ANN DURBIN Breakfast cereal could use a lucky charm. 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

WK Kellogg is Ferrero’s most substantial acquisition so far, with a market cap of roughly $1.5 billion and a portfolio of household-name cereals including Raisin Bran, Corn Flakes and Apple Jacks. Ferrero also bought Nestlé’s US business and Blue Bunny ice cream in recent years.

July 10 (UPI) -- Italy's Ferrero will acquire U.S. cereal maker WK Kellogg in a $ 3.1 billion deal, the companies announced Thursday. The agreement includes manufacturing, marketing and distribution of WK Kellogg's portfolio of breakfast cereals across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.