BUSINESSMEN, OFFICIALS TAKE P&G VIP TOUR

Cape Girardeau business leaders, area legislators and city and county officials had a close-up look at products manufactured by Procter & Gamble Paper Products Co. during a VIP tour and luncheon Thursday.

The Cape Girardeau plant, one of only two in the nation that produces Pampers disposable diapers, is observing its 25 anniversary this year.

"We have enjoyed 25 years of outstanding successes at this plant," said Joe Doner, manager of the facility 15 miles north of Cape Girardeau at Highway 177 and Route J. "We're pleased that everybody here took the time to help us celebrate the 25th anniversary of our operation.

"It's our sincere desire to add another 25 years to our operation in Cape Girardeau," said Doner, who has been with the company since 1978, and has managed the plant here since May 1993.

Doner said he was concerned about competition from private-label suppliers who "have improved quality and kept prices low. But our vision is to be the preferred provider of disposable products, and I'm optimistic that we will continue to be successful."

Doner, who started with P&G at the Cape Girardeau plant and worked here seven years before transferring, discussed the operations of the plant.

Wal-Mart is the local plant's No. 1 customer, said Doner. "We sell directly to Wal-Mart."

The local plant manufactures Pampers, Pampers Trainers and Luvs disposable diapers, and Always, a feminine hygiene product.

"We ship out up to 100 truckloads of products every day," said Doner. "We have two railroad tracks that enter our warehouse, which is capable of holding eight railroad cars that deliver raw materials to the plant."

The facility has more than 30 acres under roof, consisting of production areas, warehousing, office space, cafeteria, medical areas, employee locker rooms, and maintenance and training facilities.

With more than 1,300 employees, the firm has the largest payroll in Southeast Missouri, exceeding $50 million a year.

"We have had numerous high points during our 25 years here," said Doner. They include:

-- Twenty five years of safe operations without a fatality.

-- Only one layoff. Those people were later brought back as the plant expanded.

-- Since startup, the company has paid out almost $1 billion in the local payroll.

-- More than $1.8 million has been contributed to the local United Way and other charitable organizations by the company and employees.

-- Twenty-four P&G scholarships have been awarded to children of employees at the plant.

-- More than $240 million has been paid in state and local taxes.

-- Involvement by P&G employees in city councils, school boards, Adopt-A-School programs, United way and other organizations. Nine P&G employees have served on the Area Wide United Way board, including Doner and previous plant managers Jim Bowman, J. Ron Miller, and Bob Empie.

-- Positive impact on growth and development of numerous other local businesses, including Miltenberger & Willing, a plastics packaging manufacturer; Saueressig Engineering, producer of screen printing cylinders; Lenertz Warehouse, Walhco-Quality Packaging and Lipps and Gilder Trucking.

-- The purchase of more than $145 million from Missouri suppliers, much of it in Southeast Missouri.