An Emporia pet food manufacturer is part of a company being sold to an Arkansas-based food maker for about $240 million.
Simmons Pet Food Inc. is acquiring Menu Foods in a proposed sale that could be completed by late this year. The future of the Emporia plant and its 256 employees wasn’t immediately clear
The Canadian-based company built a plant in the southeast section of Emporia in 1998. At one time Menu employed upwards of 500 people, but cut back after a massive recall in 2007.
Menu Foods recalled 60 million cans of pet food across North America. At least 14 pets died from kidney failure after eating the food, which was suspected to contain melamine.
Simmons businesses include Simmons Pet Foods and Simmons Food Ingredients, dry food for dairy, cattle, agriculture and pet food manufactures. The company also has a chicken business that focuses on national restaurants and retail merchandisers.
Check back for more information, and pick up the Tuesday print edition of the Emporia Gazette for a full story.
barefooting (anonymous) says...
I hope Menu stays here.
August 9, 2010 at 12:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Well, I said on another thread that I had acquired information that Menu was experiencing a substantial downturn in business after the melamine poisoning incident and that they were not really hiring any or very few full time workers and were only hiring people at $7.50 per hr., with no guarantees of ever being given full time worker status at full pay, any time soon. Thus I believe that Menu was and has been looking to get out of some of its manufacturing facilities and downsize for some time now.
I really don' t know what the new owners have in mind, but unless the economy of the Country picks up and does so quickly, I am afraid more businsesses and manufacturers may also fall by the way side . But that will not deter the spend and tax wizards of Emporia to even think about cutting back and being a lot more conservative. It will be spend and tax as usual for the Kings and Queens of Emporia.
I and others have been labeled as being " Negative ", " Destroying or Destroyers " of Emporia, as well as some other choice names and labels by the Kings, Queens and governing body of Emporia .
The Kings, Queens and governing body by way of their spend and tax policies are doing a pretty good job of " Destroying Emporia, all by themselves, without help from the likes of myself and others. The Kings, Queens and governing body of Emporia are going to destroy Emporia and its taxpayers, thru their needless and at times reckless spend and tax policies and all for the sake of trying to make Emporia into some of the other larger Cities they worship. I don' t believe thes rulers of Emporia will ever grasp the idea that, they, the governing body of Emporia nor the taxpayers of Emporia will ever be able to compete on the same level for businesses, industry, etc. with the larder Citys ... for the simple fact that those larger cities have a larger jobs, business, industry, manufacturing and tax base to draw disposable revenue from, by 3, 5 even 10 times the size of Emporias jobs, business, industry , manufacturing and tax base. Therefore Emporia and its taxpayers cannot possibly hope to even come close to competing with the likes of Wichita, Manhattan, Topeka, Lawrence, Olathe, Kansas City, etc.
August 9, 2010 at 3:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tell (anonymous) says...
Emporian's do you think the almighty RDA didn't know about this? Scammed again.
August 9, 2010 at 3:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dale011 (anonymous) says...
Menu folks knew the company was up for sale, just not the timing or other specifics. We'll just all have to wait and see what happens, but look for the Emporia plant to remain open and making pet food.
August 9, 2010 at 4:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Exactly Tell . Why else do you think the RDA, Emporians for growth and the City Commission pushed so hard for a sales tax extension ?
The RDA, Emporians for Growth, City Commission and others are all a very tight knit bunch and what one knows they all know, but will share nothing with the taxpayers. Except that the taxpayers will be paying extended and more taxes, that they will share and demand .
If I knew sometime ago that Menu was in trouble, you can be assured that the RDA, Emporians for Growth, City Commission and others knew also, possibly even before I knew . Very sneaky, underhanded and untrustworthy people you have, running Emporia.
August 9, 2010 at 4:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Well, the good Lord willing the new owners will keep our plant open, maybe even expand it. Sounds like a small privately owned company that has a plant in a small town of 14000 in ARK. According to their website that plant employees 1800 workers. The company also makes cans at a plant in OK.
On the down side this deal sounds erriely like when Proliance bought the Modine plant here in Emporia, and we know how that turned out.
I am hoping for the best.
August 9, 2010 at 4:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tell (anonymous) says...
Yes but if the plant is sold the equipment will not be taxable . Emporia will never recover all thats been paid out in abatements.
August 9, 2010 at 5:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Tell, what do you mean? I thought the equipment tax abatement was a state deal. Am I wrong?
August 9, 2010 at 5:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sail (anonymous) says...
+ simmons now has about 5300 total employees, this will be a jewell for them I look for good to come out of this.
August 9, 2010 at 7:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
When Camoplast bought out Caterpillar's trac-belt man. facility, it was a good thing. They could sell to anyone while Caterpillar could only sell the belts with their own equipment or through farm implement retailers. Maybe the Simmons name is trusted enough that sales will increase and this plant can grow too. Just trying to be optimistic, but I do realize that it wasn't such a happy ending with the Didde and Modine buy-outs.
How's that Harley Davidson recruitment going?
August 9, 2010 at 8:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
oh4theluvof, etc.
I haven' t heard anything yet, the letter I sent probably didn' t arrive until today, so I will give it a little time. But I will let you know as soon as I get any kind of response.. But, there is the possibility that I will not hear anything.
I will give it a little while longer then send another letter, don' t want to seem too pushy or desperate . If I get no response to a second letter. I may try a telephone call and see if that does any good. Harley Davidson USA apparantely does not have a toll free number to call, but that makes no difference I will make the call anyway .
August 9, 2010 at 8:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
oh4theluvof
You are right about the Didde and Modine deals. But sometimes companys buy other companies castoffs just to gain a " Loss, write off "for tax purposes, etc. I am not saying that is the purpose of this purchase, but it does happen and possibly more often than anyone would like to admit.
I am a little suspect of a small company making a $ 250 million purchase in this economic climate and especially now.
Simmons Pet Foods Inc., has only been in business for 6 years . See the following,
Is this your company?
Claim This Profile
Simmons Pet Food, Inc
316 N Hico Street
Siloam Springs, AR 72761-2806 map
Phone:(479) 524-8151Website:Information not found Ads by Google
Wichita Coupons 1 ridiculously huge coupon a day. It's like doing Wichita at 90% off!The ads are not affiliated with Simmons Pet Food, Inc
About Simmons Pet Food, Inc
Is this your company? Claim This Profile Simmons Pet Food, Inc is a private company categorized under Boys Clothing and Furnishings Stores and located in Siloam Springs, AR. Our records show it was established in 2004 and incorporated in Arkansas.
Simmons Pet Food, Inc Business InformationLocation Type Headquarters
Annual Sales (Estimated) Information not found
Employees (Estimated) 430
At this location
280
SIC Code 2047, Dog and Cat Food
NAICS Code 311111, Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing
Products, Services
and Brands Information not found
State of Incorporation Arkansas
Source: http://www.manta.com/c/mmlqtwd/simmon...
August 9, 2010 at 9:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
More info about Simmons Foods Inc.
Simmons Foods, Inc.
SnapshotPeople
Company Overview
Simmons Foods, Inc., a business-to-business poultry company, engages in processing, packaging, and distributing chicken products for foodservice and retail markets. It offers ready to cook, frozen or fresh, marinated, glazed, grill marked, and breaded chicken products, as well as fully cooked products, such as breast and thigh strips, breaded wings/drums, unbreaded whole muscles, breaded/glazed wings, breaded tender/fillets, breast fillets, and formed breaded products. The company also provides pet food and ingredients, as well as custom products. It offers its products to restaurant chains and mass merchandisers in the United States and internationally. The company was founded in 1949 and i...
Simmons Foods, Inc., a business-to-business poultry company, engages in processing, packaging, and distributing chicken products for foodservice and retail markets. It offers ready to cook, frozen or fresh, marinated, glazed, grill marked, and breaded chicken products, as well as fully cooked products, such as breast and thigh strips, breaded wings/drums, unbreaded whole muscles, breaded/glazed wings, breaded tender/fillets, breast fillets, and formed breaded products. The company also provides pet food and ingredients, as well as custom products. It offers its products to restaurant chains and mass merchandisers in the United States and internationally. The company was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. It has facilities in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
Hide Detailed Description
601 North Hico Street
Siloam Springs, AR 72761
United States
Founded in 1949
Phone:
479-524-8151
Fax:
479-524-6562
www.simmonsfoods.com
Key Executives
Mr. Lindy M. Pilgrim
Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Todd Simmons
President
Mr. Mark Simmons
Founder and Chairman of the Board
Compensation as of Fiscal Year 2010.
Key developments for Simmons Foods, Inc.
Continued
August 9, 2010 at 9:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
marko (anonymous) says...
M. be sure to send H. Davidson a copy of the O magazine ad. It may impress them.
August 9, 2010 at 9:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Continued
Key developments for Simmons Foods, Inc.
Arkansas Poultry Companies Provides Update on Their Law Suit
05/14/2009
A lower court's decision to let farmers keep using poultry litter as fertilizer in the Illinois River watershed was correct, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver ruled May 13, 2009. Representatives of poultry companies with operations in Arkansas, who were sued by Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson in 2005, applauded the appellate court's decision about a preliminary injunction. Edmondson accuses the companies of polluting the watershed by spreading litter. It's one aspect of the federal lawsuit filed against Simmons Foods Inc.; Tyson Foods Inc.; Cargill Inc.; Cobb-Vantress Inc.; George's Inc.; Peterson Farms Inc.; Willow Brook Foods Inc.; and Cal-Maine Foods Inc. The case is set for trial in Tulsa, beginning Sept. 21.
Poultry Companies Ask Federal Court to Dismiss a Lawsuit
11/1/2008
Arkansas poultry companies asked a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit against them because Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson failed to involve the Cherokee Nation as a party. The motion is the eight poultry companies latest move in a fight against a lawsuit filed by Edmondson in 2005. The lawsuit accuses the companies of polluting the Illinois River and its watershed. The 99-mile river starts in Northwest Arkansas and crosses into Oklahoma south of Siloam Springs. In the filing, Springdalebased Tyson Foods Inc. and the other poultry companies claim Edmondson 'overlooks the wellestablished fact that the federal government transferred all of the water and other natural resources within the Oklahoma portion of the Illinois River watershed to the Cherokee Nation before Oklahoma became a state' in 1907. The companies that Edmondson sued are Tyson Foods Inc., Simmons Foods Inc., Cargill Inc., Cobb-Vantress Inc., George's Inc., Peterson Farms Inc., Willow Brook Foods Inc. and Cal-Maine Foods Inc.
Source: http://investing.businessweek.com/res...
August 9, 2010 at 9:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Don' t get me wrong, I sincerely hope that this deal works out great for Emporia . However I am the type person that wants to know all I can about a Company that is considering moving into town. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly .
August 9, 2010 at 9:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
Hopefully it's a company looking to expand its diversification interests by doing more pet food. From the sounds of it, that has been secondary to the other things, so probably a result of needing to deal with the by-products from their human food products. Maybe they heard of Menu's difficulties and saw an opportunity to acquire up-to-date and working facilities to expand into the pet food market while it's affordable to do.
Thanks for the info and the recruitment efforts, methusla!
August 9, 2010 at 9:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
You know I just thought of something. Kansas is known as the Wheat State.
Is Arkansas known as the Chicken State ?
August 9, 2010 at 9:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
spectator (anonymous) says...
Lord knows I'd love for this to work for the betterment of the City because we really need the boost.
But our history implies otherwise: we have a huge, never used, building just west of Menu, we have an under construction for a long time but in nasty financial difficulties biodiesel plant and who knows what else that was given massive incentives aka money fronted by the City aka the taxpayers. Not to mention a mall that is almost empty, an empty Big Lots building and Modine.
Hills was going to hire how many locals to work there? That didn't happen either.
Oh and don't forget the Wendy's promised for over 2 years that will never be constructed.
Like I said, I'd love for this to work but I'll believe it when I see it.
August 9, 2010 at 9:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tbluma (anonymous) says...
Meth
I think it's time to be a little more positive here. How about the glass is half full instead of half empty?
I really don't see the purpose of listing lawsuits for pollution related to chicken litter, for ex.
How about going to
simmons pet food,inc@simfoods.com. for instance?
This site lists what products the pet food co. makes etc.
How about saying, gee they have a can producing co., maybe they'll put the building to the west of Menu to use also,(since Menu owns it) wasn't that the original purpose of the building?
While I agree it's good to know the good, the bad and the ugly, as you said, I don't believe you posted much good.
August 10, 2010 at 1:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tbluma (anonymous) says...
The web site is
simmons pet food, inc@simfoods.com.
not the way it's highlighted above.
August 10, 2010 at 1:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
http://www.simmonspetfood.com/
August 10, 2010 at 1:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
tbluma, what you posted is an e-mail address. Here's the web site:
http://simmonspetfood.com/
August 10, 2010 at 1:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Web site look promising although it isn't very updated which is a minor concern. The most updated news on it is from 2008. No biggie though. Hopefully soon it will have the updated news of their acquisition of the Emporia plant and their massive plans to expand it's operation. :-)
August 10, 2010 at 1:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
tbluma, you are right.
No matter what happens with this acquisition, we can't do much but hope for the best.
August 10, 2010 at 3:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
SO WELCOME TO EMPORIA , SIMMONS PET FOOD.
August 10, 2010 at 3:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tbluma (anonymous) says...
Create
Yeah I'm not much good at cut and pasting.
I typed in the whole thing but the simmions pet food part should be highlighted also.
To old for this computer crap
August 10, 2010 at 8:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )