PepsiCo discontinues Bokomo ProNutro breakfast cereal in South Africa
The company’s decision follows strong consumer criticism of a new ProNutro formulation introduced earlier in 2026.
SOUTH AFRICA – PepsiCo has announced it will discontinue Bokomo ProNutro, one of South Africa’s longest-running breakfast cereals, ending the product’s 64-year presence in the market.
The decision follows consumer dissatisfaction with a reformulated version introduced earlier in 2026 and PepsiCo’s unsuccessful efforts to recreate the original product’s taste and texture.
ProNutro was launched in South Africa in 1962 after being developed to help address protein deficiency and malnutrition.
Produced by Pioneer Foods’ Bokomo, the cereal became a long-established household brand and was marketed as a high-protein breakfast product. PepsiCo acquired Pioneer Foods, which owned ProNutro, in 2020.
Earlier this year, PepsiCo introduced “New Generation ProNutro” as part of efforts to keep the brand available while changing its production process.
The company said the reformulation was intended to preserve the cereal’s nutritional benefits while enabling a more environmentally sustainable manufacturing process.
The updated product retained plant-based protein, 13 vitamins and four minerals, while its total sugar content was reportedly reduced by about 45%.
However, the reformulated cereal drew consumer complaints, particularly about its taste, texture, and mixability.
PepsiCo subsequently explored options to restore the original product experience but said it could not reproduce the characteristics consumers associated with the original ProNutro.
Following what the company described as a “long and careful review”, it decided to discontinue the cereal in South Africa.
The withdrawal highlights the challenges food manufacturers can face when changing established formulations for products with strong consumer familiarity.
ProNutro’s long history meant that changes to sensory characteristics such as taste and texture were particularly significant for consumers accustomed to the original product.
The future of other products carrying the ProNutro name, including cereal bars, remains unclear, according to reports.
Meanwhile, South African-founded food company Biltong & Bangers has publicly expressed interest in acquiring the ProNutro brand, including its recipe, intellectual property, production know-how and machinery, although no transaction with PepsiCo has been announced.
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