Kellogg Company (often referred to as Kellogg or Kellogg's in its corporate logo, or even more formally as Kellogg's of Battle Creek), is a producer of cereal and convenience foods, including cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit-flavored snacks, frozen waffles, and vegetarian foods. The company's brands include Corn Flakes, Keebler, Pop-Tarts, Eggo,Yogo Bits, Cheez-It, Nutri-Grain, Rice Krispies, Bear Naked, Morningstar Farms, Famous Amos, Special K, All-Bran, Frosted Mini-Wheats, Club Crackers and Kashi. Kellogg products are manufactured in 18 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries around the world.
Its global headquarters are in Battle Creek, Michigan, USA. Its largest factory is Trafford Park in Manchester, UK which is Kellogg's European headquarters. Kellogg trades under the ticker symbol NYSE: K. The Kellogg Company also holds a Royal Warrant from HM Queen Elizabeth II and the Prince of Wales.
Kelly's was founded as the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company on February 19, 1906, by Will Keith Kellogg as an outgrowth of his work with his brother John Harvey Kellogg at the Battle Creek Sanitarium following practices based on the Seventh-day Adventist Christian denomination. The company produced and marketed the hugely successful Kellogg's Toasted Corn Flakes and was renamed the Kellogg Company in 1922.
In 1930, the Kellogg Company announced that most of its factories would shift towards 30 hour work weeks, from the usual 40. This practice remained until World War II, and continued briefly after the war, although some departments and factories remained locked into 90 hour work weeks until 1980. From 1969 to 1977, Kellogg's acquired various small businesses including Salad Foods, Fearn International, Mrs. Smith's Pies, Eggo, and Pure Packed Foods; however, it was later criticized for not diversifying further like General Mills and Quaker Oats were.
After underspending its competition in marketing and product development, Kellogg's U.S. market share hit a low 36.7% in 1983. A prominent Wall Street analyst called it "a fine company that's past its prime" and the cereal market was being regarded as "mature". Such comments invigorated Kellogg chairman William E. LaMothe to improve, which primarily involved approaching the demographic of 80 million baby boomers rather than marketing children-oriented cereals. In emphasizing cereal's convenience and nutritional value, Kellogg helped persuade U.S. consumers age 25 to 49 to eat 26% more cereal than people that age ate five years prior. The U.S. ready-to-eat cereal market, worth $3.7 billion at retail in 1983, totaled $5.4 billion by 1988, and had expanded three times as fast as the average grocery category. Kellogg's also introduced new products including Crispix, Raisin Squares, and Nutri-Grain Biscuits and reached out internationally with Just Right aimed at Australians and Genmai Flakes for Japan. During this time, the company maintained success over its top competitors: General Mills, who largely marketed children's cereals, and Post, who had difficulty in the adult cereal market.
In March 2001, Kellogg made its largest acquisition, the Keebler Company. Over the years it has also gone on to acquire Morningstar Farmsand Kashi divisions or subsidiaries. Kellogg also owns the Bear Naked, Natural Touch, Cheez-It, Murray, Austin, Famous Amos,Gardenburger (acquired 2007) and Plantation brands.
In 2012, Kellogg's elevated themselves to be the second largest snack food company after Pepsico by acquiring the Pringles potato crispsbusiness from Procter & Gamble for $2.7 billion in a cash deal.
Current members of Kellogg Company's board of directors include: James M. Jenness, chairman; David Mackay; Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, Sr.; John T. Dillon; Gordon Gund; Dorothy A. Johnson; Donald R. Knauss; Ann McLaughlin Korologos; Rogelio M. Rebolledo; Sterling K. Speirn; Robert A. Steele and Dr. John L. Zabriskie.
On January 24, 2005, the former CEO (since April 1999) and chairman of the board of directors (since April 2000), Carlos Gutierrez became U.S. Secretary of Commerce in the second term of former President George W. Bush. Kellogg's board of directors named James M. Jennes sas chairman and CEO to replace Gutierrez.
On October 23, 2006, Kellogg's announced that president and chief operating officer David Mackay would become the chief executive officer, effective December 31, 2006. Jenness will continue to serve as chairman of the Board of Directors.
In June 2007, Kellogg announced that by the end of 2008 it would stop advertising to children under twelve those cereals and snacks that do not meet specific nutrient guidelines.
January 2, 2011, John A. Bryant succeeded David McKay (retired effective January 1, 2011) as CEO.
Net income $1.249 billion ( 2010 )