Ardagh partnering on new bottle

Ardagh Group is partnering to manufacture another new type of bottle.

Ardagh, which operates glass container manufacturing plants in Dunkirk and Winchester, this week announced that it has partnered with Lenny Boy Brewing Co. to introduce a new kombucha bottle.

The bottles for kombucha, a fermented tea, will be 14 ounces. They will be produced in Wilson, North Carolina.

“Ardagh is pleased to expand its portfolio for the craft beverage industry and enjoys collaborating with brands like Lenny Boy Brewing Co. to create glass packaging that showcases and protects the flavor, freshness and integrity of our customers’ products,” said John T Shaddox, chief commercial officer for Ardagh Group’s North American glass division.

With the addition of the bottle for Lenny Boy, Ardagh now offers four kombucha bottles ranging from 12 ounces to 48 ounces in a variety of designs.



Masks required

Following Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s order Wednesday, The Commercial Review will require customers to wear masks when entering the building.

Employees who are working with customers will be wearing masks as well.

For those customers who prefer not to wear a mask, bills can be paid with a credit card via phone at (260) 726-8141. Payments can also be dropped through our mail slot.



Launching virtual

Indiana Farm Bureau will launch an “Adopt a Classroom” program this fall as part of an effort to provide agriculture education in schools.

Farm Bureau’s goal with the program is to offer education without sending volunteers into classrooms. Volunteers will instead interact virtually through live or recorded video lessons, letters and photos. They may also provide classroom activity kits.

Volunteers will be able to adopt classrooms in their home counties.

“We have a wide network of volunteers across the state who love teaching children about farming and where their food comes from,” said Indiana Farm Bureau education coordinator Lindi Kocher. “We’re thrilled to be able to continue that important education virtually.”

For more information, visit infb.org/INFBAgEd/adoptaclassroom.



Solarize meeting set

Solarize Indiana will hold a Zoom meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday about installing solar panels at homes or businesses.

The organization will provide a 30-minute presentation to be followed by a question-and-answer session. It will include information about how to take advantage of federal tax credits, which will expire at the end of 2021.

The event is open to the public.

Those interested in participating must pre-register at facebook.com/solarizeECI or by emailing [email protected].



Giving away

The Cellular Connection will hold its annual School Rocks Backpack Giveaway from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.

TCC locations, including the site at 922 N. Meridian St., Portland, will invite families to pick up backpacks filled with pencils, paper, folders, glue and other school supplies. There is a limit of one backpack per child, though children do not have to be present.

Social distancing guidelines will be followed.



Going green

NextEra Energy will close its last coal-fired power unit as part of plans to construct its first “green” hydrogen facility.

NextEra, which operates Bluff Point Wind Energy Center in southern Jay County and northern Randolph County, will propose a $65 million project in Florida, Green Tech Media reported this week. The new facility would use a 20-megawatt electrolyzer to produce 100% “green” hydrogen from solar power.

The project could be online as early as 2023.

“We’re really excited about hydrogen, in particular when we think about getting not to a net-zero emissions profile but actually to a zero-emissions carbon profile,” NextEra Energy CFO Rebecca Kujawa said on an earnings call last week.



Case number jumps

The number of cases involved in a coronavirus outbreak at a Tyson Foods processing plant in Iowa was more severe than previously known, the Des Moines Register reported this week.

Records obtained by the newspaper via open records law showed that 522 employees of the plant tested positive for COVID-19. Iowa State Department of Public Health put the number at 221 during a May 5 news conference.



Subway requests

Subway has changed its corporate policy and is asking customers to not open carry firearms in its restaurants, The Raleigh News & Observer reported this week.

The sandwich shop chain based in Connecticut changed its policy on its website.

“Subway respectfully requests that guests (other than authorized law enforcement) refrain from openly displaying firearms inside restaurants — even in states where ‘open carry’ is permitted,” the policy states.



DG schedules

Dollar General announced in a press release this week that it will hold its 2020 Supplier and Diversity Innovation Summit Sept. 16.

The event will be held virtually in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. It will be open to suppliers, companies and manufacturers with a registration deadline of Aug. 7.

“Respecting the dignity and differences of others is a core value and cultural cornerstone of Dollar General, and this year’s Supplier and Diversity Innovation Summit reflects our ongoing efforts to offer the right products for each unique customer and community we serve,” said Johné Battle, Dollar General’s vice president of diversity and inclusion, in a press release. “We are proud to serve a diverse consumer base throughout the communities we call home and look forward to the opportunity to find more relevant products to meet their needs.”



Working to eliminate

Target has joined the Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag, an effort founded by CVS Health and Walmart to eliminate single-use plastic bags.

The group has a goal of implementing alternative designs for the single-use retail bag. Plans call for consortium members to invest more than $15 million in the effort.

“We believe in serving our guests and communities with actions that reduce our footprint on the planet,” Target vice president of corporate responsibility Amanda Nusz said in a press release. “We’re proud to partner with Closed Loop Partners and other leading retailers to take on a challenge facing the entire industry, and we welcome others to join us in this collective effort as we aim to design a better solution.”



Partnering

Walgreens has announced a partnership with DoorDash for home delivery.

The service is already available in Chicago, Atlanta and Denver, with plans to Cincinnati, Cleveland, Minneapolis and elsewhere. It includes most items that can be purchased at Walgreens, but delivery of prescription medication is not allowed.



McDonald's investigated

A U.S. Department of Labor investigation has found that a North Carolina company that runs a dozen McDonald’s locations has been violating child labor laws.

Fox Business reported that the investigation shows Mt. Airy Partners violated regulations by having 14- and 15-year-old employees and allowing them to work beyond the hours allowed. The company paid a penalty of more than $17,500.