ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, July 20, 1996 TAG: 9607220178
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
Snapple executive resigns amid losses
CHICAGO - Another Quaker Oats executive is going the way of the Snapple Lady.
The Quaker Oats Co. announced Friday it is realigning management at its Snapple division, and that the North American beverages division president, Donald Uzzi, resigned.
Uzzi, 43, had overseen Snapple for 18 months. He said he left voluntarily but that he did not have a job.
Analysts say it was more likely he was forced out, a casualty of Snapple's disappointing sales. Three other Quaker executives have left in recent months amid slow sales for the tea-and-juice business.
Quaker had an $85 million operating loss for Snapple last year.
Quaker bought the so-called new-age beverage line for $1.7 billion in late 1994.
In a move some analysts call desperation, the company will give away millions of bottles during the heavy summer buying period to lure more Americans to the brand. The campaign begins Monday.
In the fall, longtime Snapple employee Wendy Kaufman, TV's The Snapple Lady, was taken off the air and replaced with quirky, humorous spots paying homage to industry leaders Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo. while celebrating Snapple as the best alternative to the two.
- Associated Press
Singer lets rest of plant workers go
Singer Furniture Co., which in May announced the closing of its Roanoke manufacturing plant, released most of its remaining 140 employees Friday.
The company had planned to retain the workers, who have been shutting down the plant and preparing it for sale, until next Friday. But Bill Foster, Singer's vice president of administration, said the employees wrapped up their work early.
"They had worked very fast and very efficiently and had gotten everything done," he said.
The employees will be paid through Wednesday, Foster said.
- Staff report
Bankruptcies
Seven bankruptcies with business affiliations have been filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Western Virginia at Roanoke. Five of them are personal bankruptcies that the court listed as businesses because they have commercial connections and could be of interest to business creditors and customers.
Outer Reaches Inc. of Roanoke, a management contract business, filed for liquidation. Robert S. Callahan Jr., president, listed assets of $9,710 and liabilities of $79,893.
Harold Wayne Harlow of Big Stone Gap, who is in the construction business, filed for a wage-earner plan for repayment of debts. He estimated assets and liabilities at less than $50,000 each.
Roscoe Nelson of Roanoke, who does business as Baby's BBQ Pit, filed for a wage-earner plan for repayment of debts. He said he had assets of $80,720 and liabilities of $78,931.
Wesley C. Alls and Melissa Donaldson Alls of Roanoke filed for a wage-earner plan for repayment of debts with assets of $91,229 and liabilities of $105,323. Melissa Alls is a self-employed newspaper carrier.
Timothy M. Saltz of Abingdon, a self-employed yard worker, filed for liquidation. He had assets of $440 and liabilities of $20,030.
James Keith Yeary and Debra Lynn Yeary of Ewing filed for liquidation with assets of $14,660 and liabilities of $53,341. James Yeary is a self-employed construction worker.
Robert Dennis Ewers of Vinton, a self-employed repairman, filed for liquidation. He had assets of $2,997 and liabilities of $20,370.
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