Keebler's Hollow Tree Tripling Size in Chicago

---

Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). Keebler Company (Elmhurst, Illinois), a division of Kellogg Company (NYSE: K) (Battle Creek, Michigan), is underway with an $18.8 million expansion effort that will triple the size of their bakery operation on South Langley Avenue in Chicago.

Keebler acquired an existing 75,000 square foot building and will construct an additional 114,000 square foot building to tie the two structures together, bringing the entire operation on Langley to about 267,000 square feet.

The company is utilizing Simgborg Development Incorporated (Homewood, Illinois) as the general contractor for the project that is expected to be completed by January of 2003.

The main bakery has been used to produce ice cream cones but the company plans to relocate a piecrust line from a plant in Michigan and will relocate all operations from the 37th Street bakery, which produces ice cream cones as well, once the new bakery is ready for occupancy.

The new development will retain the 321 full-time jobs in Chicago and create approximately 75 new jobs.

Founded in 1853, Keebler Company is the second largest cookie and cracker manufacturer in the United States. The company produces and distributes a broad line of cookie and cracker products, as well as other consumer food products.

In March 2001, Keebler was acquired by Kellogg Company, the world's leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience foods, including toaster pastries, cereal bars, frozen waffles, and meat alternatives.