<P> Lucky Charms was created in 1964 by product developer John Holahan . General Mills management challenged a team of product developers to use the available manufacturing capacity from either of General Mills' two principal cereal products--Wheaties or Cheerios--and do something unique . Holahan came up with the idea after a visit to the grocery store in which he decided to mix Cheerios with bits of Brach's Circus Peanuts . </P> <P> An advertising company employed by General Mills and Company suggested marketing the new cereal around the idea of charm bracelets . Thus, the charms of Lucky Charms were born . Lucky Charms is the first cereal to include marshmallows in the recipe . The mascot of Lucky Charms, created in 1963, is Lucky the Leprechaun, also known as Sir Charms, and originally called L.C. Leprechaun . The cartoon character's voice was supplied by the late voice actor Arthur Anderson until 1992 . In 1975, Lucky the Leprechaun was briefly replaced by Waldo the Wizard in New England, while Lucky remained the mascot in the rest of the United States . The oat cereal was not originally sugar coated . After initial sales failed to meet expectations, the oats were sugar coated, and the cereal's success grew . Piggy banks and plastic watches were introduced as cereal box send - away prizes as a marketing tactic to increase sales . The recipe for the cereal remained unchanged until the introduction of a new flavor: Chocolate Lucky Charms, in 2005 . Later in 2012, General Mills introduced "Lucky Charms Marshmallow Treats ." </P> <P> Following the product launch, the General Mills marketing department found that sales performed dramatically better if the composition of the marbits changed periodically . Various features of the marbits were modified to maximize their appeal to young consumers . Over the years, over 40 limited edition features such as Winter Lucky Charms, Olympic - themed Lucky Charms, and Lucky Charms featuring marshmallow landmarks from around the world, were created to drive consumer demands . In focus groups and market research, more brightly colored charms resulted in better sales than did dull or pastel colors . Currently, General Mills conducts "concept - ideation" studies on Lucky Charms . </P> <P> The first boxes of Lucky Charms cereal contained marshmallows in the shapes of pink hearts, yellow moons, orange stars, and green clovers . The lineup has changed occasionally, beginning with the introduction of blue diamonds in 1975, followed by purple horseshoes in 1983, red balloons in 1989, green trees 1991, rainbows in 1992, blue moons 1995, leprechaun hats in 1997 (temporarily replaced the green clovers), orange shooting stars and around the world charms in 1998 (added blue, green, yellow, purple, and red in 2011), a crystal ball in 2001, and an hourglass in 2008 . In 2013, 6 new rainbow swirl moons and 2 new rainbow charms were introduced . From the original four marshmallows, the permanent roster as of 2013 includes eight marshmallows . </P>

Why did lucky charms change pots of gold