{"id":20997,"date":"2016-11-10T14:06:00","date_gmt":"2016-11-10T19:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/?p=20997"},"modified":"2026-10-16T14:07:47","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T18:07:47","slug":"throwback-kelloggs-cornelius-rooster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/news\/throwback-kelloggs-cornelius-rooster\/20997\/","title":{"rendered":"Throwback: Kellogg\u2019s Cornelius Rooster"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nothing gets you crowing in the morning like Kellogg\u2019s Corn Flakes!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the Kellogg Company was first founded in 1906, its very first product was Corn Flakes. A woman holding a shock of corn referred to as \u201cThe Sweetheart of the Corn\u201d<\/a> made her debut in print advertising for the brand in 1907. However, she was more of a character than a mascot. As Corn Flakes began to rise in popularity around the world, Kellogg\u2019s sought out an agency to create a brand mascot for its cereal packaging. Already seeing great success in Snap, Crackle, and Pop for Rice Krispies and Tony the Tiger for Frosted Flakes, none other than Chicago ad agency Leo Burnett (AKA \u201cthe critter agency\u201d) was recruited to create the signature early bird himself, Cornelius Rooster<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cornelius, or Corny as he is often nicknamed, was an instant cock-a-doodle-doo hit with consumers. Debuting on cereal boxes in 1957, Cornelius was designed with a green body, red comb, and yellow beak and given a confident personality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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