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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 10, 1993                   TAG: 9303100121
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Knight-Ridder/Tribune
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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RUSSELL STOVER BUYING WHITMAN'S

In an agreement that combines two of the best-known names in the midrange candy market, Pet Inc. said it is selling some assets and the trade name of its Whitman's Chocolates business to an affiliate of Russell Stover Candies of Kansas City, Mo..

St. Louis-based Pet, which would not disclose terms of the sale, said it would liquidate the rest of Whitman's assets and realize total proceeds of about $35 million.

The Bakery, Confectionery and Tobacco Workers Union said some 600 workers would lose their jobs.

Pet said the Whitman Chocolates unit no longer fit with the company's core products, which include Old El Paso Mexican foods, Progresso soups and Downyflake frozen waffles. The incompatibility was primarily a result of conflicts in distribution.

Pet will continue to produce Whitman's candies until mid-May.

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