The Italian food giant Ferrero is expanding its North American portfolio by acquiring WK Kellogg, known for iconic brands like Froot Loops, Rice Krispies and Corn Flakes. Ferrero, known for brands like Nutella and Kinder, announced it will buy WK Kellogg’s for $23 a share, representing a total enterprise value of $3.1 billion.

U.S. sales of the colorfully packaged morning staple have been in a decades-long decline, a trend back in the spotlight with news that Italian confectioner Ferrero Group plans to purchase WK Kellogg, maker of Corn Flakes, Froot Loops, Rice Krispies and other familiar brands.

WK Kellogg Co’s headquarters is in Battle Creek. After the transaction closes, Battle Creek will remain a core location for the company and will be Ferrero’s headquarters for North America cereal, a news release from WK Kellogg states.

In one of the most significant acquisitions in the food industry, Italian food giant Ferrero has acquired American cereal giant Kellogg's for $3.1 billion (£2.3 billion), making popular food brands such as Kellogg's Frosted Flakes,

Kellogg’s, famous for making Frosted Flakes and Froot Loops, has struck a deal to be being for $3.1 billion by the Ferrero Group, which owns Nutella and Kinder.

The creator of a number of breakfast-table staples is getting a new owner as Ferrero Group and WK Kellogg Co. have announced a deal that will see Kellogg folded into the corporate parent of such brands as Nutella, Tic Tac, Butterfinger, Baby Ruth, Famous Amos, and Bomb Pop.

Kellogg, the maker of such brands as Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, Rice Krispies and Raisin Bran, began business in 1906 as the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Co., before becoming Kellogg Toasted Corn Flake Co. in 1909.

The Ferrero Group said Thursday it will buy WK Kellogg Co. in a deal valued $3.1 billion, expanding the Italian food giant's global reach. Kellogg, which was founded in Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1906, is known for brands including Corn Flakes, Froot Loops, Rice Krispies and Special K. Ferrero's brands include Nutella and Rocher chocolates.

The Australian sharemarket dipped on Friday morning, as increases in mining shares were offset by falls among the banks and consumer stocks.

Ferrero has been targeting the U.S. for acquisitions to grow geographically and expand by category. It bought Wells Enterprises, the maker of Blue Bunny and other ice-cream brands, and before that struck a $2.8 billion deal to acquire Nestlé’s U.S. chocolate business.