Kellogg's Corn Flakes Rooster

Red and green illustration of a rooster on white background.

Cornelius™ Rooster , Corny™, has been featured on Kellogg's Corn Flakes boxes since 1957. A creation of Rena Ames Harding of Leo Burnett, the colorful illustration of a Wellsummer rooster was intended to remind people to “Wake up to Breakfast.” Prior to Corny, the cereal had been advertised using a variety of characters.

Corn Flakes were an accidental invention of Will Keith Kellogg, younger brother of Dr. John Harvey Kellogg of The Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan. Attempting to make granola, Will created toasted wheat flakes the patients loved. Trying other grains, they found corn flakes. A disagreement about adding sugar to the flakes created a riff and the establishment of two competing cereal companies: Will’s Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company and John’s Battle Creek Food Company. Eventually, the former became responsible for the Kellogg’s Corn Flakes we eat today around the world.