Malt-O-Meal breaks ground on new production facility

Minneapolis-based Malt-O-Meal Company, the nation's fourth-largest ready-to-eat cereal manufacturer, will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on June 26 for its newest manufacturing facility in Asheboro, N.C.

The groundbreaking will be held at the future Malt-O-Meal plant site, in the north parking lot at the Asheboro Mill, Central Piedmont Industrial Park, 2525 Bank Street in Asheboro.

The facility will include a remodel of a 175,000-square-foot building, formerly occupied by Unilever Best Foods, and new construction of an additional 200,000 square feet. Operations for the facility will begin in late 2008. Malt-O-Meal will employ more than 160 people by 2012.

The plant is the fourth in Malt-O-Meal's distribution network, joining two plants in Northfield, Minn., and one in Tremonton, Utah.

"The plant will serve as Malt-O-Meal's East Coast manufacturing location, expanding our capacity and reach from New England to Miami," says John Lettman, chief executive officer, Malt-O-Meal Company. "We are glad to be able to build upon an existing facility to bring jobs to the Asheboro region."

"Randolph County is proud that Malt-O-Meal has selected Asheboro for its new facility," said Bonnie Renfro, president, Randolph County Economic Development. "We look forward to a long and successful history together with the creation of many new jobs and opportunities for our region."

Malt-O-Meal selected the site after a year-long, multi-state search to expand its growing East Coast market, established with a 2002 acquisition of Quaker Oats Corporation's bagged cereal division.

Founded in 1919, Minneapolis-based Malt-O-Meal Company produces more than 30 different ready-to-eat cereals, three varieties of Malt-O-Meal Hot Wheat cereal, and a full line of oatmeal products. Besides the company's production facilities in Minnesota, Utah and North Carolina, Malt-O-Meal operates distribution centers in Minnesota, Utah, Tennessee and Pennsylvania.