Ferrero Group finalizes US$3.1B acquisition of WK Kellogg Co
The deal signals Ferrero‘s continued push into the United States market.
LUXEMBOURG – The Ferrero Group has officially completed its US$3.1 billion acquisition of WK Kellogg Co, marking a major shift in the North American cereal landscape.
The deal, first announced in July 2025 and approved by WK Kellogg shareholders on September 19, transitions the iconic cereal maker from a publicly traded company to a wholly owned subsidiary of the family-run Ferrero Group.
WK Kellogg Co., headquartered in Battle Creek, Michigan, is recognized for its “core six” brands: Frosted Flakes, Special K, Raisin Bran, Froot Loops, Frosted Mini-Wheats, and Rice Krispies, which collectively account for approximately 70% of the company’s sales.
The acquisition also includes a wide portfolio of other cereals such as Corn Flakes, Apple Jacks, Krave, and Bear Naked granola.
Ferrero, the Italian confectionery giant behind Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, and Kinder, said the move supports its strategic growth in North America and expands its reach across more consumption occasions.
The company plans to invest in and grow WK Kellogg’s brand portfolio across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.
As part of the transaction, WK Kellogg shareholders received US$23 in cash per share.
The company’s stock has ceased trading on the New York Stock Exchange, marking the end of its brief independent existence following its 2023 spin-off from Kellogg Co.
That split created two companies: WK Kellogg Co for cereals, and Kellanova for snacks and frozen foods. Kellanova is now itself being acquired by Mars Inc. in a separate US$35.9 billion deal.
Ferrero Executive Chairman Giovanni Ferrero described the acquisition as more than a business transaction, calling it “the coming together of two companies with proud legacies and generations of loyal consumers.”
He emphasized Ferrero’s commitment to maintaining WK Kellogg’s Battle Creek headquarters as a core location for its North American cereal operations.
The deal signals Ferrero’s continued push into the United States market, where it has steadily expanded its footprint through acquisitions of brands like Butterfinger, Keebler, and Famous Amos.
With WK Kellogg now under its wing, Ferrero is well positioned to become a formidable player in the breakfast aisle.
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