equity.

The marketing manager and the Wheaties brand team launched a line extension they believed would bolster the legendary brand. Wheaties Fuel, a ready-to-eat cereal targeted specifically toward men and designed to help users "Prepare to Win" was introduced to consumers in September 2009, with a 360º campaign utilizing television, print, online, and in-store promotions to build awareness. By gaining buy-in early on from Peyton Manning, Kevin Garnett, and Dr. John Ivy, a world-renowned expert on the role of nutrition and exercise performance, the Wheaties team was able to not only create a cereal that was made by champions for champions but also to create prelaunch buzz with a unique method of creating the cereal.

The results were not promising following the initial campaign and launch of Wheaties Fuel as sales dipped five months after it had been put on store shelves. Still there was a 96% incremental gain in sales of the original Wheaties, and many of its new consumers were younger than usual. Based on the initial feedback, the team began using a lighter tone in its messaging, and continued to monitor, learn, and optimize the product and the campaign.