Atlas Oats – First Pre-cooked Oatmeal on the Market?

Atlas Oats was a product of The Kansas City Oatmeal and Cereal Company. It was founded in 1881 by John and Henry C. Stover. The milling company was located in Kansas City, Missouri. The Stover brothers were grain merchants who saw an opportunity to market oats as a health food. They began by selling oats in bulk, but soon realized that there was a demand for pre-cooked oats. In 1883, they introduced Atlas Oats, the first pre-cooked oatmeal on the market in history. (Quaker Oats may dispute that claim.)

Speedier Oats

Atlas Oats were made by steaming oats until they were soft, then rolling them flat. This made them easier to prepare than traditional oatmeal, which had to be cooked on the stove. Atlas Oats were also a good source of nutrition, and they were popular with consumers. They could be purchased at nearly any local grocery store.

The company’s general line of oat products included steel-cut oats, rolled oats, quick oats, and instant oatmeal. Steel-cut oats were the least processed type of oatmeal, and they took the longest to cook. Rolled oats were a bit more processed than steel-cut oats, and they took a little less time to cook. Quick oats were even more processed than rolled oats, and they could be cooked in just a few minutes. Instant oatmeal was the most processed type of oatmeal, and it could be eaten right out of the package.

Atlas Oats was a good source of nutrition. The company grew throughout the 20th century. In 1920, it introduced Quick Oats, a type of oatmeal that could be cooked in just a few minutes.

Other Products

Kansas City Oatmeal and Cereal Company sold a variety of other cereal products, including wheat flakes, and corn flakes. They also sold a line of breakfast foods, including granola bars.

Nevertheless, oats remained its core product. The company’s success was due in part to its commitment to quality. The company used only the finest ingredients and its products were made with care. As a result, the company’s products were known for their taste and nutritional value.

The Kansas City Oatmeal and Cereal Company got their oats from a variety of sources, including Canada, the United States, and Russia. The company had a network of suppliers who grew and harvested oats in these countries. The oats were then shipped to the company’s mills, where they were cleaned, processed, and packaged.

The company was very particular about the quality of its oats. It only used oats that were grown in specific regions and that met certain standards of quality. The company’s oats were known for their taste, texture, and nutritional value.

Competition and Takeover from Quaker

The Kansas City Oatmeal and Cereal Company experienced competition from Quaker Oats very early on. Quaker Oats was founded in 1877, just four years before the Kansas City Oatmeal and Cereal Company. Quaker Oats was a much larger company with more resources. It became the leading producer of oatmeal in the United States.

The company competed with Quaker Oats by offering a wider variety of products and by focusing on quality. The company also had a strong sales team that was able to build relationships with retailers.

Despite its efforts, the Kansas City Oatmeal and Cereal Company was never able to match the size or scale of Quaker Oats. In 1995, the company was acquired by Quaker Oats.