Kellogg’s brands now belong to two different owners. Kellogg Company split on 2 October 2023: Kellanova kept snacks and international cereal (Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts, Eggo, RXBAR, MorningStar Farms and Kellogg’s cereals outside North America) and became part of Mars on 11 December 2025. WK Kellogg Co took North American cereal (Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, Special K, Raisin Bran, Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes) and became part of Ferrero on 26 September 2025. Kellanova owns the “Kellogg’s” name itself and licenses it to WK Kellogg Co for North American cereal.
Kellanova's 10-K for 2024 lists snack brands such as Kellogg's, Cheez-It, Pringles, Austin, Parati and RXBAR, frozen foods under Eggo and MorningStar Farms, and Pop-Tarts toaster pastries. Its products were made in 20 countries and sold in more than 180.
02
North American cereal: WK Kellogg Co
WK Kellogg Co's 10-K for 2024 lists Frosted Flakes, Special K, Froot Loops, Raisin Bran, Frosted Mini-Wheats, Rice Krispies, Kashi, Corn Flakes and Apple Jacks, sold in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.
03
One name, licensed
Under the separation agreements, Kellanova grants WK Kellogg Co a perpetual, exclusive, royalty-free licence to use the Kellogg's house brand and characters such as Tony the Tiger and Toucan Sam for its North American cereal business.
04
The size of each side
In 2024 Kellanova reported net sales of $12,749 million and about 24,000 employees; WK Kellogg Co reported net sales of $2,708 million and about 3,280 employees.
Ferrero International completed its purchase of WK Kellogg Co on 26 September 2025, paying $23.00 per share in cash. WK Kellogg Co is now an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Ferrero.
Mars buys Kellanova
Mars completed its acquisition of Kellanova on 11 December 2025, at $83.50 per share in cash. Pringles, Cheez-It and Pop-Tarts are now Mars brands.
Two new owners, one name
Both halves of the former Kellogg Company left the stock market within three months. The licence that lets the North American cereal business use the Kellogg’s name now connects Mars and Ferrero.
Cereal depends on a few retailers
WK Kellogg Co’s 10-K says Walmart accounted for about 29% of its 2024 net sales and its top five customers for about 52%: as online and AI-assisted shopping grows, those retailer relationships carry even more weight.
Major Kellogg's brands and who owns them
Pringles
CategoryCrisps
Owner (since)Kellanova, part of Mars (December 2025)
Cheez-It
CategoryCrackers
Owner (since)Kellanova, part of Mars (December 2025)
Pop-Tarts
CategoryToaster pastries
Owner (since)Kellanova, part of Mars (December 2025)
Eggo, MorningStar Farms
CategoryFrozen foods
Owner (since)Kellanova, part of Mars (December 2025)
Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, Special K, Raisin Bran (North America)
CategoryCereal
Owner (since)WK Kellogg Co, part of Ferrero (September 2025)
Crunchy Nut, Coco Pops, Frosties (Europe)
CategoryCereal
Owner (since)Kellanova, part of Mars (December 2025)
What it means for you
For shoppers: the same box design can come from different owners in different countries; check the maker's name on the pack.
For investors: neither Kellogg business is listed any more; both are now wholly owned inside Mars and Ferrero.
For brand managers: a shared house brand under two owners needs clear licence terms on categories and territories, as Kellogg's has.
For retailers and suppliers: expect purchasing and terms to follow Mars and Ferrero systems over time.
For marketers: check older lists that place Pringles, Pop-Tarts and Frosted Flakes in one company; that ended in 2023.
The Business Engineer lens
Packaged-food brands are consolidating into a few large owners while shopping moves to retailer platforms and AI-assisted search. The Business Engineer view: when a shopping agent picks the cereal, distribution and data deals matter as much as the mascot on the box.
Two companies: Mars owns Kellanova (snacks, Pop-Tarts, Eggo and Kellogg's cereal outside North America), and Ferrero owns WK Kellogg Co (Kellogg's cereal in the US, Canada and the Caribbean).
Does Kellogg's still own Pringles?
Pringles belongs to Kellanova, the former Kellogg Company, which Mars acquired in December 2025.
Who makes Frosted Flakes?
In North America, WK Kellogg Co, a Ferrero subsidiary since September 2025, under a licence to use the Kellogg's brand from Kellanova.
When did Kellogg Company split?
On 2 October 2023, when it spun off its North American cereal business as WK Kellogg Co and renamed itself Kellanova.
The complete explainer, cleaned up and reformatted for mobile.
In short
Kellogg’s brands now belong to two different owners. Kellogg Company split in October 2023: Kellanova took snacks and international cereal (Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts, Eggo and Kellogg’s cereals outside North America) and was bought by Mars, closing on 11 December 2025. WK Kellogg Co took North American cereal (Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, Raisin Bran, Special K) and was bought by Ferrero, closing on 26 September 2025.
Sources: Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co Forms 10-K for fiscal 2024 and 8-Ks on deal completion (SEC EDGAR). Analysis by The Business Engineer.
How we source: figures on this page come from the company’s own filings (SEC 10-K, 10-Q and earnings releases, or its annual report), with the period stated next to each number. Last refreshed October 2026. Our methodology.
Video: Kellogg's, explained in about a minute. Tap for sound. Built from the company’s own filings.
Kelloggβs, formally known as The Kellogg Company, is a multinational food company founded in 1906 by William Keith Kellogg.
The companyβs iconic corn flakes breakfast cereal was developed by Kellogg and his brother John while the pair researched ways to improve the diet of sanatorium patients.
Updated 6 October 2026: we refreshed 7 figures on this page, now taken from stblaw.com and SEC EDGAR filings. Anything we could not check against a current source keeps its original year, so you can see how old it is.
Latest figures · checked 6 October 2026
Kellanova had approximately 24,000 employees on December 28, 2024. SEC EDGAR filings
Mars, Incorporated’s acquisition of Kellanova closed on December 11, 2025. stblaw.com
WK Kellogg Co had approximately 3,280 employees on December 28, 2024. SEC EDGAR filings
Kellanova consolidated reported net sales were $12,749 million for the year ended December 28, 2024. SEC EDGAR filings
On October 2, 2023, the Company completed the spin-off of its North American cereal business, resulting in two independent public companies, Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co. SEC EDGAR filings
Corn flakes remain an emblematic product today like many other Kelloggβs breakfast cereals. But the company also owns well-known brands in toaster pastries, crackers, snacks, and other convenience foods.
Key numbersChecked 6 October 2026
$12,749 millionKellanova consolidated reported net sales were $12,749 million for the year ended December 28, 2024.SEC EDGAR filings
24,000 employeesKellanova had approximately 24,000 employees on December 28, 2024.SEC EDGAR filings
3,280 employeesWK Kellogg Co had approximately 3,280 employees on December 28, 2024.SEC EDGAR filings
$2.695 billionIn May of 2012, Kelloggβs swooped in and acquired Pringles for $2.695 billion .This article
In one lineKelloggβs, formally known as The Kellogg Company, is a multinational food company founded in 1906 by William Keith Kellogg.
FourWeekMBABusiness EngineerAt a glance
Mars, Incorporated's acquisition of Kellanova closed on December 11, 2025. stblaw.com
In May of 2012, Kelloggβs swooped in and acquired Pringles for $2.695 billion.
Pop-Tarts are especially popular in the U.S. and U.K., with the company announcing in 2003 that nearly two billion were eaten each year across 28 flavors.
In a 2009 article about an Eggo shortage caused by flooding at an Atlanta factory, reporter Laurent Belsie noted that Eggos commanded 73% of the $1.5 billion frozen breakfast food market.
Layout and figures refreshed 6 October 2026. Sources are listed at the end of the article.
Why it mattersFrom the article
On October 2, 2023, the Company completed the spin-off of its North American cereal business, resulting in two independent public companies, Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co.
Kelloggβs acquired Eggo in 1968 as part of a diversification effort after its core business stopped growing.
Mars, Incorporated's acquisition of Kellanova, a leading company in global snacking, closed on December 11, 2025.
The product was created by chemist Fredric J. Baur who was tasked with finding a way to address consumer complaints that other chip products on the market tended to be broken, stale, or too greasy.
Proctor and Gamble agreed to sell the brand to Diamond Foods in 2011, but the deal ultimately failed for various reasons.
The Business Engineer view: the cereal that made Kellogg’s famous was the cheaper half
Source: Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co Forms 10-K for fiscal 2024 and 8-Ks on deal completion (SEC EDGAR). Analysis by The Business Engineer.
In their last annual reports, the two halves were very different businesses. Kellanova had $12.7 billion of net sales and a 14.7% operating margin, with snacks alone at $8.1 billion. WK Kellogg Co, the North American cereal business that carries the most famous boxes, had $2.7 billion of sales and a 4.0% margin.
The prices followed the margins. Mars paid $83.50 a share in cash for Kellanova, adding Pringles and Cheez-It to M&M’S and Snickers. Ferrero paid $23.00 a share for WK Kellogg Co, a smaller bet on cereal brands with high recognition and slow growth.
For readers looking for ‘Kellogg’s products’, that is the point: the name on the box is the same, but the owner depends on the product and the country. A Pringles can belongs to Mars, and a box of Froot Loops in the US belongs to Ferrero.
The compression: brand fame and brand economics had drifted apart; the split let each buyer pay for the half it valued. See what Mars owns for the snacking side.
Froot Loops
Froot Loops is a sweetened cereal brand popular among children. Kellogg’s introduced Froot Loops in 1963 with red, orange, and yellow loops made from corn, wheat, and oats.
The famous brand mascot Toucan Sam was once voiced by cartoon actor Mel Blanc in both an American and British accent.
Froot Loops is a cornerstone of Kellogg’s product range and is one of the cheapest of America’s top 10 selling breakfast cereals.
FourWeekMBABusiness EngineerTimeline, as stated in the article
1968
Kelloggβs acquired Eggo in 1968 as part of a diversification effort after its core business stopped growing.
2000
Kashi was acquired by Kelloggβs in 2000 to enable the company to establish a leading brand in the natural and organic food market.
2012
In May of 2012, Kelloggβs swooped in and acquired Pringles for $2.695 billion.
2016
Kelloggβs acquired Pure Organic via its natural food business Kashi in 2016, with Lehmann explaining that βSince I started Pure it has been a daily goal of mine to bring more nutritious, organic food to more people.
2023
On October 2, 2023, the Company completed the spin-off of its North American cereal business, resulting in two independent public companies, Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co.
2025
Mars, Incorporated's acquisition of Kellanova, a leading company in global snacking, closed on December 11, 2025.
Incogmeato
Incogmeato is a line of plant-based beef-substitute burger patties released in conjunction with fellow Kelloggβs brand Morning Star Farms.
Also available under these brands are chicken nuggets, chicken tenders, breakfast sausages, meal starters, bratwurst, plant-based pancakes, and plant-based hotdogs.
All products contain non-GMO soy and natural flavors. Since they do not contain dairy or egg products, they make an ideal choice for vegans.
Kashi
Kashi is an American whole grain and plant-based cereal manufacturer that was founded in San Diego in 1984.
Kashi started as a vegetarian food company and then transitioned to diet specialty cereals in the late 1990s as consumer tastes changed.
Kashi was acquired by Kelloggβs in 2000 to enable the company to establish a leading brand in the natural and organic food market. Since that time, Kashi has expanded into snack bars, waffles, and healthy meal options.
Zesta
Zesta is a line of crackers made from wheat, flour, baking soda, yeast, and salt that are perfect topped with spreads, dips, meats, and cheeses.
Under this brand, Kellogg’s also sells the Keebler line of Export Soda square crackers that come in an attractive green tin.
Unlike the Zesta crackers, Export Soda crackers undergo a longer fermentation process with alkaline soda added at the end to stop the process naturally.
Pop-Tarts
Pop-Tarts is a brand of sweet and/or pre-filled toaster pastries. The history of the popular brand can be traced back to Post, an American CPG company and Kellogg’s competitor that invented a process of dehydrating food and wrapping it in foil to maintain freshness.
The process, which was first used in pet food β was later adopted by Post to enclose breakfast pastries in 1964. However, the company had announced its plans before the product was ready for market and Kelloggβs was able to develop its own version in just six months.
Pure Organic is an organic snack food brand that believes in snacks βthat donβt compromise on convenience or ingredients but do deliver instant tastebud gratification.β
The company, which was founded in 2006 by Veronica Lehman, offers fruit bars made from real juice or puree and also a range of cheese crackers that are certified organic, GMO-free, gluten-free, and kosher.
Kelloggβs acquired Pure Organic via its natural food business Kashi in 2016, with Lehmann explaining that βSince I started Pure it has been a daily goal of mine to bring more nutritious, organic food to more people. Kashi has the resources, the knowledge [and] better distribution to allow us to do just that.β
Carrβs
Carrβs is an English biscuit and cracker maker that was founded in 1831 by Jonathan Dodgson Carr. The companyβs business model incorporated both a mill and a bakery and was one of the earlier examples of vertical integration.
Carrβs is currently owned by British snack and confectionary company Pladis Global, but Kelloggβs owns the marketing rights to Carrβs-branded products in the United States.
Special K
Special K is an American breakfast cereal brand made from rice, wheat, and barley that is lightly toasted. The cereal was originally part of a diet regimen developed by Kelloggβs and is believed to have been named after the first daughter of an employee.
Since its introduction in 1955, the range has expanded beyond cereal and other products in various flavors now wear the Special K moniker. These have included snack bars, protein shakes, breakfast shakes, and popcorn chips.
Eggo
Eggo is a frozen waffle brand that was conceived by American inventor Frank Dorsa in 1953. Dorsa developed a method by which waffles could be cooked, frozen, and packaged for sale, and later produced potato chips and syrup under the Eggo brand.
Kelloggβs acquired Eggo in 1968 as part of a diversification effort after its core business stopped growing. It later introduced Eggo pancakes, French toast, and cheese breakfast sandwiches, with some products also available in flavors such as chocolate chip, cinnamon, buttermilk, and berry.
Kelloggβs, formally known as The Kellogg Company, is a multinational food company founded in 1906 by William Keith Kellogg. The company owns numerous breakfast cereal brands as well as brands in snack and convenience food.
Kelloggβs purchased stackable potato chip company Pringles from Proctor and Gamble in 2012 after a prior deal fell through. Froot Loops is another brand that is immensely popular in the United States with annual revenue in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Lesser known Kellogg’s brands include meat substitute Incogmeato, cracker brand Zesta, and specialty cereal and breakfast food maker Kashi.
Gennaro Cuofano is a CRO and tech executive who has worked in AI since late 2015, starting with bringing NLP, natural-language generation, voice and chatbot products to the marketing industry. His background is in law and finance: he holds a Master's degree in Law and an International MBA with an emphasis on corporate finance (LUISS Business School and the University of San Diego, 2012), and worked as a financial analyst at a real-estate investment firm in San Diego and as an assistant controller. His work focuses on business model strategy, business engineering and, more broadly, structural analysis: how companies make money, read from their own filings. He created FourWeekMBA and leads research there and at The Business Engineer, his newsletter on AI and business strategy, with over 95,000 subscribers and more than 1,000 published analyses. His writing has also appeared on Entrepreneur (for example, How to Digitize a Family Business in Europe) and HackerNoon. Find him on LinkedIn and Substack. See how we source.
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