Golden Grain To Close Seattle Plant, Lay Off 57

SEATTLE - The Golden Grain pasta plant on Fourth Avenue South will close by fall, eliminating 57 jobs and shifting production of pasta and rice products to a plant in Illinois.

Parent company Quaker Oats said the plant needs heavy investment in higher-output equipment to make it competitive. "In the long run," said Mark Shapiro, president of Golden Grain, "shifting production makes the best economic and business sense."

Golden Grain is one of the leading brands on the West Coast. A distribution center will remain here for its products, such as Rice-a-Roni, Near East rice and pasta products, and the popular Golden Grain/Mission pasta, rice and beans.