Quaker signs will be replaced by Pepsico at Cedar Rapids plant

CEDAR RAPIDS - The familiar Quaker Oats neon signs will continue to shine atop the Cedar Rapids plant, but Pepsico signs will replace the familiar name and logo Wednesday on other areas of the world's largest cereal mill.

Phil Garland, president of Nesper Sign Co. in Cedar Rapids, said the landmark red letters are the last remaining “Quaker Oats” signs on top of any Quaker plant in the nation.

“Everything that says ‘Quaker' will come down except for those letters,” Garland said. “There's three pretty good size signs at the entrance to the plant that will come down. There's some 20-foot-tall letters that face downtown with the blue Quaker logo and they will come down Wednesday.

“All the directional signs and small signs throughout the plant also will come down. We're doing a plant in Columbia, Mo., today as well as a plant in Danville, Ill., on Wednesday.”

Aurora Gonzalez, a Quaker Oats spokeswoman, said the changes involve updating the signs to reflect Pepsico's ownership.

“We decided to update the signs at the Cedar Rapids plant along with the construction,” Gonzalez said.

Quaker Oats is installing flood protection at the plant, which sustained damage in June 2008 when the Cedar River crested at a record 31.12 feet.

Pepsico of Purchase, N.Y., bought Chicago-based Quaker Oats in August 2001. The Cedar Rapids plant employs more than 1,000 associates.