BATTLE CREEK (PRNewswire) — Kellogg Company announced Thursday it has been named one of the 2012 "World's Most Ethical Companies" by the Ethisphere Institute, a leading international think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability. This marks the fourth time Kellogg has been recognized with this honor.
"We are honored to be among the companies awarded with the World's Most Ethical Companies distinction for 2012," said John Bryant, president and CEO, Kellogg Company. "The award is a testament to the caliber of our employees and their dedication to being corporate leaders in business ethics and social responsibility. The legacy of strong ethics and corporate responsibility that began with our founder W.K. Kellogg more than 100 years ago continues to guide our company today and is embodied by our K Values, which shape our culture and guide the way we run our business."
"Each year the competition for World's Most Ethical Companies intensifies as the number of nominations submitted for consideration grows," said Alex Brigham, Executive Director of Ethisphere. "This year's winners know that a strong ethics program is a key component to a successful business model, and they continue to scrutinize their ethical standards to keep up with an ever-changing regulatory environment."
The honorees for the sixth annual award were selected by Ethisphere through in-depth research and a multi-step analysis conducted of nominated companies from more than 100 countries and 36 industries.
The selection process included reviewing codes of ethics, litigation and regulatory infraction histories; evaluating the investment in innovation and sustainable business practices; looking at activities designed to improve corporate citizenship; and studying nominations from senior executives, industry peers, suppliers and customers.
Driven to enrich and delight the world through foods and brands that matter, Kellogg Company (NYSE: K) is the world's leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of snacks and frozen foods. Every day, our well-loved brands — produced in 18 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries — nourish families so they can flourish and thrive. With 2011 sales of more than $13 billion, these brands include Cheez-It@, Coco Pops@, Corn Flakes@, Eggo@, Frosted Flakes@, Kashi@, Keebler@, Kellogg's@, Mini-Wheats@, Pop-Tarts@, Rice Krispies@, Special K@, and many more. To learn more about Kellogg Company, including our corporate responsibility initiatives and rich heritage, please visit www.kelloggcompany.com.