Kellogg Company

Is Kellogg Company still in business?
No. The original Kellogg Company no longer exists as a single entity. On October 2, 2023, the company split into Kellanova (global snacking) and WK Kellogg Co (North American cereal). Mars acquired Kellanova on December 11, 2025 for $36 billion, and Ferrero acquired WK Kellogg Co on September 26, 2025 for $3.1 billion. Both successor companies are now privately held subsidiaries.

What happened to Kellogg Company in 2023?
On October 2, 2023, Kellogg Company completed a separation into two independent publicly traded companies. Kellanova (NYSE: K) received the global snacking brands including Pringles, Cheez-It, and Pop-Tarts, plus international cereal and noodle businesses. WK Kellogg Co (NYSE: WK) received the North American ready-to-eat cereal brands including Corn Flakes, Frosted Flakes, and Froot Loops.

Who owns Kellogg's cereal brands now?
Ferrero acquired WK Kellogg Co on September 26, 2025, for $3.1 billion, or $23.00 per share in cash. Ferrero now owns the North American cereal brands including Kellogg's Corn Flakes, Frosted Flakes, Rice Krispies, Special K, Froot Loops, and Apple Jacks. These brands serve the U.S., Canadian, and Caribbean markets under Ferrero's ownership.

What is Kellanova?
Kellanova was the successor company that inherited Kellogg's global snacking operations. Headquartered in Chicago, Kellanova owned brands like Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts, RXBAR, and Kellogg's international cereals. The company reported FY2024 net sales of $13.6 billion. Mars, Incorporated acquired Kellanova on December 11, 2025, for $36 billion, and the company was delisted from the NYSE.

Is Kellanova still publicly traded?
No. Kellanova was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange on December 11, 2025, following Mars's completion of its $36 billion acquisition. Kellanova shareholders received $83.50 per share in cash. The company is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated.

Who founded Kellogg Company?
Kellogg Company was founded by Will Keith Kellogg in 1906 in Battle Creek, Michigan. The company's origins trace to 1894, when W.K. Kellogg and his brother Dr. John Harvey Kellogg discovered the flaking process while working at the Battle Creek Sanitarium.

What is Kellogg's most famous product?
Kellogg's Corn Flakes is the company's original and most famous product, introduced in 1906. Other iconic products include Frosted Flakes with Tony the Tiger, Rice Krispies with its "snap, crackle, pop" sound, and Pringles, which was acquired from Procter & Gamble in 2012 for $2.7 billion.

When did Ferrero acquire Kellogg's cereal business?
Ferrero announced its agreement to acquire WK Kellogg Co on July 10, 2025. WK Kellogg Co shareholders approved the transaction on September 19, 2025, and Ferrero completed the acquisition on September 26, 2025, for $3.1 billion. WK Kellogg Co was delisted from the NYSE following the closing.

What brands does Mars now own from Kellogg?
Mars, through its acquisition of Kellanova, now owns Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts, RXBAR, Rice Krispies Treats, Nutri-Grain, MorningStar Farms, Eggo (international), and Kellogg's international cereal brands including Corn Flakes and Coco Pops sold outside North America. These brands operate within Mars Snacking alongside Snickers, M&M's, Twix, and Skittles.

Kellogg Company's origins date to 1894, when Will Keith Kellogg and his brother Dr. John Harvey Kellogg discovered the flaking process while working at the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan. The brothers were experimenting with wheat-based grain products and accidentally left a pot of boiled wheat standing overnight. The resulting flaked cereal, when toasted, proved palatable and easy to prepare.

W.K. Kellogg founded the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company in 1906 and began marketing Corn Flakes as a ready-to-eat breakfast cereal. The product offered convenience at a time when breakfast typically required cooking. The company grew rapidly, and by the 1910s, Kellogg's cereals were distributed across the United States. The company was renamed Kellogg Company in 1922.

Throughout the 20th century, Kellogg introduced cereal brands that became household names. Rice Krispies launched in 1928 with the "snap, crackle, pop" sound that became a recognizable marketing element. Frosted Flakes debuted in 1952 with Tony the Tiger as mascot. Special K followed in 1955, targeting health-conscious consumers. Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, and other varieties expanded the product line through the 1960s and 1970s.

International expansion began in the mid-20th century, with manufacturing facilities established in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Latin America. Kellogg became one of the first American food companies to build global distribution, adapting products to local tastes while maintaining a consistent brand identity.

The company expanded beyond cereal through several acquisitions. The 2001 acquisition of Keebler Foods for $4.3 billion brought Cheez-It, Club crackers, and Famous Amos cookies into the portfolio. In 2012, Kellogg acquired Pringles from Procter & Gamble for $2.7 billion, a deal that transformed the company into a major player in savory snacking and gave it a brand with global distribution and a distinctive cylindrical package. RXBAR was acquired in 2017 for approximately $600 million, adding a fast-growing protein bar brand.

By the early 2020s, Kellogg's management concluded that the snacking and cereal businesses required different strategies. The company announced the separation in June 2022 and completed it on October 2, 2023. Kellanova received the snacking, international cereal, and noodle businesses, plus North American frozen foods. WK Kellogg Co received the North American ready-to-eat cereal operations, including brands like Corn Flakes, Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, and Rice Krispies for the U.S., Canadian, and Caribbean markets.

WK Kellogg Co traded on the NYSE under the ticker WK for approximately two years. On July 10, 2025, Ferrero announced its agreement to acquire WK Kellogg Co for $23.00 per share in cash, valuing the company at $3.1 billion. WK Kellogg Co shareholders approved the transaction on September 19, 2025, and Ferrero completed the acquisition on September 26, 2025. WK Kellogg Co was delisted from the NYSE.

Kellanova traded on the NYSE under the ticker K from October 2023. On August 14, 2024, Mars announced its agreement to acquire Kellanova for $83.50 per share in cash, valuing the company at approximately $36 billion. The deal required 28 regulatory approvals worldwide. The European Commission opened a Phase II investigation in June 2025, examining whether the combined company could leverage its portfolio to negotiate higher prices with retailers. The Commission cleared the transaction unconditionally on December 8, 2025, finding no evidence of excessive bargaining power. Mars completed the acquisition on December 11, 2025, and Kellanova was delisted from the NYSE.

The original Kellogg Company established sustainability commitments that have been carried forward by its successor entities. Kellanova operated under its "Better Days Promise" platform, which set goals for sustainable ingredient sourcing, food waste reduction, and climate action. The company committed to 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging and to reducing food waste across manufacturing facilities by 50% by 2030.

Under Mars ownership, Kellanova's sustainability commitments are being integrated into Mars's broader framework. Mars has committed to net-zero emissions by 2050 across its full value chain and has set science-based targets for emissions reduction. Mars is a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and has committed to sourcing 100% RSPO-certified palm oil, which is relevant given that several Kellanova products use palm oil derivatives.

WK Kellogg Co, under Ferrero ownership, operates within Ferrero's sustainability framework. Ferrero has committed to 100% sustainable cocoa sourcing through its Ferrero Farming Values program and has set emissions reduction targets across its supply chain.

Kellanova was named to Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies list in 2025, ranking sixth in the consumer food products industry. The company received recognition for sustainable packaging initiatives and food waste reduction programs. Kellogg Company, prior to the split, had been included on the Ethisphere World's Most Ethical Companies list multiple times and had received workplace excellence and diversity recognition.

Kellogg Company and its successor entities have faced regulatory scrutiny over nutritional content, marketing practices, and food safety. The sugar content of children's cereals like Frosted Flakes and Froot Loops has drawn criticism from public health advocates and has been the subject of regulatory discussions in the United States and Europe. Marketing practices targeting children have been scrutinized by regulators in multiple jurisdictions.

The 2023 split itself drew questions from some shareholders about whether the separation maximized value or primarily benefited executive compensation arrangements. Kellanova CEO Steve Cahillane received a pay package increase following the spinoff, which was disclosed in proxy filings.

The Mars-Kellanova merger attracted regulatory scrutiny over portfolio effects, with the European Commission conducting a Phase II investigation before clearing the deal unconditionally. The Ferrero-WK Kellogg Co acquisition received less regulatory attention, as the overlap between Ferrero's confectionery business and Kellogg's cereal business was limited.

Food safety compliance includes oversight from the FDA and equivalent agencies in international markets. Kellogg has experienced product recalls over the years, including recalls of certain cereal products due to potential contamination or packaging issues.