LONDON, Ont. -- After 107 years, the snap, crackle and pop are gone for cereal giant Kellogg in London.

The remaining 130 workers at the breakfast cereal plant -- the last of 450 unionized employees just a little more than a year ago, when the factory closing was announced -- will eat a final Christmas lunch Monday, clean out their lockers and leave for good.

Workers for whom the closing came as bitter news late last year, after signing a new contract with the company that was still making good profits, have had time to swallow the grim reality -- and some weren't surprised, said Gary Cornelius, a 28-year factory veteran.

"We seen the writing on the wall -- it's just the way we were operating this place," he said.

Cornelius joined Kellogg in its 1980s glory days with the opening of a large modern addition to its 1920s-era London plant.

Ironically, for him the shutdown repeats family history: In 1969 his father Albert lost his job when the Kelvinator refrigerator plant, a few blocks east on Dundas St., closed.

But at 60, Cornelius considers himself lucky: His age and years of service entitle him to a full pension.

"I'm golden, but some people -- even some in their 50s -- just don't have the years," he said.

The Kellogg plant made about 27 cereals including Corn Flakes, Frosted Flakes, Special K and Rice Krispies. Changing dietary habits, with more consumers moving away from traditional breakfast cereal, contributed to the closing, the American-based company said.

"A lot of people grab the shakes and breakfast snacks. They don't sit down and have a bowl of cereal," Cornelius said, adding the plant's future was in doubt when Kellogg built a new one in Belleville, Ont., in 2007.

hank.daniszewski@sunmedia.ca

@HankatLFPress

TIMELINE

1907:Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Co. opens Canadian head office and plant in London, Ont.

1913: Moves from Grey and Adelaide streets, to Dundas St. E.

1924: Renamed Kellogg Co. of Canada.

1985: $223M plant upgrade and expansion

Nov. 5, 2013: Company says 110 workers will be laid off Jan. 1, 2014

Dec. 10, 2013: Plant's 2014 closing announced

Sept., 2014: About 300 workers laid off; most production ended