Gov. Mike Beebe on Wednesday (Jan. 29) announced the following appoints to boards and commissions.

Charles Blanchard, Russellville, reappointed to the Arkansas Tech University Board of Trustees. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2019.

Elizabeth Farris, Hot Springs, reappointed to the University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2021.

Edgar Lee, Chidester, reappointed to the Southern Arkansas University Board of Trustees. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2019.

Bruce Moore, Little Rock, reappointed to the Henderson State University Board of Trustees. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2021.

Ben Pickard, Searcy, to the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Appointment expires May 1, 2016. Replaces Dr. Tim Langford.

Bill Adkins, Russellville, reappointed to the Boiler Advisory Board. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2018.

Dr. Omar Atiq, Little Rock, reappointed to the Arkansas State Medical Board. Appointment expires July 1, 2019.

Bill Barnes, Mount Ida, reappointed to the State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2020.

Jane Christenson, Harrison, reappointed to the Arkansas State Police Commission. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2021.

Gwenn Collins, Russellville, to the Public Health Advisory Board. Appointment expires Nov. 1, 2017. Replaces Jeff Magness.

Donald Cook, North Little Rock, reappointed to the War Memorial Stadium Commission. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2021.

John "Scott" Copas, Little Rock, reappointed to the Contractors Licensing Board. Appointment expires Dec. 31, 2019.

Tom Embach, Mountain Home, reappointed to the Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee. Appointment expires Oct. 12, 2017.

Sheriff Charles "Doc" Holladay, Little Rock, reappointed to the Arkansas Commission of Law Enforcement Standards and Training. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2021.

Stephen "Tom" Hunt, Jacksonville, reappointed to the Waterwell Construction Commission. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2019.

The Honorable Jimmy Jones, Fordyce, reappointed to the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Commission. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2021.

Bob Knight, Mountain Home, reappointed to the State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2020.

Alex Lieblong, Conway, reappointed to the Arkansas Racing Commission. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2019.

Buddy Lovell, Marked Tree, to the Arkansas State Medical Board. Appointment expires Dec. 31, 2019. Replaces Roger Harmon.

Charles "Ed" Mabry, Batesville, reappointed to the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2021.

Mike McDermott, Weiner, reappointed to the Waterwell Construction Commission. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2019.

Dwayne Mays, Blytheville, reappointed to the Arkansas Workforce Investment Board. Appointment expires Aug. 10, 2017.

Kristin Miller, Austin, to the Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council. Appointment expires June 30, 2016. Replaces Aurora Rains.

Thomas "Mickey" Powell, Jr., Batesville, reappointed to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2020.

Robert Sherer, Jr., Ph.D., Little Rock, reappointed to the Arkansas History Commission. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2021.

Elizabeth Small, Little Rock, reappointed to the Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee. Appointment expires Oct. 12, 2017.

Alcinda "Cindy" Smith, McGehee, reappointed to the State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2020.

Dr. Thomas Taylor, Batesville, reappointed to the Arkansas State Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2019.

To the Arkansas Economic Development Commission:
Doug Falls, Jonesboro.
Gene Hill, Camden.
Chester Koprovic, Fort Smith.
Lee Webb, Jr., Fort Smith.
Lang Zimmerman, Mountain Home.

These reappointments expire Jan. 14, 2018.

To the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Board:
Bob Boyd, Little Rock.
Katrina Burnett, Jacksonville.
Janis Harrison, Little Rock.
Dr. Andrew Kumpuris, Little Rock.
Shelby McCook, Sherwood.
Dr. Joe Thompson, Little Rock.
Dr. Tony Thurman, Cabot.

These are new positions and expire Dec. 1, 2017.

Acxiom Corp. saw its third quarter net income rise to $15 million, up from $14.5 million one year ago. Revenues also climbed higher to $277.87 million during the quarter, an improvement from $273.1 million in the previous year.

The Little Rock-based data marketer – which has been downsizing its workforce, realigning its internal operations, and expanding its client offerings – saw higher revenue in two of its three key segments.

• Marketing and Data Services revenue for the third quarter increased 6 percent to $207 million compared to $195 million for the third quarter of last year.

• IT Infrastructure Management revenue was $62 million in the recent quarter, down 11 percent as expected from $70 million in the same period last year.

• Revenue from other services for the third quarter was $9 million, up from $8 million in the comparable prior-year period.

“We are thrilled with the progress made since our release of the Acxiom Audience Operating System,” said Acxiom CEO Scott Howe. “After just four months since launch, we now have more than 30 customers that are implementing or testing one or more aspects of AOS.”

AOS, Audience Operating System, is a new technology for data marketing and insights that Acxiom has developed.

Acxiom’s stock (NASDAQ: ACXM) closed trading on Wednesday at $32.15 per share. The firm’s shares have traded between $16.43 and $38.71 during the past 52 weeks.

Murphy Oil Corp. saw a diminished fourth quarter due to its spin-off of its refinery and retail operations, but its full-year earnings topped $1 billion.

For the fiscal year, Murphy Oil’s 2013 net income cleared $1.12 billion, up from $970.9 million one year ago. In the fourth quarter, the El Dorado-based firm saw profits fall to $75.4 million, down from $158.7 million in 2012′s fourth quarter.

A variety of one-time charges swung earnings lower in the fourth quarter, including lower oil sales prices and higher expenses for the abandonment of operations in the Republic of Congo.

In August 2013, Murphy Oil spun off its refinery and retail operations into a new public company, Murphy USA.

Murphy Oil CEO Roger Jenkins noted that 2013 was a “pivotal year” for the company.

“We distributed to our shareholders all the stock of our former U.S. downstream subsidiary, Murphy USA Inc., which created a significant value enhancement for our shareholders. We also repurchased $500 million of company stock, removing almost eight million shares from the market,” he said.

“Additionally, we continue to progress the disposition of the U.K. downstream business, which is expected in 2014; this will complete the transition of Murphy Oil to an independent exploration and production company.”

Murphy Oil shares closed trading on Wednesday at $60.47. The company’s stock has traded between $50.92 and $66.20 per share during the past year.

Republican Sebastian County Clerk Sharon Brooks is seeking a third term for the office, she announced Thursday (Jan. 30).

A press release from the Brooks campaign highlighted some of the customer service-related improvements that have come to the office since she took office in 2010.

"The County Clerk's office now accepts credit card payments for services both in person and by telephone," the release said. "Phase one of efforts to digitize county records is in progress as one of her major goals. Brooks has implemented a digitized map to better assist voters in locating their precincts, a process which will also help greatly in future redistricting efforts."

The campaign announcement goes to say that Brooks has saved taxpayer dollars by streamlining software systems. She also her office has upgraded its website and "redesigned the G-8 office to better acommodate early voting at the courthouse."

As part of the digitalization efforts in the County Clerk's office, Brooks' campaign announcement included a note about how the office "currently uses spreadsheets instead of ledgers for bookkeeping."

Brooks went on to thank the citizens for her two past terms and to talk about what the future holds in her office.

"I am thankful to the citizens of Sebastian County for every day that I have served as your County Clerk. I have worked diligently to earn and keep your trust in myself as well as my staff. The number one priority of this office is always to serve Sebastian County Citizens and provide you with the information that they seek in a professional, courteous and prompt manner. I will continue to work toward offering access to online records as well as other ways to improve the services offered by the this office. …There is still much to be done in way of improving services to the public and I am looking forward to implementing new ideas in 2014 and beyond."

Ben McLintock has joined Arvest Asset Management as the regional investment officer in the Springdale market in the branch at 3858 South Thompson Ave.

Arvest Bank in Springdale President Lisa Ray made the announcement on today, (Jan. 30).

McLintock most recently worked at Economic Opportunity Agency as director of development for the company’s EOA Children’s House division and in a private office as a law clerk.

His job duties with Arvest Asset Management include developing new and strengthening ongoing customer relationships and assisting customers with reaching their estate planning and investment goals.

“Ben brings a great deal of local knowledge and community connections to the Arvest team along with his specialized education and legal skills,” Ray said. “He is a great addition and we are excited to welcome him to Arvest.”

McLintock received his bachelor’s degree from San Francisco State University in 1999 and his Juris Doctor with an emphasis in tax, transactional and business law in 2013 from the University of Arkansas School of Law.

He is a licensed attorney in Arkansas and holds a Certified Fund Raising Executive credential in recognition of his heightened knowledge, understanding and execution of tax-exempt, tax deferred and tax deductible financial transactions.

McLintock is pursuing his Legum Magister in Taxation Law from the University of Alabama School of Law. He and wife, Kelly Kemp McLintock, have three children and live in Springdale.

Not that Tyson Foods needs the help, but the meat giant could see some benefit from the packing plant closure announced by National Beef on Friday (Jan. 31).

Kansas City-based National Beef said it will shutter production in its Brawley, Calif., beef plant on April 4, because of declining supply of fed cattle in the region.

Cattle supplies across the country continue to shrink from prolonged periods of drought that forced excess slaughter resulting in the smallest herd in more than 40 years.

The 1,300 workers at the Brawley plant will be offered assistance finding work in other National Beef facilities, all of which are located in the Midwest region, with the exceptions of one plant in Georgia and one in Pennsylvania.

“This was a very difficult decision for us to make because of the impact on our employees and suppliers,” CEO Tim Klein said. “We are optimistic about the long-term prospects for U.S. beef demand, and we will continue to focus on expanding our position as the industry leader in value-added beef products.”

Tyson Foods operates a beef plant in Pasco, Wash., that could benefit after the Brawley plant closes, according to Steve Kay, publisher of Cattle Buyers Weekly. He said Tyson has the oldest brand recognition in the region and should be in position to pick up some market share in the Southern California market.

Tyson’s Pasco plant has been operating a four-day week since late last year because of the Country of Origin Labeling rule changes which curtailed the company’s sourcing of live cattle from Canada. Jim Lochner, chief operating officer for Tyson Foods, said Friday (Jan. 31) that Tyson is not having trouble sourcing live cattle near its packing facilities, all of which are located throughout the Midwest except Pacso, Wash.

The Brawley closure follows on last year’s closure of Cargill’s Plainview, Texas, plant, which employed 2,000 people; San Angelo Packing’s San Angelo, Texas, beef plant; and Martin’s Abattoir and Wholesale Meats’ Godwin, N.C., beef plant.

America's Car-Mart announced the opening of its 130th dealership on Friday, (Jan. 31).

The dealership is located in Altus, Okla., and will be managed by Jonathan Bottoms.

The Atlus location marks the company’s 23rd dealership in Oklahoma and the sixth new lot opening for fiscal year 2014. 

Car-Mart shares (NASDAQ: CRMT) closed Friday at 38.55, down 63 cents on the day.

For the past 52 weeks the share price has ranged from a $38.38 low to a $50.59 high.

Arvest Bank announced Christy Queary was promoted to vice president / consumer loan manager for the Springdale market. She will report to Kent Williamson, executive vice president / loan department manager.


Queary has worked for Arvest Bank since April 2000; she has been the manager of loan assistants since 2008. She is replacing Janet Erwin, who has been promoted to the position of centralized underwriting manager for the Northwest Arkansas region.

 “What has impressed me most about Christy over her 14 years is her outstanding leadership and tremendous customer service skills. She has become a real ‘go to’ person for our lenders,” said Williamson. “Christy will continue to manage the loan assistants while she takes on this new role.”

Queary graduated from Springdale High School in 1991 and Northwest Technical Institute in 1995. She has four sons, ages 22, 19, 18 and 5; and two grandchildren, ages 3 and 3 months. She lives in Lowell.

Randy Sims, CEO of Centennial Bank and Home BancShares, recently announced the promotion of Steve Baker as senior vice president and manager of the trust department, headquartered in Jonesboro.

“We are very excited about Steve leading our highly qualified team of trust professionals,” Sims said. “He is very dedicated to his customers and has over 36 years of experience in Northeast Arkansas.”

In this new role, Baker will serve as administrator of personal trusts, estate settlement and investment management. The Trust team also includes: Carla Carson,  Lorre Gookin, Cheryl Weathers; Ellen Tarkington, Stan Allison, and Lisa Aubrey Avants.

The Centennial Bank Trust team has over 100 years ‘combined experience in handling trust accounts of all types including personal trust, investment management, qualified retirement plans and IRA’s.

“We have been recognized by Arkansas Business as one of the state’s largest trust departments, and now have assets under management in excess of $550 million,” Sims said.

Lowell-based J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. is raising its dividend for shareholders by 33% to 20 cents per share.

The increased dividend payment will be made Feb. 27 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 13. The previous dividend was 15 cents.

The board “concluded the consistent earnings and cash-flow growth generated in recent years warranted a higher dividend,” according to the release. “This larger-than-historical increase represents a commitment to returning capital to shareholders on a consistent basis at a more reasonable yield relative to JBHT’s share price.”

In 2013, the company improved net income 10% to $342.4 million, which was the third highest in the industry after UPS Inc. and FedEx Corp.

Shares of J.B.Hunt (NASDAQ: JBHT) traded down 1.65% on Monday morning (Feb. 3) at $73.81. For the past 52 weeks the share price has ranged from a $79.89 high to a $65.53 low.

Johnelle Hunt, co-founder of the company is the largest individual shareholder controlling more than 18.452 million shares registered to J.B. Hunt LLC as of Nov. 5.

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, continues his service in the House this year with a new appointment, a sign of the 3rd District congressman's ever increasing seniority in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

Womack was appointed Wednesday (Jan. 29) as vice chairman of the House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee. The appoint was made by House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers, a Kentucky Republican. Womack's appointment means he would serve as chair of the subcommittee in the absence of subcommittee Chairman Jack Kingston of Georgia, as well as assisting him with official committee duties.

Rogers said Womack's appointment would help the Appropriations Committee complete its work on the 2015 budget "on time and in regular order."

"It won't be an easy task, and the committee's vice chairmen will play an integral role in the successful completion of the appropriations process.  I’m glad to welcome Steve to this group.  He is a responsible, pragmatic leader who is committed to doing what's best for our country and his district.  His no-nonsense demeanor will undoubtedly serve him well as vice chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services Subcommittee," Rogers said.

Serving as vice chairman of what is known as Labor-H will give Womack a voice in "funding for and oversight of federal programs that impact every single American."

"But in this time of limited resources and as we work to successfully address our nation’s spending problem, the thorough evaluation of these programs – programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, education, and Social Security – is essential to ensuring their sustainability and efficiency.  As this subcommittee’s vice chairman, I am honored to be given this responsibility and challenge,” Womack said.

Womack is seeking a third term in the House this year. He previously served as mayor of Rogers.

Following a Sunday storm that dropped snow and sleet across the region, most local counties lifted burn bans that had been in effect for weeks due to dry and windy conditions.

Burn bans that were lifted Monday, a day that saw many schools and businesses closed due to several inches of snow on the ground, included Crawford County, Sebastian County, and Washington County.

The only burn bans still in effect in the Fort Smith and Northwest Arkansas regions were Carroll, Newton and Yell Counties, according to the Arkansas Forestry Commission. The AFC also downgraded all of Arkansas to a low risk of wildfires as of Feb. 3.

The risk of wildfires should remain low throughout the rest of the week as temperatures should remain low, with the National Weather Service in Tulsa predicting several chances of wintry precipitation throughout the remainder of this week.

Officials in Sebastian County reminded residents that even though the burn ban was no longer in effect, all controlled burns must still be reported to the Sebastian County Sheriff's Office at (479) 783-1051.

Spring semester enrollment was down 4% at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, and preliminary figures show enrollment up almost 4% at Arkansas Tech University-Ozark campus.

The ATU-Ozark spring enrollment is up almost 4% from 2013, which saw an enrollment of 1,826. Enrollment is up almost 15% compared to 2012 and up around 35% compared to 2011, according to ATU-Ozark figures.

ATU-Ozark Chancellor Bruce Sikes credits part of the campus’ enrollment increase to its continued program expansion.

“Increasing our offerings in Allied Health and Applied Technology, such as Cardiovascular Technology and Human Resources, has assisted the Ozark Campus in realizing enrollment gains,” Sikes said in a statement. “Our degrees lead directly to jobs.”

The UAFS figures show that full-time equivalent enrollment fell 4% to 5,078, with total headcount falling 5.8% compared to the 2013 period.

“The university saw a 27 percent decline in the number of students enrolled in only remedial courses,” Dr. Ray Wallace, provost and senior vice chancellor, said in a statement. “In addition, our ongoing fiscal policies to curtail enrollment by students who have a significant unpaid balance from previous academic terms is also affecting enrollment.”
 
UAFS Chancellor Paul Beran said he is happy with a 6% increase in upper-level student semester credit hours. Beran said UAFS experienced an overall increase in the student semester credit hours in three colleges – Applied Science and Technology, Business, and Health Sciences.
 
“This indicates that the retention of students is increasing and that their course loads are higher compared to last spring,” he said. “UAFS students are individually enrolling in more classes.”

Out-of-state enrollments increased by 13%, with enrollments from Oklahoma up 21%, and international student enrollment up 30%.

UAFS officials are working to replace the decreasing numbers of remedial students with students interested in new degree offerings which will roll out for the fall 2014 semester.
 
“The bottom line is we must broaden our outreach to traditional high school students while also attracting more non-traditional students, especially those who already have college hours, and get them re-enrolled and ultimately graduated,” Beran said.

• Post acquires PowerBar, Musashi brands
In a move to expand its active nutrition category, Post Holdings has agreed to acquire the PowerBar and Musashi brands and related worldwide assets from Nestle S.A. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Post said it plans to combine the PowerBar and Musashi brands with its active nutrition portfolio to form a singular Active Nutrition Group with expected annualized revenue approaching $550 million. The global active nutrition category is expected to remain strong with the category projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7% between 2014 and 2017, according to Euromonitor.

The PowerBar and Musashi brands manufacture and market premium bars, powders and gels in geographies that represent more than 90% of global category sales, according to Euromonitor. PowerBar was acquired by Nestle in 2000. Musashi is a leading sports nutrition brand in Australia and enjoys leading levels of awareness among its target audience, physically active males.

“It’s truly exciting to continue the transformation of Post and to increase the role active nutrition will play in that transformation,” said William P. Stiritz, chairman and CEO. “I’m confident that the talented associates joining Post from Nestle will make a powerful contribution towards this continued transformation.”

The transaction is expected to be completed in Post’s fiscal third quarter, subject to customary closing conditions. Post expects to fund the acquisition with cash on hand.

• Staples makes two exec appointments
Staples Inc., office supply giant, said last week that Joe Doody, the president of its North American commercial unit, has been named vice chairman with a mandate to “lead Staples’ strategic reinvention.” 


Doody will continue to report to Ron Sargent, the company’s chairman and CEO, the company said in a press release.

Staples has been striving to reinvent itself as it faces tough trends in the office supply retail business.

In addition to announcing Doody’s new job, Staples named executive vice president Shira Goodman to be the president of the North American commercial unit. Both appointments are effective Feb. 2.

“Joe has done a tremendous job leading our commercial businesses through a time of enormous change and growth,” Sargent said.

• Jos. A Bank Clothiers eyes Eddie Bauer
Jos. A Bank is reportedly in talks to buy retailer Eddie Bauer from private equity owner Golden Gate Capital, according to Reuters.

The men’s clothier said has been in a prolonged struggle with rival Men’s Wearhouse with each party trying to acquire the other.


Jos. A. Bank has signed nondisclosure agreements related to possible acquisitions of other companies besides Men's Wearhouse. It isn't clear whether the company is seriously pursuing any other deal besides Eddie Bauer, according to Reuters report.

Golden Gate bought Eddie Bauer out of bankruptcy in 2009 for $286 million in cash plus the assumption of hundreds of millions of dollars in liabilities.

The World Health Organization and Chinese authorities are investigating how three members of one family contracted the H7N9 avian influenza virus. 

There have been 192 confirmed human cases of the virus, including 59 deaths reported by China since April 2013, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

WHO officials still believe the infection is not spreading from human to human. Chinese officials have closed live poultry markets in Zhejiang province, where H7N9 infections have spiked to 49 infections, including 12 deaths.

The escalating bird flu concerns were cited as one of the reasons Tyson Foods has opted to slow down the pace of its poultry processing in China.

Tyson Foods CEO Donnie Smith said, the company is still committed to vertically integrating its operations there and at this time the two plants are running one shift with company controlled birds. 

Smith said they had hoped to double that production by year end, using only company controlled birds. In the mean time the company had been purchasing birds for slaughter. But on Friday (Jan. 31), Smith said given a slower economic pace and tepid consumer demand because of the heightened flu fears the company would not be purchasing birds for slaughter and production.

He said it will take longer that originally thought to get the two plants fully operational, multiple shifts with solely company controlled birds, but that is the still the plan.

The board of directors of Tyson Foods declared a quarterly dividend of 7.5 cents per share on Class A common stock and 6.75 cents per share on restricted Class B shares.

The cash dividend is payable on June 13, to shareholders of record on May 30.

Shares of Tyson Foods fell more than 3.6% in heavy trading on Monday, (Feb. 3) after rising 9% on record first quarter earnings reported Friday, (Jan. 31).

The stock closed Monday at $36.02, but then rose to $36,87 in extended market trading . For the past 52 weeks, the share price has ranged from a $21.79 low to a $38.25 high.

Three Wall Street analysts liked what Tyson Foods execs had to say last week, and approved of the solid first quarter performance — the best in company history. J.P. Morgan analyst Ken Goldman raised the 2014 earnings estimates for Tyson thanks in part to healthy near-term fundamentals.

Goldman lifted his 2014 earnings estimate to $2.84 from $2.76 a share in light of Tyson management “forging a first-class protein company.”

Kenneth Zaslow at BMO Capital Markets was equally optimistic on Tyson’s earnings prospects in the coming years, but was not as specific on what the earnings figures will be in 2014 and 2015.

Given Tyson management’s projected 2014 earnings to reach at least $2.78 a share, Zaslow said that he expects the company to top expectations by between 10% and 15% in both 2014 and 2015.

Farha Aslam, analyst with Stephens Inc. raised her estimates for fiscal 2014 to $2.90 a share from $2.82.

Aslam applauded Tyson’s ability to manage its four business units to generate consistent growth along with its strong cash flow and the ability to make future acquisitions.

She expects strong profitability in poultry and higher expectations for beef this year and predicts higher pork earnings and prepared foods contributions will lift 2015 earnings.

Shares of Tyson Foods traded at $36.19, up 17 cents on Tuesday morning (Feb. 4). The  shares retreated Monday, after setting a new 52-week high of $38.25 following Friday’s earnings.

Hannah Bush and Jacob Embry have been hired at Beall Barclay & Co.

Hannah, originally from Paron, Ark., has bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in accounting. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arkansas Tech University in December 2013.

Bush was in the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society and a 2013 Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities. She assisted the universities accounting department for three semesters during her senior fellowship and was the president of the Accounting Club. Bush also spent much of her time being an accounting tutor for the College of Business.

Embry, a Huntsville, Ark., native, received a golf scholarship from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith and received his bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting in December 2012. He gained additional education during is accounting internship at First National Bank in their accounting department. After graduating from the university and completing his internship, Jacob worked for Frost, PLLC as a tax staff accountant.

Tyson Foods Inc. unveiled a new line of breakfast items under its offerings Tyson Day Starts products.

The line of frozen breakfast sandwiches includes ingredients such as cheeses, vegetables, eggs and sausage, ham and chicken and are part the meat giant’s plan to grow its value-added sales through more convenience products.

“We value the feedback and input of our consumers and turned to breakfast eaters to understand what they are looking for at breakfast time. These insights revealed they want a breakfast they can heat quickly and take on-the-go,” said Carolyn Rehbock, vice-president for insights and innovation at Tyson Foods.

The breakfast varieties include biscuit sandwiches, breakfast flatbreads and wrapped omelets – ready to eat in less than two minutes. In conjunction with the launch of Day Starts, Tyson Foods is also partnering with Florida Orange Juice, according to the release.

Drugstore giant, CVS Caremark, said Wednesday (Feb. 5) that it will stop selling tobacco products by Oct. 1. The play was highly scrutinized by Wall Street analysts that predict it’s a $2 billion ding to retailer’s annual topline sales. Overall, the company brought in more than $123 billion in total revenue in 2012.


The move, which drew praise from President Barack Obama, doctors and anti-smoking groups puts pressure on other retailers to stop selling tobacco as well. But in the highly competitive marketplace for retail foot traffic it could be a hard sale for other convenience chains.


CVS CEO Larry Merlo said the company concluded it could no longer sell cigarettes in a setting where health care also is being delivered. CVS and other drugstore chains have been adding in-store clinics and expanding their health care offerings. They've also been expanding the focus of some clinics to include helping people manage chronic illnesses like high blood pressure and diabetes, which has made for some awkward conversations, the company noted in the release.


"CVS Caremark is continually looking for ways to promote health and reduce the burden of disease," said CVS Caremark Chief Medical Officer Troyen A. Brennan, M.D., M.P.H. "Stopping the sale of cigarettes and tobacco will make a significant difference in reducing the chronic illnesses associated with tobacco use."


But CVS is in a unique position from some of its peers. While it trails only Walgreen in number of drugstores, it draws most of its revenue from its pharmacy benefits management business that runs prescription drug plans for employers, insurers and other customers.
 Analysts believe other drugstore chains may follow suit, especially those the see themselves as part of the health care solution.

Northwest Arkansas will get its first CVS Pharmacy by early summer as construction in already underway in Bella Vista at the intersection of Dartmoor and Bella Vista Way, (U.S. 71.)