Milling & Baking News - September 28, 2004 - 8

L AT E N E W S
S

FLOUR
FEED * GRAIN
* QUALifY
* UNIFORMITY
* SERVICE

Mennei
enne .
M I L L I N G COMPANY

The fall crop harvest
has expanded into
the Central states. The
country's attention is
riveted on combining,
hauling and storing
corn and soybeans.
Flour mills and
other soft wheat
buyers face an
extended period of
slack movement of
wheat but most have
built up inventories.

the

Mennel

MILLING COMPANY

"Since 1886"
+300.688-8151

FAX: (419) 436-5150
sales@mennel .com

www.mennel.com

Flour Mill Locations
Fostoria , Ohio
Dowagiac , Michigan
Roanoke , Vitginia
Mt . Olive , Illinois

8 / Milling & Baking News, September 28, 2004

Continued from Page 1
he was c.e.o. from 1999 to 2003. Mr. Weston was
named deputy chairman of A.B.F. in May 2000, a
role he will relinquish when he becomes c.e.o. "This
is a hugely exciting opportunity for me to work
with some of the most capable managers in the
industry," Mr. Weston said. Mr. Weston is the son
of the late Garry H. Weston, who built A.B.F. into an
international food, ingredient and retailing group.
He is the grandson of founder W. Garfield Weston.
CHICAGO - Chicago Baking Co., the
Chicago baking plant of Lewis Bakeries, Inc. will close Oct. 23. "The bakery
is being closed because consumption
of grain-based foods has declined in
recent years due to changing American
lifestyles," said Joseph Schulz, Chicago
Baking's vice-president. Lewis' other baking plants
will supply customers with Butternut brand bread
currently baked at the Chicago plant. A Chicago
warehouse owned by the company will continue
to operate, but the plant closing will affect 130 employes. Based in Evansville, Ind., Lewis acquired the
Chicago plant in 1997 from Interstate Bakeries Corp.,
which sold the plant in order to gain regulatory approval for its 1995 acquisition of Continental Baking.

Lewis to
close
Chicago plant

ST. LOUIS - Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. late
last week declared a special dividend of $1
per share, payable Oct. 22 to shareholders
of record at the close of business Oct. 8.
Ralcorp said the special dividend, totaling
about $29.5 million, validates its business
plan, recognizes the continued support of
shareholders and reflects net worth growth. Ralcorp
last week also appointed three new directors. They
include Kevin Hunt and David Skarie, the company's
co-chief executives, and Bill G. Armstrong, former chief
operating officer of Cargill, Inc.'s animal nutrition unit.

Special
$1 Ralcorp
dividend

DUBLIN - The North American La
Brea business of Dublin-Based IAWS
Group P.L.C. achieved strong sales
growth in fiscal 2004. La Brea experienced 13% underlying sales growth in
the year ended July 31 and remains the
leading supplier of premium artisan
bread in the United States. The company is preparing
to add additional production capacity in New Jersey.
Sales rose 12% at Cuisine de France, a Chicago-based
supplier of par-baked artisan products. "The integration of the Cuisine de France and La Brea operations
in the United States is under way, which will result in
the more efficient use of resources and will provide a
more comprehensive in-store bakery solution."

La Brea
sales up
13% in year

OMAHA - Two major grain-based food
manufacturers raised their dividend payments late last week. ConAgra Foods, Inc.
raised its dividend for the 30th consecutive year, pushing its annual rate to $1.09
per share from $1.04. Shareholders of
record Nov. 1 will receive a dividend Dec.
1 of 27.25c per share. In addition, Campbell Soup Co.,
Inc. raised its annual dividend by 7.9% to 68c per share
from 63c. Shareholders of record Oct. 11 will receive a
quarterly payment of 15.75c per share Nov. 1. MBN

ConAgra,
Campbell
raise dividends

bakingbusiness.com / world-grain.com

http://www.mennel.com http://www.bakingbusiness.com http://www.world-grain.com

Milling & Baking News - September 28, 2004

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