Cap’n Crunch is celebrating his 60th birthday and as a commissioned naval officer, he will receive a fourth gold stripe on his sleeve, which signifies the rank of captain. This is one more stripe than the usual three stripes worn by commanders, which Cap’n Crunch has had for decades.
It’s not clear why the correct uniform was overlooked for Cap’n Crunch when he first hit grocery store shelves in 1963. While three stripes on a naval uniform did once signify a captain’s rank, the four stripes have been the norm since 1869. The last Cap’n Crunch packaging change was in 2005.
Haugaard Creative Group collaborated with the brand owned by PepsiCo to give a permanent makeover to the cartoon sailor’s appearance on Cap’n Crunch cereal boxes, treat bars, and other packaging across the nation.
“The question of ‘where’s the Cap’n’s fourth stripe?’ has been a topic of debate and intrigue among his fans for decades now,” Kristin Kroepfl, VP and chief marketing officer of PepsiCo’s Quaker Foods North America, wrote via email. “We figured it was high time to make it official…and while we were at it we also decided to give him his fifth finger.” She added, “It will be another 60 years before we address the eyebrow issue!” referring to fans questioning why Cap’n Crunch’s eyebrows appear attached to his hat, and not anatomically correct.
“With the celebration of Cap’n Crunch’s 60th birthday this year, we thought it was only fitting to commemorate his epic 60 years of tasty adventures with a fresh new look,” says Kristin Kroepfl, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Quaker Foods North America at PepsiCo. “What better way to unveil the beloved Cap’n Crunch’s new four-striped look than with his cosplaying Crunchmates around one of the most iconic pop culture events of the year?!”
To commemorate the 60th birthday of the cereal mascot, Cap’n Crunch, he will be receiving a fourth gold stripe on his sleeve. This additional stripe signifies the rank of captain for commissioned naval officers, which is one more than the typical three stripes that he has worn for many years (which indicates the rank of commander).
Cap’n Crunch has been a mainstay in the cereal aisle since it was first introduced in 1963. Owned by The Quaker Oats Company, a unit of PepsiCo, Inc., the ready-to-eat cereal brand features five varieties including Original, Crunch Berries, Peanut Butter Crunch, OOPS! All Berries, and Chocolate Caramel Crunch in addition to many limited-edition flavors and snack offerings like Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Mega Berries Snack Pouches, Oops! All Berries Mega Pouches and Cap’n Crunch Treats. For more information, please visit www.capncrunch.com, Facebook.com/capncrunch, or follow us on Twitter or Instagram @realcapncrunch.