Battle Creek, MI – Inside WK Kellogg Co’s headquarters, a trove of roughly 30,000 historic items tells the story of the city’s most iconic brand. Chief corporate affairs officer Stacy Flathau, a third‑generation Kellogg employee, guided FOX 17 through the collection during American Archives Month, highlighting how the archive fuels innovation and celebrates the company’s deep roots in the community.
Family ties and company heritage
Flathau’s connection to Kellogg runs deep. “My grandmother worked there. My mother‑in‑law has worked there for 42 years,” she said. “My mom was a tour guide back when we still gave tours at the plants, which was very cool.” Having spent about 18 years with the company herself, Flathau sees the archives as a living bridge between past and future.
A massive collection of cereal history
The Battle Creek archives house everything Kellogg has ever created: original packaging, vintage advertisements, photographs, toys, in‑store displays, and other memorabilia. “We maintain everything that the company has ever created, from packaging, artwork, in‑store displays, all of the toys in box merchandise. You name it, we’ve got it,” said corporate archivist Virginia Angles.
New products and packaging are added continuously. “Every time we make something new, I try to collect it,” Angles explained, noting that packaging alone changes annually, creating an ever‑growing catalog.
Preserving the past for future innovation
Preservation is not without challenges. Different materials—paper, cardboard, plastic, metal—require specialized care. “It is a bit daunting because I want to keep everything forever, right?” Angles admitted, adding that figuring out the best preservation methods is “a lot of fun.”
Beyond safeguarding history, the archives serve a practical purpose. Production employees, marketers, and product developers regularly consult the collection for inspiration. “Our archives are really a place where our production staff, our marketers, our innovators come to get inspiration for things for the future,” Flathau said.
Connecting the community to its cereal legacy
Angles finds personal connection to the materials especially rewarding. “Helping people find a personal connection to the materials is one of the most rewarding parts of the work,” she noted. The archive, while not open to the public, stands as a testament to Battle Creek’s identity as the historic home of breakfast cereals.
As Kellogg continues to evolve its product line, the archive ensures that the company’s heritage remains a source of pride for employees and the broader community alike.
Original reporting: FOX 17 WXMI Grand Rapids (local) — read the source article.
