Keebler Company facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Keebler Company

Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Food processing
Founded	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. (July 19, 1853; 171 years ago (1853-07-19))
Founder	Godfrey Keebler
Headquarters	Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S.
Area served	Nationwide
Products	Cookies Crackers Ice Cream Cones
Parent	United Biscuits (1974–1995) Flowers Industries (1995–1998) Kellogg's (2001–2019) Ferrero SpA (2019–present)

The Keebler Company is a well-known American company that makes cookies and used to make crackers. It started way back in 1853! Keebler is famous for its many baked snacks, which are often advertised by the fun Keebler Elves.

Some of Keebler's popular brands include Chips Deluxe cookies, Club Crackers, and E.L. Fudge Cookies. You might also know their slogans like "Uncommonly Good" or "a little elfin magic goes a long way."

The company's cookie and cracker businesses were separated in 2019. This happened when Kellogg's sold the cookie part of Keebler to Ferrero SpA. Now, the cracker lines are sold under the Kellogg's or Sunshine names.

Keebler's Story

Keebler Chips Deluxe Rainbow cookies

A Keebler Delivery Truck in Michigan

The story of Keebler began in 1853 when Godfrey Keebler, who was from Germany, opened a bakery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Over the years, his bakery joined with other local bakeries and ones from around the country. In 1927, they all merged to form the United Biscuit Company of America.

United Biscuit had bakeries in different regions. In 1966, the company decided to use one name for all its products across the country. They chose "Keebler" as the main brand and the company's new name.

Keebler also became the official baker of Girl Scout Cookies in 1936. They were the first commercial company to bake these popular cookies. Before that, Girl Scouts and their moms baked them at home! Today, Little Brownie Bakers, a part of Keebler, still makes some of the Girl Scout Cookies.

In 1974, a company called United Biscuits bought Keebler. Later, in 2001, The Kellogg Company bought Keebler. Keebler's main offices were in Elmhurst, Illinois at that time.

Then, in 2019, Kellogg announced that it was selling Keebler cookies and some other related brands to Ferrero SpA for a lot of money. This sale was part of Ferrero's plan to buy brands that might not have been a main focus for other big food companies. Kellogg kept the rights to other Keebler products, like crackers, selling them under the Kellogg's or Sunshine names.

The Keebler Elves

The animated Keebler Elves are some of the most famous characters from commercials! They are led by "Ernest J. 'Ernie' Keebler," who is the head elf and very friendly.

These elves have appeared in many television advertisements over the years. In the commercials, they are shown baking their special products inside a magical tree, which is called "The Hollow Tree Factory." The Keebler tree logo often turns into this tree in the ads.

An advertising company named Leo Burnett Worldwide created the elves in 1968. Ernie Keebler became the "head elf" in 1970. He is easy to spot with his white hair, green jacket, red vest, and floppy shoes.

Many different actors have given Ernie Keebler his voice over the years, including Walker Edmiston, Parley Baer, and Frank Welker.

Besides Ernie, there are many other elves in the Hollow Tree Factory! Some of them include Fryer Tuck, Ernie's nephews Zoot and J.J., Ernie's mother Ma Keebler, and Buckets, who throws fudge on the cookies. Each elf has a special job in making the delicious snacks. The first Keebler elves were drawn by a children's artist named Roger Bradfield.

Popular Keebler Snacks

Here are some examples of tasty snacks made by Keebler: