May 20, 2016 at 7:36 p.m.
EPA doesn't satisfy ethanol industry
Business Roundup
The Environmental Protection Agency made some moves this week to increase renewable fuel volume obligations, but those moves did not go far enough to please the ethanol and biofuels industry.
“While the proposed numbers from EPA are trending in the right direction, they once again fail to acknowledge the existing capabilities of the biofuels industry and fuel retailers in meeting the goals of the Renewable Fuel Standard,” said Jeff Broin, chief executive officer of POET Biorefining, in a prepared statement.
“Congress called for 15 billion gallons of ethanol from corn starting in 2016. The industry is capable of meeting that goal not just in 2017 but right now, today. Similarly, the infrastructure exists to get these clean fuels to market. The EPA is preventing this industry from meeting its potential and endangering the expansion of cellulosic ethanol.
“EPA’s core mission is to protect public health and the environment. Today, with this proposed rule, it has failed that mission. Biofuels replace cancer-causing agents in gasoline and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The only way to expand these benefits is to allow the market to grow. Consumers deserve the right to choose higher blends of biofuels like ethanol at the pump.
“The EPA must amend these numbers to reflect the full volume for corn ethanol use laid out in statute.”
POET is the parent company of POET Biorefining-Portland.
Kaups honored
Jerry and Lorri Kaup, owners of Kaup Pharmacy in Fort Recovery, were the recipients of the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award from Ohio Statre University.
The awarded is presented annually to alumni of the College of Pharmacy at OSU.
The Kaups have owned their business in Fort Recovery for 36 years and now have five full-service pharmacies in Indiana and Ohio, a custom compounding division, a medical equipment division, and a specialty pharmacy division.
They employ more than 100.
Job fair
Swiss Village in Berne is hosting a job fair for certified nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, May 23.
Under fire
Tyson Foods Inc., parent company of Portland’s Tyson Mexican Original, found itself under fire this week from Oxfam America, a human rights organization.
Oxfam alleged in a report released Wednesday that workers in some large poultry producers’ plants — including Tyson — must resort to wearing diapers while working on the processing line because they are denied restroom breaks.
Pilgrim’s Pride, Perdue Farms, and Sanderson Farms were also targeted in the Oxfam report.
But Tyson strongly denied the report.
“We value our team members and treat them with respect,” the company said in a prepared statement. “We are concerned about these anonymous claims, and while we currently have no evidence they’re true, are checking to make sure our position on restroom breaks is being followed and our team members’ needs are being met.
“We also already use an
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independent audit firm to assess working conditions in our plants to make sure our team members are being treated with dignity. The auditors interview dozens of workers and focus on areas like worker treatment, compensation and safety.”
Revenue grows
Walmart reported this week its quarterly revenue had risen 0.9 percent.
That exceeded analysts’ forecasts in the current tough retail environment.
“We’re improving our stores, adding critical capabilities and deepening relationships with customers,” Doug McMillon, Walmart’s president and chief executive, said told reporters this week.
New designs
Taco Bell this week announced a new line of restaurant designs to “reflect diverse community experiences.” It is a part of the brand’s broader expansion plan to launch 2,000 new restaurants by 2022.
Taco Bell, a division of Yum Brands along with KFC and Pizza Hut, will test four new designs taking into account the communities in which these will operate. The four new designs are dubbed “Heritage,” “Modern Explorer,” “California Sol” and “Urban Edge.”
The four finalized designs will make their debut in Orange County, California, soon.
Last year, Taco Bell opened more than 275 new restaurants and re-modeled about 600 more.
Kroc featured
A new film in the works will focus on McDonald’s founder and longtime leader Ray Kroc.
Michael Keaton will be portraying Kroc in “The Founder.” The film is set for release on Aug. 5 by the Weinstein Company.
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