Quaker Oats To Sell Frozen Foods Business

Quaker Oats Co. put its North American frozen foods business, including Aunt Jemima and Celeste pizza products, up for sale Tuesday as it focuses on revitalizing its troubled Snapple beverage line.

The business, whose Aunt Jemima brand line holds a leading position in the frozen-breakfast market, is profitable but analysts said its market share has slipped. Quaker said it wanted sell the business to concentrate on its beverage and cereal lines.

“Though frozen foods is a good business, it is not a core business for the Quaker Oats Co.,” Quaker chairman and chief executive William D. Smithburg said in a statement.