PepsiCo’s research campus plans in flux, Murdock says
PepsiCo may be putting the brakes on North Carolina Research Campus work because of the economy. When the $1.5 billion Kannapolis complex held its grand opening in October, campus founder and Dole Food owner David Murdock and PepsiCo officials said the company would occupy a 4,000-square-foot lab to study ways to make its products healthier. The soda and food giant was the highest-profile private firm to join the project, which is also home to other private companies and N.C. universities. But Murdock recently told the Salisbury Post that PepsiCo’s plans were “in flux” because of the economy, adding that PepsiCo still wants to join the campus but “we’re not sure what the nature will be.” He had spoken at the groundbreaking for the $26 million, 62,332-square-food biotech facility for Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, which had been delayed for months while Murdock’s development company, Castle and Cooke, worked to secure construction loans. A Castle and Cooke spokesperson could not be reach for comment about PepsiCo, and PepsiCo spokesman David DeCecco declined to comment. The company owns such brands as Pepsi beverages, Frito-Lay and Quaker Oats. Adam Bell Hickory-based firm buys DIY-related brands Hickory-based Shurtape Technologies LLC has bought the do-it-yourself product brands of Duck, Painter’s Mate Green and Easy Linter tape from Henkel AG, the companies said. Henkel’s Avon, Ohio, plant was included in the sale, the companies said. They didn’t disclose financial details of the transaction, which includes the U.S., Canada and some worldwide rights to the brands.Bloomberg News Krispy Kreme posts 1Q profit; plans freebie today Krispy Kreme Doughnuts said Thursday that it turned a first-quarter profit for the second consecutive year. The company had net income of $1.9 million. The company’s first quarter for fiscal year 2010 ended May 3. Although the net income was down 54 percent from a year ago, it was Krispy Kreme’s second profitable quarter in its last five. Before posting $4.1 million in profit in the first quarter of 2009, the company had gone more than three years without a quarterly profit. Jim Morgan, the chairman and CEO of Krispy Kreme, said that although he was pleased with the profitable quarter, “we are not satisfied with (our operating results), and we remain focused on rebuilding the company for the long term.” Krispy Kreme plans to offer one free doughnut to customers today, with no purchase necessary, the company said. In the Charlotte area, the company operates stores in Matthews, Gastonia, Salisbury and Hickory. Winston-Salem Journal
