Quaker Oats To Close NC Plant

As of Apr. 30, 1999, The Quaker Oats Company will close its Asheville, NC, rice cakes manufacturing plant and shift production to another U.S. Quaker snacks plant located in Columbia, MO.

"With existing capacity available at another Quaker snack plant that has a more strategic geographic location for central distribution, this consolidation of production capacity is the right - but difficult -decision to make," said Gregg Tanner, vice president of Manufacturing and Supply Chain Integration.

The Quaker Oats Company has owned a plant in the Asheville area since 1985 when it acquired Arden Organics. Today, the facility solely produces rice cakes. Plant Manager Jim Kloman noted that employees will be eligible for severance benefits and outplacement services to ease their transitions.