Giovanni Ferrero has expanded his family's company beyond brands like Nutella and built a global powerhouse—especially through big acquisitions in the U.S.

The transaction marks the end of Battle Creek's run as a quintessential company town in Michigan, where the name "Kellogg" graces almost everything.

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,

WK Kellogg's shares soared nearly 50% in premarket trading on Thursday after a source told Reuters the Italian candy maker behind Ferrero Rocher is nearing a deal to buy the firm, uniting two of the world's most recognizable consumer food companies.