Û¢ Û¢ ÐÊ Wednesday, August 13, 1986 G3
The Quaker Oats Co. yesterday said it plans to sell its specialty retailing divisionÛÓincluding Baltimore-based Jos. A. Bank ClothiersÛÓto concentrate on its grocery and toy businesses.</br></br>Quaker also will sell the 25-store Brookstone business, a retailer and mail-order marketer of tools and homewares, and Eyelab, a 62-store optical products chain.</br></br>On the New York Stock Exchange yesterday, Quaker shares closed at $82.75, up $1.75 on trading of 292,000 shares.</br></br>The company, which is based in Chicago, has retained Goldman, Sachs and Co. and Salomon Bros. Inc. to find a buyer. The asking price was not disclosed.</br></br>The specialty retail division had sales of $216.8 million for the year that ended June 30, accounting for about 6 percent of Quaker's revenue and about 4 percent of profits.