May 25, 2005

Ready Pac Announces Plant Consolidation

Ready Pac has announced it will be shutting down production in its Spreckels, Calif. facility, the smaller of the Salinas facilities that it acquired in its recent merger with Salad Time.

The Spreckels operation was opened in 1998 and has been producing bowl salads and fresh-cut vegetables under the Tanimura & Antle™ label. Manufacturing of the vegetable products, including the Cool Cuts™ snack line, will be shifted to the company’s Irwindale headquarters facility. The bowl salads that have been made at Spreckels will be discontinued as the company focuses on Ready Pac’s successful Bistro To Go™ bowl salad line. The Bistro To Go™ line has significantly expanded its distribution base and recently became the number one brand of ready-to-eat salads in the country (based on the latest 12-week data from Information Resources, Inc.).

“The decision to shutter the Spreckels plant is part of our ongoing efforts to integrate and consolidate the Ready Pac and Salad Time operations,” commented Larry Kern, Ready Pac president and CEO. “This move allows us to lower our operating costs and leverage the existing capabilities and strengths of one of our larger facilities. Most importantly, we are very confident that we will be able to maintain the same high level of quality and service that our customers and consumers have come to expect from us.”

According to Kern, the company plans to continue producing in Spreckels until April and is considering a variety of possible future uses for the facility.





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