Dollar General opens in Redkey

Dollar General is now open in Redkey. 

The new store is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and is located on Indiana 67 just west of its intersection with Indiana 1. The chain already has locations in Portland, Geneva, Ridgeville and Fort Recovery. 

Redkey Town Council announced that the business was coming to the town in June, and groundbreaking for the store began later in the summer. 



Earned millions

The president and chief executive officer of Tyson Foods Inc., parent company of Tyson Mexican Original of Portland, earned $8.9 million in 2017, the website Arkansas Online reported this week.

Tom Hayes is actually the second-highest paid executive at the company this year. John Tyson, chairman of the board, earned $10.4 million.

The website said the figures came from a Securities and Exchange Commission filing this week.



Chamber news 

Jay County’s government representatives will answer questions next month. 

Sen. Travis Holdman (R-Markle) and District 33 Rep. Greg Beumer (R-Modoc) will visit Portland at 10 a.m. Jan. 13 at the Community Resource Center, 118 S. Meridian St. They will discuss legislation that is before the General Assembly and will answer questions. 

The Jay County Chamber of Commerce will also hosting its annual membership meeting  from noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 25, at Jay Community Center, 115 E. Water St., Portland. To make a reservation by Jan. 19, call the chamber at (260) 726-4481. 



Selling shares

Reuters reported Friday that Walgreens Boots Alliance will sell a 30-percent stake in a Chinese pharmaceutical wholesaling joint venture to its partner, Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings Co. Ltd.

They had formed a joint venture in 2008 as a 50-50 partnership. Following the sale, Walgreens will own 20 percent of the joint venture.



Pay Less 

A former Marsh store has reopened in Muncie under the Pay Less banner. 

The new store at 1500 W. McGalliard Road, Muncie, opened Dec. 14, with hundreds of shoppers flocking to the renovated supermarket, The (Muncie) Star Press reported. Pay Less is a subsidiary of Kroger, which bought two stores in Muncie from Marsh’s bankruptcy sale in June. 

Kroger invested $4.8 million in renovations to the store. 



Budget app 

Walmart has introduced financial services for its employees, offering paycheck advances and help with budgeting. 

The company announced last week it had collaborated with Even and PayActiv, Silicon Valley financial technology startups. Employees can get advances on their paychecks up to eight times a year for free. The app also connects to the employees’ payment accounts and can automatically subtract expected expenses to help with financial planning. 

The tools are free for all hourly and salaried employees, the company said in a press release. 



Non-renewal  

Tyson Foods Inc. has decided not to renew its membership in the Grocery Manufacturers Association in 2018, FoodNavigator-USA recently reported. 

The Grocery Manufacturers Association is a trade association for food and beverage manufacturers. Campbell Soup, Nestlé, Dean Foods, Unilever and Mars have also recently announced their departure from the association. Tyson did not give a detailed reason for leaving. 

Tyson is the parent company of Tyson Mexican Original in Portland. 



CIO departs

CVS’ chief information officer has stepped down to pursue other opportunities. 

Stephen J. Gold, who worked as CIO for CVS since 2012, is leaving to pursue other professional opportunities, Rhode Island Public Radio reported last week.

The move is unrelated to the company’s plans to purchase health insurer Aetna. 



Bonuses

Comcast is giving its employees $1,000 bonuses this year. 

Brian L. Roberts, chairman and CEO of Comcast, announced that in light of the passage of the tax reform and the FCC’s action on net neutrality, the company would give more than 100,000 frontline and non-executive employees special bonuses. 



Factory closing 

A Richmond automotive parts manufacturer will close in August, the (Richmond) Palladium-Item reported.

Janeseville Acoustics, which manufactures insulation for vehicles, will have its first job cuts in February. By August, all 67 of the plant’s employees will have lost their jobs.

Jason Industries, the plant’s parent company, has eight other factories that will not be affected by the close. Jason Industries and the plant had received close to $9 million in tax credits and abatements from the city, county and state. 



Carnivore alert

Food and Wine reported this week that Arby’s will be giving away meat sweatsuits — sweatsuits covered with printed images of meat — as part of a new promotion.

“Share a photo or video of yourself on social media enjoying meat — grilling, broiling, cutting, or otherwise cooking up your favorite variety — and you might attract Arby’s attention. If the team at the fast-food chain loves your public display of meat affection enough they might just send the meat sweat suit over to you,” Food and Wine said.

The magazine’s website continued, “This piece of food fashion really does — perhaps too passionately — display a love of Arby’s meat. There are some very close-up shots of meat slices on the hoodie and accompanying pants. Only true meat fanatics should even consider vying for a chance to own one of these suits. It will likely take a lot of courage to wear in public.”