US cereal maker Kellogg Co. has posted a rise in quarterly earnings, helped by its higher-priced brands such as Special K Red Berries breakfast cereal.

The Battle Creek, Michigan-based company, which also makes Keebler cookies and Pop Tarts, reported earnings of US$203.9m, or 50 cents a share, for the second quarter, compared to $173.8m, or 42 cents a share, in the year-ago period.

Analysts had been expecting earnings of 47 cents a share on average, before special items, reported Reuters.