Hershey vs Kellanova: Founders, CEOs and History
Hershey was founded in 1894 by Milton S. Hershey and is led by Kirk Tanner. Kellanova was founded in 1906 by Will Keith Kellogg, John Harvey Kellogg and is led by Andrew Clarke.
Company facts
Founders
Hershey
Milton S. Hershey
The Hershey Company possesses arguably the most well-known, utopian founding story in American industrial history, rooted in the persistence of a man who failed notably before inventing the modern American chocolate industry.
Kellanova
Will Keith Kellogg
Kellanova (originally the Kellogg Company) possesses arguably the most bizarre, religious, and accidental founding story in American industrial history, rooted directly in an austere 19th-century health sanitarium and a bitter brotherly rivalry.
John Harvey Kellogg
Dr. John Harvey Kellogg is the tragic, eccentric figure whose pursuit of physical and spiritual purity inadvertently laid the groundwork for one of the most successful commercial food empires in history.
CEOs and their tenures
Hershey
- David J. West2007–2011
President and CEO
He left in 2011 and John Bilbrey succeeded him.
Source - John P. Bilbrey2011–2017
President and CEO
He retired in 2017 and Michele Buck succeeded him.
Source - Michele Buck2017–2025
Former Chief Executive Officer
Buck is universally credited with modernizing the historic chocolate company, transforming it into a diversified, resilient snacking empire capable of sustaining long-term growth.
Source - Kirk Tanner2025–present
Chief Executive Officer
While his tenure is just beginning Tanner is tasked with proving that Hershey's recent transition into a diversified 'snacking leader' can be integrated and scaled globally.
Source
Kellanova
- John Bryant2011–2017
President and CEO of Kellogg Company
As CEO, he navigated a severe secular decline in breakfast cereal consumption by ruthlessly cutting costs and pivoting the corporate strategy toward savory snacks.
Source - Steve Cahillane2017–2025
Former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Shifted Kellogg toward snacks and emerging markets and left after the Mars close. He became CEO of Kraft Heinz on January 1, 2026.
Source - Andrew Clarke2025–present
Global President, Mars Snacking (oversees Kellanova brands)
He focused the company aggressively on high-growth emerging markets and expanded the international footprint of core brands like Pringles and Cheez-It.
Source
Timeline: Hershey and Kellanova side by side
1894Hershey
Founding of Hershey Chocolate Company
Milton S. Hershey founded the Hershey Chocolate Company as a subsidiary of the Lancaster Caramel Company, initially producing chocolate coatings for his caramels before recognizing the potential of solid milk chocolate.
1894Kellanova
The Accidental Invention of the Flaked Cereal
Dr. John Harvey Kellogg and Will Keith Kellogg accidentally discover the process for creating toasted wheat flakes when stale boiled wheat is run through the rollers at the Battle Creek Sanitarium, producing hundreds of individual, thin, delicious flakes that…
1900Hershey
Sale of Lancaster Caramel Company
Milton S. Hershey sold the Lancaster Caramel Company for $1 million to focus entirely on the chocolate business, retaining the chocolate department and the rights to the milk chocolate formula he had developed.
1903Hershey
Construction of the Hershey Factory
Construction began on the Hershey Chocolate factory in Derry Township, Pennsylvania, designed to be the most advanced chocolate manufacturing facility in the world, utilizing continuous-flow production systems.
1906Kellanova
Founding of the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company
Following a bitter, irreparable feud with his brother over the commercialization and sweetening of the flake recipe, Will Keith Kellogg founds his own company, launching an aggressive marketing campaign to introduce the sugared corn flakes to the mass market,…
1907Hershey
Introduction of Hershey's Kisses
The company launched the Hershey's Kiss, a small, teardrop-shaped piece of chocolate that was individually wrapped in a thin strip of foil, becoming one of the most well-known and recognizable confectionery products in history.
1928Hershey
Introduction of Mr. Goodbar
Hershey launched Mr. Goodbar, a milk chocolate bar packed with roasted peanuts, which became a commercial success and established the company's dominance in the combination chocolate bar category.
1928Kellanova
Launch of Kellogg's Rice Krispies
The enterprise introduces Rice Krispies, featuring the well-known 'Snap, Crackle, and Pop' marketing campaign, which becomes one of the most successful and enduring cereal brands in history, demonstrating the company's mastery of flavor innovation and characte…
1938Hershey
Introduction of Krackel
The company introduced Krackel, a milk chocolate bar with crisped rice, expanding its portfolio of everyday chocolate bars and using its manufacturing expertise in rice processing.
1963Hershey
Introduction of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
While Reese's was founded earlier, Hershey acquired the brand in 1963, a move that would eventually create the company's largest and most profitable franchise, generating over $3 billion in annual retail sales today.
1964Kellanova
Introduction of Pop-Tarts
The enterprise launches Pop-Tarts, an influential, shelf-stable, frosted fruit pastry that can be toasted, creating an entirely new category of convenient, on-the-go breakfast and snacking that becomes a high-margin cash cow for the company.
1996Hershey
Acquisition of Leaf Inc.
Hershey acquired Leaf Inc., adding well-known brands like Jolly Rancher, Whoppers, and Milk Duds to its portfolio, significantly expanding its presence in the non-chocolate confectionery market.
2001Kellanova
Keebler Foods Acquisition
Kellogg acquired Keebler Foods, adding Cheez-It, Club and Town House crackers that later became core Kellanova snack brands.
2012Kellanova
Acquisition of the Pringles Business from P&G
Kellogg acquired the global Pringles business from Procter & Gamble for $2.695 billion in cash, roughly doubling its international snacks business.
2017Hershey
Michele Buck Appointed CEO
Michele Buck was appointed CEO, initiating a rigorous strategic transformation plan focused on portfolio diversification, manufacturing modernization, and supply chain resilience, which drove the company's success in navigating record cocoa inflation.
2017Kellanova
Steve Cahillane becomes CEO
Steve Cahillane became CEO of Kellanova in 2017. Shifted Kellogg toward snacks and emerging markets and left after the Mars close.
2021Hershey
Acquisition of Dot's Homestyle Pretzels
Hershey acquired Dot's Homestyle Pretzels for about $1.2 billion and its manufacturing partner Pretzels Inc. in December 2021, expanding its salty snack segment.
2023Kellanova
WK Kellogg Co Spin-Off and Kellanova Name
On October 2, 2023, Kellogg Company spun off its North American cereal business as WK Kellogg Co and renamed itself Kellanova.
2024Hershey
Record Net Income Before Cocoa Shock
Hershey reported $11.20 billion in 2024 net sales and record net income of $2.22 billion, before record cocoa costs hit 2025 results. In December 2024, reports said Mondelez had again approached Hershey about a deal; no transaction followed.
2024Kellanova
Mars Agrees to Buy Kellanova
On August 14, 2024, Mars agreed to acquire Kellanova for $83.50 per share in cash, about $35.9 billion. Shareholders approved the deal on November 1, 2024.
2025Hershey
Kirk Tanner Becomes CEO
Former Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner succeeded Michele Buck as President and CEO on August 18, 2025. Hershey closed the LesserEvil acquisition in November 2025 and reported $11.69 billion in 2025 net sales.
2025Kellanova
Mars Completes Acquisition of Kellanova
Mars completed its acquisition of Kellanova on December 11, 2025, integrating Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts, RXBAR, Rice Krispies Treats, and Kellogg's international cereal brands into Mars Snacking.
Acquisitions
Hershey
- LesserEvil2025$750M
- Dot's Homestyle Pretzels2021$1.2B
- Lily's Sweets2021$425M
- Amplify Snack Brands2018$1.6B
Kellanova
- RXBAR (Chicago Bar Company)2017$600M
- Pringles Global Business (from P&G)2012$2.7B
- Keebler Foods2001Undisclosed
- Kashi2000Undisclosed
Questions about Hershey vs Kellanova
Who is the CEO of The Hershey Company and Kellanova?
The Hershey Company is led by Kirk Tanner and Kellanova is led by Andrew Clarke. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was The Hershey Company founded vs Kellanova?
The Hershey Company was founded in 1894 — 12 years before Kellanova, which was founded in 1906. The Hershey Company's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Kellanova.
How many employees does The Hershey Company have compared to Kellanova?
The Hershey Company employs approximately 19,595 people, while Kellanova employs approximately 23,000. Kellanova has the larger workforce at 23,000 employees, compared to The Hershey Company's 19,595. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are The Hershey Company and Kellanova headquartered?
Both The Hershey Company and Kellanova are headquartered in United States. Their local rules and tax obligations may still differ.
Who founded The Hershey Company and Kellanova?
The Hershey Company was founded by Milton S. Hershey. Kellanova was founded by Will Keith Kellogg, John Harvey Kellogg.
Which company has a longer operating history — The Hershey Company or Kellanova?
The Hershey Company has been operating for approximately 132 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Kellanova has been in operation for around 120 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Hershey vs Kellanova overview