Preparing for Paul's Departure ...

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What happens when a company's eponymous founder and celebrity spokesman transitions out of the business?

Executives at food company Newman's Own may soon be addressing that issue, as 83-year-old founder Paul Newman reportedly struggles with cancer. The actor told friends as far back as 18 months ago that he was battling the disease ... Recently, Newman pulled out of directing a stage production of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. (Newman's representatives have avoided directly commenting on the actor's alleged diagnosis, deflecting queries by emphasizing that he is doing well and is "not going anywhere.")

Newman's uncertain health and advanced age raise questions about the strategic direction of the food company Newman launched in 1982, with a salad dressing first mixed in the basement of the horse barn on his Connecticut property. Today, the company has a staff of 28 and an independent management team ... But Paul Newman remains tightly entwined with the brand image of his namesake company - his face is the logo on all of its products ...

At Newman's Own, Paul Newman is still involved in product development, according to senior vice president of marketing Mike Havard. Paul stopped by the company's Westport, Conn., headquarters in December for the final taste testing of the new line of cereals ...

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I love ALL Newman's Own products. I just did a quick survey of my kitchen and I have in my cupboards at this very moment:

- Six (yes, six) boxes of Newman's Royal Black Tea (I know of only one store in the vicinity that carries the tea so I tend to overbuy just in case.)
- Newman's popcorn
- Newman's pretzels (four bags ... see above)
- Newman's salad dressing, and
- Newman's organic california prunes

The great thing about Newman's Own products is that buying them is practically like giving to a charity, so why buy any other brand? At least, that is what I believe.