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Ross Products to Move into EAS Division

Posted on: Friday, 12 August 2005, 00:00 CDT

Aug. 12--Ross Products will move its EAS division and an undetermined number of jobs to Columbus by the end of the year.

EAS, based in Golden, Colo., has 115 employees and has been part of Ross since 2004, when it was acquired by Ross parent Abbott Laboratories for $320 million.

At the time of the acquisition, Ross officials hinted that some EAS operations could move to Columbus.

EAS makes health and fitness supplements under brand names such as Body for Life and Myoplex. Its products are used by the National Football League.

Ross President Gary McCullough said the consolidation will involve administrative, marketing and research-and-development positions.

"We're going to bring jobs here,'' he said. "We have made offers to people in a number of different functions to move to Columbus. If they chose not to move, then those jobs still will come.''

Ross officials said the consolidation will begin in the fall and occur gradually over the next few quarters. Ross will maintain an EAS office in Golden, Colo.

EAS products will continue to be made by third-party manufacturers in several Western states and will not be shifted to Columbus "at this time,'' Ross spokeswoman Tracey Noe said.

Ross makes Ensure, Similac and other supplements at its plant on Cleveland Avenue.

Noe said Ross also is closing EAS distribution centers in Indianapolis and Salt Lake City and will merge those into the Ross distribution network. The company did not disclose the job losses, but 23 are employed in Indianapolis and 16 in Salt Lake City.

"There are certain efficiencies we gain by bringing things together,'' McCullough said.

Noe said the consolidation also will improve service to retail customers. "They will work with one core sales team,'' she said. "These changes will make it easier for retailers to do business with us.'' Ross has 2,500 employees in central Ohio and 5,700 companywide.

The consolidation follows the company's announcement in May to eliminate 400 jobs, most at the plant in Columbus, as part of a realignment of manufacturing. Some cuts were made at administrative and research offices near Easton.

Information from The Denver Post was used in this story.

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ABT,

Source: The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio

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