honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, May 4, 2007

Maui Pine writing off $4.1 million

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Property developer and pineapple grower Maui Land & Pineapple Co. yesterday said in a regulatory filing it will pay about $4.1 million in charges and expenses to discontinue its solid-pack pineapple processing business and cut 120 jobs.

On Tuesday, the company said it will consolidate its pineapple operations to focus on fresh-fruit sales and stop processing solid-pack canned pineapple products at its Kahului cannery as of June 30. The move will eliminate 120 jobs, or 27 percent of the company's work force, although affected workers will be offered jobs in other divisions of the company.

Maui Land & Pineapple attributed the decision to end canning operations to higher costs of fuel, materials and labor and increased competition from foreign producers. The move ends more than 100 years of canning pineapple in Hawai'i.

The costs include $1.6 million for severance payments and $2.5 million for the write-off of fixed assets, materials and supplies, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The company has not yet determined the effect on its pension and other post-retirement plans.

Shares rose 4 cents to close at $34.38 on the American Stock Exchange. The stock has traded between $29.27 and $39.10 over the past year.