For Release: Immediate
Contact: Richard R. Koulouris
920/748-3151, Ext. 201
RALCORP HOLDINGS, INC. ANNOUNCES THAT EMPLOYEES OF RIPON FOODS, INC. STRIKE
ST. LOUIS, MO, AUGUST 2, 2000 Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RAH) announced today
that employees of Ripon Foods, Inc. who are members of Local 91 Union of
Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE) have gone on strike.
[Ripon is operated as part of Ralcorp's cracker and cookie business along with
Bremner, Inc., Wortz Company, Sugar Kake Cookie Inc., and Cascade Cookie
Company, Inc.] The Ripon plant, located in Ripon, Wisconsin, makes a variety of
store brand and branded cookies. The contract which initially expired at
midnight, July 31, 2000, was extended by the parties while they continued
negotiations. The strike followed lengthy contract talks between the Company
and the Union.
Larry Schultz, Director of Operations for Ripon Foods, Inc., stated, "We are
very disappointed that the Ripon employees elected to go on strike. We tried
our best during the course of negotiations to accommodate the needs of the
bargaining unit employees while at the same time addressing the Company's need
to operate successfully in an extremely competitive marketplace. Richard R.
Koulouris, Vice President and Director of Operations of Bremner, Inc., who
oversees the Ripon plant operations, noted, "While we hope the strike is a brief
one, we expect that we will be able to meet the needs of our customers."
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