Kellogg's Brand Damaged By Dumping Michael Phelps

Dumping Michael Phelps over the now notorious photo of him taking a bong rip is not looking like the best move for Kellogg. Pot activists, who insist they make up a large share of consumers of Kellogg products, organized a boycott of the company. The boycott resonated with Kellogg customers to such a degree that when you called Kellogg, the first audio recording you heard was not about the nation-wide salmonella outbreak that had sickened dozens of people, but was a message for callers who were concerned about the company's relationship with Phelps.

Now comes a report that severing the relationship has actually damaged Kellogg's brand. Silicon Alley Insider reports:

Out of the 5,600 company reputations Vanno monitors, Kellogg ranked ninth before it booted Phelps. Now it's ranked 83. Not even an industry-wide peanut scare inflicted as much damage on the food company's reputation.

They have a fascinating graph illustrating all this which I urge you to check out.

To read about all things Michael Phelps, visit HuffPost's Michael Phelps BigNews Page.

Comments

[DozerAZ]

12:18 PM on 03/12/2009

Kellogs blew it. Possible campaign "When I get the Munchies I choose Kellogs." Maybe even start a special "Munchies" cereal featuring Phelps.

[stevebest]

12:53 PM on 03/02/2009

I Just say they put off constructi­on on their 22.5 million dollar building. hahaha

[harrymellon]

12:24 AM on 03/02/2009

I dumped Kelloggs over this. The shallow uproar over a harmless, healing flower that is mild compared to caffeine or alcohol has become a joke to all echelons of society.

[macbabe]

03:09 PM on 02/28/2009

Kellogg's Who? ... hope someone else picks up Phelps FAST and leaves K in the dust!

[yorfutrxhsbnd]

09:21 PM on 02/27/2009

I say Kellogg's is getting their just desserts, that is, er, um, I mean, breakfast. I wonder if anybody in Will Keith Kellogg's brood ever smoked a joint. Now that would be a picture!

[carnelld]

09:06 PM on 02/27/2009

Ah........­I like Kellog's Corn Flakes. They're Great.

[JakeS]

07:42 PM on 02/27/2009

Right on!

[FreedomAgain]

07:33 PM on 02/27/2009

It is far better for the government to provide a shelter of freedom under which all may seek their own happiness in their own way, than to legislate the beliefs of one sector of the public over another. You have straight people that want to make everyone straight, you have gay people that want to make everyone gay, you have religious people that want to make others stop drinking and smoking and having sex, you have people that want more bars so that they can drink, smoke, and have more sex. There are rich people that want tax deductions for Yachts.

All of this is based on the concern for oneself over others. The attitude some people have is that everyone must be forced to do everything in a way in which they approve.

I believe 100% that the government should provide a blanket of freedom for everyone, and that as long as you are not harming others, or infringing upon their freedoms, you should be able to do whatever you please. What one person does in the privacy of their home is nobody else’s damn business. Whether your neighbor is having bible study, gay sex, dancing with snakes, smoking marijuana, or anything else that does not harm others, it is none of your damn business because that person has a right to be free and protected by the shelter of freedom provided for all, that each may seek happiness in their own way. Thats what freedom means.

[LegalCat]

09:25 PM on 02/27/2009

Actually, I know quite a lot of gay people, and I can honestly say that I don't know a single one who wants to make everyone gay, or anyone gay. Seriously. If you know any people like that, then ok, I believe you, but if you're just trying to draw a parallel with straight people who want to make everyone straight (who DEFINITELY exist), I'm not persuaded that there really is one.

[FreedomAgain]

08:43 PM on 02/28/2009

Yeah, you're probably right. I don't know any gay people personally that want to make someone else gay. Good point.

[berrycooda]

06:48 PM on 02/27/2009

Didn't Kelloggs move to Mexico several years ago.....

Seems like they already did enough damage to their logo.

So many good old American Co.'s gone.

Hershey and Avon both are gone from America among many others.

So much for unmitigate­d GREED...

Buy American if you are able to find anything made here anymore.

[PatA]

05:28 PM on 02/27/2009

uhhhh, Beets.....­...Kellogg­'s owns Kashi.

[luvienne]

04:25 PM on 02/27/2009

Why should bad behavior be rewarded? Phelps signed a contract with a moral clause. There was no deception by Kellogg's, it was by Phelps.

[stevebest]

04:57 PM on 02/27/2009

So you know for a fact it was the picture that madethem decide not to renew his contract. I have heard the opposite i heard there were no discussion­s to renew even though the contract had less than 30 days left on it. I heard his agent had already "given up" before the picture even surfaced. How can you be so sure you havent been decieved.
Whether that is the case or not what upset me was kellogg using the media attention to get a press conference and using that press to put down Micheal and marijuana users. How do you justify kellogg putting Micheals employment status in the news.
Have you ever gotten fired. how would you like it if your company was on every channel talking about how you screwed up. They put this in the media and have to deal with public opinion.

[fedupinfla]

06:04 PM on 02/27/2009

Gimme a friggin break!! I guess it would be ok by you if he had been pictured swiggin on a bottle of Corona or doing a shot of tequila right?

I'm so tired of the double standard going on from up-tight self rightous prigs. Its ok for people to stop by a bar for happy hour on the way home but God forbid they do a bong hit or light up a doob in the privacy of their own home where they aren't hurting ANYONE.

How many times do you hear about some guy who gets drunk and decides to slap his wife & kids around huh? Watch an episode of COPS and tell me how many drunk driveers they pull over in just 1 show. Now, how many times do you hear about a stoner doing any of that?!?

Answer: You don't.

Bad behavior? tell you what....wh­en you decide to get off your high horse, I'll blow you a shotgun..

[rf-hawaii]

04:25 PM on 02/27/2009

Cool !

[sus2222]

04:25 PM on 02/27/2009

Hey KELLOGGsss­,
I am from Grand Rapids, Michigan just down the road.

1957 I ate my FIRST Kellogg's cereal.
1965 I did my FIRST DUBBIE.
2009 I QUIT Kelloggs.

NUFF SAID.

I now LOVE GENERAL MILLS !

[abcjohnson]

04:47 PM on 02/27/2009

Amen. 'nuff said.

[huntunseasun]

07:06 PM on 02/27/2009

Amen. Pass the bong.

[Marilyn Litt]

01:20 AM on 02/28/2009

Whatever happened to cutting someone some slack? This kid is still an Olympic hero and frankly it makes him a little more human to see him fall off the wagon after years of discipline­.

I would have thought a lot more of Kellog if they had said, we are disappoint­ed, but we can still work with Michael Phelps . . .

Pass the Cheerios!

[aardvark13]

04:24 PM on 02/27/2009

The majority of their 'BRAND' is crap food anyway that isn't healthy. You should give it up for your health anyway! They are idiots.

[Tommygun264]

04:03 PM on 02/27/2009

Gee, a company that pushes sugar-coat­ed food - mother's milk to stoners - damaged its brand when it publicly fired a spokesman for being a stoner. Who could have seen that coming? I think maybe Mr. Phelps isn't the only Kellogg employee whose thinking has been impaired.