UNC Pop-Tarts ?y off shelves

UNC Pop-Tarts have been hitting the toasters as fast as they’ve been hitting the shelves.

The Pop-Tarts debuted in UNC Student Stores on the morning of Aug. 31 and have been selling non-stop since, leading to an unexpected shortage of the tasty treats.

The initial order of 1,440 boxes of the Tar Heel Berry-flavored pastries were put on the shelves of the Student Stores and Pit Stop the Friday before the first football game.

By the end of the weekend, the shelves were empty, said John Gorsuch, director of UNC Student Stores.

“It’s pretty amazing how this has caught the UNC students’ and Tar Heel fans’ imaginations,” Gorsuch said.

Gorsuch estimated that an average of 100 t0 200 boxes of Pop-Tarts are flying off the University’s shelves every day.

To the surprise of Student Stores management, they were able to get a second and larger shipment of almost 6,000 more boxes.

More than 700 of those boxes have already been sold since Friday, when they were put out, said Ron Wood, the snack unit manager for Student Stores.

Gorsuch predicted that the store will run out within two weeks, and it doesn’t look like anymore will be available in the future — at least not this school year.

“We’re not sure if (Kellogg’s) is going to do it next year,” Wood said.

“With the tremendous response we’re getting, if I could get more, I’m sure I could sell more pallets,” he said.

Wood said that some people are already buying the pastries for Christmas presents.

UNC Pop-Tarts are also available at local Walmart stores. A representative from the Hillsborough Walmart reported that the Pop-Tarts have been selling well, and customers have been excited.

UNC is one of only five universities in the country to have school-themed Pop-Tarts — The University of Arkansas, University of Florida, University of Georgia and University of Michigan were also approached by Kellogg’s.

Senior Jordan Barcus said that even though she hasn’t purchased any, she thinks the Pop-Tarts with the UNC logo are cute.

“It’s convenient and a good way to show your support,” she said.

In the almost four weeks that the Pop-Tarts have been available, Student Stores has sold more than 2,000 boxes between the two shipments.

“I think it was the right product at the right time, with the right symbol on it,” Gorsuch said.

“Pop-Tarts are a staple for college students, so with the UNC symbol printed on the side, they taste better.”

Contact the desk editor at university@dailytarheel.com.