Battle Creek, MI (WOWO) Battle Creek, long known as Cereal City, is facing a pivotal transition as the iconic Kellogg presence that shaped its identity for more than a century continues to recede. Six weeks after Italian candymaker Ferrero finalized its $3.1 billion acquisition of WK Kellogg Co., business and civic leaders gathered at an economic forum to assess the city’s future—and the mood was one of guarded optimism.
Ferrero, maker of Nutella, Tic Tacs and Ferrero Rocher, has pledged to keep its North American cereal headquarters in downtown Battle Creek and maintain roughly 850 jobs. Economic development officials say the company is investing in the cereal plant and signaling a long-term commitment to local operations according to Bridge Michigan.
But even with that reassurance, the sale represents the end of an era. Kellogg was more than a major employer; it was the dominant corporate force in Battle Creek’s civic, philanthropic and cultural life. For decades, the company funded local institutions, shaped public policy and helped anchor community identity. The shift to ownership by large multinational corporations—Mars now owns Kellanova while Ferrero controls WK Kellogg—raises questions about whether their involvement will be as deep or as local…