Tyson Foods CEO Donnie Smith and his wife, Terry, have pledged $3.2 million to establish the Donald and Terry Smith Endowed Chair for International Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture.


“The new faculty position will help bring science-based agricultural solutions to areas of the world with struggling agricultural practices and economies, as well as provide unique opportunities for the state of Tennessee,” said Larry Arrington, chancellor of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, in a news release about the gift.

Smith earned his undergraduate degree in animal science from the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Terry Smith is a graduate of the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences. Smith was appointed CEO of Tyson in 2009, but worked with the company in various capacities since 1980.

The search for the Smith Endowed Chair and director for international programs is underway. The chair will help faculty develop an international dimension to their current work, with the goal is to find solutions to encourage less-equipped societies to maximize available resources in an effort to provide better nutrition for all of Earth’s inhabitants.

The college’s agriculture institute has ongoing international farming projects in Africa, Europe, South America and Southeast Asia.

• Kellogg announces plant closure, shift reductions
Michigan-based Kellogg Co. said this week it plans to shutter a Charlotte, N.C., snack factory as part of a plan to cut costs. The Kellogg plant will close by the end of 2014 eliminating about 195 jobs, according to the release. The plant makes Famous Amos, Austin Sandwich Creme and Iced Animal cookies.

“As with any project that impacts people, these are difficult decisions,” CEO John Bryant said in a statement. “We are very mindful of the impact these changes will have – particularly to our employees. As our employees and others would expect from Kellogg, we will help those who are impacted through their transitions.”

Kellogg also said that it will close two production lines at its snack factory in Cincinnati. These closures are part of the company’s “Project K,” an initiative meant to save money and increase efficiency. Project K is expected to cost between $1.2 billion and $1.4 billion, the company told investors recently. The program is expected to save at least $425 million annually by 2018.

The food company reported lackluster results in its most recent quarter, with sales flat at $3.7 billion and profits up less than 1% at $326 million. Sales in North America overall fell 1.3%, at $2.4 billion, and U.S. snack sales fell 2.5%, Kellogg said.

Kellogg is a supplier to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and operates a large sales office Rogers.

• Krispy Kreme iced coffee on the shelf at 900 Walmarts
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. seeking to increase its beverage share said this week that ready-to-drink iced coffees are now being sold in more than 900 Walmart store locations across the nation.


“Making our premium quality coffee available to consumers through the convenience of ready-to-drink is part of our continuing efforts to build awareness and equity in our coffee program,” said Brad Wall, senior vice president for supply chain and off-premise operations.

The iced coffees will be available in 9.5-ounce bottles and priced at $1.98.

“The product will be in all Walmart locations that carry Krispy Kreme products,” said Lafeea Watson, the company’s public relations manager.

In October, the company began its attempt to capture a larger slice of the home-brew consumer business by selling 40-ounce packages of its signature coffee blends at a select number of Sam's Clubs in the Southeast.

The Food Price Index fell in January for the first time in three months, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations report. The index averaged 203.4 points for the month, down 1.3% from December and 4.4% compared to a year ago. The decline was attributed to lower prices for meats, cereals, sugars and oils.

The meat price index declined by 1.7 points, or 1% to an average of 185.2 points in January. Prices for pork and sheep meat declined, while beef and poultry prices increased marginally on demand from China and Japan, according to report.

Prices for sugar and vegetable oils declined 5.6%  and 3.8% respectively. At the same time increased supplies of cereal crops helped to lower cereal prices, down 1.6% from December and as much as 23% lower than in January 2013.

Coca Cola has sponsored the addition of a “Hydration Station” at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville.

The station is a covered pavilion that will serve as a shelter for Crystal Bridges visitors awaiting the museum’s shuttle to the main entrance. It also houses vending machines offering Coca-Cola, Dasani, Powerade and other beverages for those waiting for the shuttle or walking the Crystal Bridges trails.

During 2013, more than 220,000 visitors enjoyed the museum’s 3.5 miles of trails on its 120-acre grounds.

“In different and distinct ways, both Coca-Cola and Crystal Bridges bring simple moments of happiness to people,” Sandy Douglas, president of Coca-Cola North America and global chief customer officer for The Coca-Cola Company, said in a statement. “This new Coca-Cola Hydration Station is a great way to enhance the Crystal Bridges experience for visitors. Whether they’re taking an active walk on the extensive trails or enjoying the many exhibits at this world-class museum, Coca-Cola is ready to offer refreshment.”

Crystal Bridges Executive Director Rod Bigelow said the station was “a much-welcome addition to the amenities of Crystal Bridges.”

The pavilion was constructed by Nabholz, and features concrete, native stone, metal, and Cor-ten steel. Vending areas for Coca-Cola beverages are paired with recycling stations, while bench seating is made from recycled PET bottles. Station signage includes a Crystal Bridges trail map.

Coca-Cola’s sponsorship of key Crystal Bridges’ initiatives began in 2011, when the corporation was a sponsor for the museum’s opening on Nov. 11, 2011.

“Coca-Cola has been very supportive of our mission to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature,” said Bigelow. “Recently, when the Coca-Cola (3) painting debuted in our gallery, the company provided complimentary Coca-Cola in glass bottles to museum guests. We look forward to continuing to collaborate on inventive ways to enhance our guests’ museum experience.”

Clark Partners Realty Group announces that it is no longer just a team of real estate agents, but a full-service real estate firm.

Owner/Broker, Anthony Clark, officially launched the full-service real estate firm on Jan. 6. The team is also made up of brokers Karon Reese and Shelley Evans and associates Scott Cook and Alex McGowen, as well as Billy Law, the firm’s marketing coordinator. Clark Partners Realty Group is located on the Fayetteville square at 5 W. Mountain St., Suite 201.

The public is invited to the firm’s drop-in open house to celebrate its grand opening on Thursday, Feb. 20,  from 2:30 to 6 p.m. The Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. the same day.

NorthWest Arkansas Community College will host an open house on Tuesday (Feb. 11) for its new library for the Adult Education program, located in Room 1300 of the Center for Nonprofits at St. Mary’s in Rogers. The reception will be from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, and coffee and doughnuts will be served.
 
NWACC’s Adult Education program offers non-credit classes designed to teach and review academic skills culminating with preparation for taking the high school equivalence (GED) test battery. Other areas such as English as a Second Language and computer classes also are offered. In the 2012-13 college year, a total of 3,134 students were served through NWACC’s Adult Education program.
 
The library collection was funded by an NWACC innovation grant. Such grants are awarded to faculty and staff to help provide financial support for innovative ideas that are not currently supported through the operating budget. The grants enable faculty and staff the opportunity to implement an idea with a pilot project. In some cases, innovative grant projects have become a continuing initiative with some operating budget support in successive years.
 
Several faculty, administrator and staff members collaborated on the project, which was initiated by Librarian Erin Galbraith. Galbraith initiated the project as a graduate school assignment to address an under-served population. Galbraith worked with the Dean of Adult Education Ben Aldama; Adult Education Media Specialist Vicki Kelley; Library Director Gwen Dobbs; and Librarian Rachel Ackerman on this project.

• Heinz to repay South Carolina incentives after plant closure
H.J. Heniz Co. agreed to repay about $1.5 million it received from Florence County, S.C., for economic incentives related to the plant it will close later this year.

The frozen food plant opened in 2011 and is scheduled to close in the spring with the loss of 200 jobs. The closing was part of a round of restructuring with Heinz's new owners, Berkshire Hathaway.

The Pittsburgh-based Heinz received $2 million in economic and workforce development funds following the 2008 announcement to build the plant in South Carolina.

Heinz also agreed to provide $689,000 in lieu of taxes, according to several South Carolina news sources.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital announced last year they were acquiring Heinz for $23.3 billion along with its debt for a $28 billion deal.

Heinz is a supplier to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. with a sales office in Rogers.

• Nature’s Bakery offers $4.1 million for St. Louis bakery
Nevada-based Nature’s Bakery entered a $4.1 million bid to acquire Theodoro Baking Co. in St. Louis, which filed for bankruptcy in August. Nature’s “stalking horse” bid is for the 117,000 square-foot baking facility that makes frozen breads, rolls, bagels, cakes and donuts for local and national customers.

Nature’s Bakery is seeking to buy Theodoro Baking and bring $30 million in new business making fig bars and gluten-free breads to the facility, according to Nature’s Bakery owner and president, Dave Marson.

“The facility will service everything for us east of the Mississippi,” Marson said.

Founded in 2010, Nature's Bakery projects its revenue will reach $100 million in 2014 and it plans to sell the St. Louis bakery’s products to Sam’s Club stores, Marson said.

If Nature’s Bakery’s bid is selected by the bankruptcy court, the company will keep all 112 current employees and adding 100 more in its first year of ownership and an additional 100 employees in its second year of ownership.

• Cargill unveils line of frozen turkey burgers
To meet consumer demand in the growing turkey burger category, Cargill said it's rolling out six new varieties of frozen turkey burgers under the Honeysuckle White and Shady Brook Farms brands.

Cargill said the firm spent more than a year developing these products after extensive consumer research to determine shopper preferences.

Created for retail with additional opportunities in foodservice, restaurant and K-12 school sales and distribution channels, the Honeysuckle White and Shady Brook Farms turkey burgers represent a nutritious and convenient source of protein and they are 87% to 93% lean, the company noted in the release.

“We did our homework, listened to consumers and are meeting their desire for a line of premium, frozen, turkey burgers available nationwide. In particular, we found that millennial moms, age 25-54, want high-quality protein for their families and they are looking more closely at ingredients, nutritional value, convenience and affordability. Consumer tasting panels overwhelming favored our new turkey burgers for their flavor, juiciness, texture and overall desirability when compared to similar existing products,” said Mary Richardson, marketing manager for brands.

Cargill is a supplier to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and operates a large turkey plant in Springdale, which is the largest supplier of ground turkey products for Cargill Honeysuckle White.

The Kendal King Group, in-store, retail marketing specialists, announces the appointment of Tina Waggener to its Bentonville office. The addition marks the first new hire of 2014 after a year of several new hires and promotions for the growing company, both in its headquarters office in Kansas City, Mo. and the Northwest Arkansas office in Bentonville.

Waggener joins the company as an account executive after spending 17 years as the executive director of The Cancer Challenge, nonprofit. Since 1994, the organization has contributed over $10 million towards world-class cancer care in Northwest Arkansas. Before her time at the organization, she worked for nine years as creative services director at the Sam’s Club home office.

A native of Quincy, Ill, Waggener studied at Missouri Southern State University earning a bachelor’s degree in business, management and marketing. Waggener and husband Jeff reside in Bentonville.

Country and bluegrass fans in Northwest Arkansas will have the opportunity to see Willie Nelson and Alilson Krauss who announced they will perform at the AMP in Rogers on July 7.

These award-winning musicians will perform together for the first time in a 35-city tour across the U.S. The tour kicks off May 8 in Murray Ky., and wraps up July 18 in Toledo.

Also appearing will be Union Station, featuring Jerry Douglas. They'll be joined on various dates by recent Grammy Awards winner Kacey Musgraves, Jason Isbell, The Wild Feathers and The Devil Makes Three.

Arvest Bank announces the promotion of Jacob Barnes to branch manager of the bank location at the corner of East Robinson Avenue and Butterfield Coach Road in Springdale. He will report to Jenny England, branch administrator. Barnes began his career with Arvest at Siloam Springs in April of 2006. Over his career, he has worked as teller, financial services representative and assistant branch manager. 


“Jacob has proven himself as a superb customer service provider and a great team member here at Arvest Bank,” England said. “He knows how Arvest Bank operates and how best to work within that structure for the benefit of our customers."

A native of Gentry, Barnes graduated from Gentry High School and completed his bachelor’s degree in political science from John Brown University in Siloam Springs. He and his wife, Kathleen Barnes, have a son, Grisham, age 2. They are involved with Children of Arkansas Loved a Lifetime (CALL) and are in the process of becoming foster parents. The family lives in Springdale.

The University of Arkansas System tied for 48th among the world’s top 100 universities for the number of U.S. utility patents received in 2012, according to a statement from the UA System.

UA System universities received 34 patents for inventions by researchers, according to the National Academy of Inventors and the Intellectual Property Owners Association, which compiled the list from data obtained from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The UA System was tied in the top 100 rankings with American universities Arizona State University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Texas A&M University.

“I’m very proud of the faculty scientists across our institutions for conducting innovative research across a number of fields,” Dr. Donald Bobbitt, president of the UA System, said in the statement. “Producing research to improve the human condition is a key component of the mission of our university, and this ranking shows that our scientists are taking that mission to heart.”

Among the UA System’s patents, 20 included inventors at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, nine included inventors at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, four included inventors at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and four included inventors at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Two of the 34 patents included inventors from more than one UA System institution. 

“Innovation based on university technology has proven to be a key factor in worldwide industrial and economic development,” Paul Sanberg, president of the National Academy of Inventors, said in a press release announcing the rankings. “In the 21st century, the support, encouragement and development of technology and innovation are fundamental to the success of a university.”

UAMS faculty members produced patents related to monitoring breast cancer treatment, controlling bone loss, performing an anastomosis and the assessment, prevention and therapy of cancer, among other areas. 

The Division of Agriculture earned patents in a variety of research programs by personnel in food science; biological and agricultural engineering; poultry science; crop, soil, and environmental sciences and the Rice Research and Extension Center. 

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, faculty members produced patents in nanocrystals, asynchronous circuit design and tactile aids for access to science and engineering software for visually impaired users. UA-Fayetteville became a charter member of the National Academy of Inventors in 2012. 

All four UALR patents were in the area of advanced materials, which show promise to greatly improve everyday materials and processes.

Matt Hicks has been named market president in Rogers and Bentonville, according to Scott Hancock, Centennial Bank Division President. Hicks has worked in a variety of roles for Centennial Bank, having been active in the Jonesboro, Siloam Springs, and Springdale/Fayetteville and Bentonville/Rogers markets. 

Hicks will office in Centennial Bank’s Rogers branch at 4000 West Walnut. He relocated to Northwest Arkansas in 2006, most recently serving as a vice president of lending in the Bentonville and Rogers markets. Hicks has experience in retail banking, insurance, loan operations as well as administration and loan production.

“Matt is very involved in the community and his leadership skills will help further build upon our reputation for strength and service,” Hancock said. 
 
He began his banking career in 2004 with Liberty Bank of Arkansas in Jonesboro. He holds a master’s degree in business from Harding University in Searcy and a bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State University.
 
His community involvement includes numerous organizations where Hicks has, or is now serving:
• Chair of the Community Enrichment Workgroup of Northwest Arkansas Emerging Leaders,
• Advisory board member of Northwest Arkansas Emerging Leaders,
• Past chair of United Way Generation: GIVE,
• Board member and treasurer of Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas,
• Business Advisory Board member for Northwest Arkansas Community College Enactus Program,
• Board Member for the Children’s Safety Center in Springdale and,
• Graduate of Leadership Fayetteville class XXII.

Import volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to drop 8.4% in February from the same time last year, according to the monthly report released Tuesday (Feb. 11) by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.



“Ports and distribution centers are getting the break they deserve after the busy holiday season, but it won’t last long,” said Jonathan Gold, vice president for supply chain and customs policy. “Retailers will be moving spring merchandise toward their shelves in just a few weeks, and early numbers point to a busy season ahead.”



U.S. ports followed by Global Port Tracker handled 1.3 million container units in December, the latest month for which actual results are available. That was down 3.3% from November as the holiday season came to an end but up 0.6% from December 2012. The December numbers brought 2013 to a total of 16.2 million containers up 2.3% from the 15.8 million containers in 2012.


In January, imports were an estimated 1.37 million containers, up 4.5 % from a year ago. February, historically the slowest month of the year, is forecast at 1.17 million units, down 8.4% from the same month last year.

The spring forecast is rosy as imports are expected to rise 13.7% in March at 1.29 million containers. In April, imports are forecast at 1.39 million containers, up 6.9% from a year ago.

The NRF is forecasting 4.1% sales growth in 2014, contingent on how Washington policies on economic issues affect consumer confidence.



“On the consumer side, there is continued hesitancy in spending as net disposable income remains virtually flat,” Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett said. “As a result, the inventory-to-sales ratio remains stubbornly high.”



• Cargill to acquire Pet Carousel
Cargill plans to acquire Pet Carousel, a Sanger, Calif.-based manufacturer of private label dog treats. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Cargill believes Pet Carousel will complement its California distribution and beef processing business. The company expects Pet Carousel to benefit from Cargill's distribution network and supplies of high-quality beef, pork and turkey.

“From Cargill’s perspective, Pet Carousel has a lot to offer in the way of synergies with our existing animal protein and distribution businesses,” said John Niemann, president of Wichita-based Cargill Food Distribution.

Pet Carousel produces and markets Roper brand cotton blend chew ropes, Choo Hooves natural bones and chews and a line of natural white meat chicken and jerky, and sweet potato and vegetable chews. The company operates a 36,000-sq.-ft. facility with 25 full-time employees.

“I am extremely excited to join forces with Cargill in a venture devoted to meeting consumer needs, while also allowing us to showcase our natural pet products to more customers,” said Troy Becker, president of Pet Carousel. Becker will join Cargill and work from the Sanger facility. He is the son of founder Gary Becker.

Cargill is a supplier to Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

• ConAgra lowers earnings guidance
Challenges in the consumer foods and commercial foods segment prompted ConAgra Foods to lower its earnings per share guidance for fiscal 2014.

Omaha-based ConAgra revised its diluted earnings per share outlook to a range of $2.22 to $2.25, down from previous guidance range of $2.34 to $2.38. The company attributed the revision to weaker-than-expected sales for a few brands in the consumer foods segment, and margin pressures in the commercial foods segment.

The company had forecasted its newly acquired Ralcorp to contribute approximately 25 cents in earnings per share in fiscal 2014. The company now estimates that number to be approximately 20 cents.

Volumes for the consumer foods segment are expected to decline at 3% to 4% in the back half of 2014.

Gary Rodkin, CEO of ConAgra Foods, said forecasting fiscal 2014 was difficult.

“We are intensely focused on improving our business,” Rodkin said. “It is taking longer than expected to stabilize the performance of the private brands segment, which has been below plan because of pricing, sales force coverage, and customer service issues largely resulting from restructuring actions taken before we bought that business last year. We view these as near-term issues only, and remain fully confident in our private brands strategy and the growth opportunities resulting from the recent acquisition of Ralcorp.”

ConAgra is a supplier to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. with a large sales office in Bentonville.

In the competitive world of retail, selling convenience is key,. While Sears struggles to keep pace, the department store chain announced a bold move this week — free drive-through pickup service for online orders.

The retailer said cold winter weather has taken a toll on store traffic but it wants to reward consumers who order online and chose to pick the items up at a local store, without having to leave the warmth of their car.

“We are transitioning from a business that has historically focused on running a store network into a business that provides and delivers value by serving its members in the manner most convenient for them,” the retailer told investors last month.

The new drive-through feature is part of Sears’ attempt to capture online shoppers’ dollars.  It’s also aimed at getting more customers to use the retailer’s mobile app.

A consumer can order their items online, chose store pickup service and when it’s convenient drive to the store chosen as the pickup site. The app notifies the store the shopper is parked out front. The order is delivered by a store attendant within five minutes. If the store doesn’t meet the 5-minute guaranteed, a $5 dollar coupon is given to the customer waiting. 

Sears customers have to share identifying details about their vehicles, such as make, model and color (but no license plate information), the company said. The retailer provides a tutorial on the service in this You Tube link.

The retailer said the drive-though option is getting positive feedback from senior customers and moms with small children.

Sears sales were down more than 9% in the previous quarter and the retailers expects a loss of $360 million this quarter.

Kroger has upped the ante on its efforts to incorporate digital media into its giant grocery business with the acquisition of YOU Technology Brand Services, a Silicon Valley-based startup.

YOU Technology is in the digital coupon and promotions business, using a retailer-centric, cloud-based platform that bridges the gap between online engagement and in-store purchases.

Its network, which includes www.kroger.com/digitalcoupons, has grown dramatically and now includes over 10,000 retail stores representing over $100 billion in retail sales and 100 million U.S. households. 

YOU Tech will continue to serve existing and future retail customers. Financial terms of the transaction, which closed today (Feb. 12) were not disclosed.

"YOU Tech's nimble and innovative digital coupon platform has enabled Kroger to deliver hundreds of millions of digital coupons to Kroger customers," said Jeff Talbot, Kroger's vice president of customer loyalty. 

He said the deal is a good strategic fit for both Kroger and YOU Tech.

“This transaction is consistent with our digital customer growth plan and provides Kroger a significant opportunity to expand our presence in Silicon Valley, enhancing our exposure to new technologies. YOU Tech will benefit from Kroger's strong balance sheet as it continues to expand its digital platform to many other retailers and CPG partners." he said.

Based in California, YOU Technology LLC will operate as an independent company within the Kroger family.  The company currently serves approximately two dozen retailer clients operating 65 store banners.

Cheryl Black, YOU Tech's CEO, said through its partnership with Kroger it looks forward to working with other retailers and consumer package goods (CPG) companies to drive future sales growth.

More than 107 vendor booths featuring the latest trends in window fashion, countertops, flooring or outdoor living are set to display their wares and services this weekend, Feb. 14, 15 and 16, at the Springdale Convention Center.

“The 2014 NWA Home Show is sold out this year as far as vendor space is concerned, and there will be about a dozen local builders on hand to talk with consumers about home building and remodel options,” said Brenda Jones, executive director for NWA Home Builders Association.

She said there is a entry small fee from $5 for one day to $10 for a three-day pass, but the ticket is good a 50% meal discount at the River Cane Buffet and $10 of free-play at Cherokee Casinos in Siloam Springs.

A special feature of this year’s event will be money saving ideas that visitors can utilize  in their homes and gardens. Research shows that February is the most popular time of year for planning home improvement projects slated for the spring.

Also this year, the event will include a “Find the Gnone” contest. Every hour the gnome will be hidden in one of the several booths at the show. An announcement will be made that the hunt has begun and the first person who spots the gnome and comes to the ticket counter with the gnome's location will get a special prize.

Habitat for Humanity in Benton and Washington counties will also present at this year’s event.

Lowe’s will also be on hand Saturday and Sunday between noon and 2 p.m. to entertain the kids with a “build and grow clinic”  this gives children the chance to learn how to build something out of wood, a project they can take home.

“We expect a good crowd given the warmer weather forecast and the cabin fever many have endured these past few weeks. There will be a grand opening at 10 a.m. Friday kicking off this year’s event. It will wind down at 5 p.m. on Sunday,” Jones said.

The Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks will host the 2014 National Veterans Golden Age Games in Fayetteville June 28 to July 2.

In its 28th consecutive year, the National Veterans Golden Age Games is the premier senior adaptive rehabilitation program for military Veterans ages 55 and older, and attracts hundreds of athletes from across the United States.

“We are thrilled to be the host site for the Games, and are working closely with a number of community partners to make it a success for the Veteran athletes,” said Dr. Mark Enderle, VHSO Medical Center Director.

Competitive events include air rifle, bowling, cycling, field (discus, shotput, javelin), golf, horseshoes, mind sports (checkers, dominoes), nine-ball, shuffleboard, swimming, table tennis and track. Badminton will be the 2014 exhibition sport.

The Games serve as a qualifying event for competition in the National Senior Games in a number of competitive events.

Scott Hancock, NWA division president for Centennial Bank, announced the promotion of Bryan Smith as senior vice president of retail operations for all the Northwest Arkansas branches.

He moved to this region in 2005 and has served in several capacities after joining Liberty Bank in May 2002. He has managed all aspects of operations with excellence, said Hancock.
 
“Bryan is an excellent leader, and Centennial Bank is a great bank and will only get better because of employees like him. Bryan Smith’s efficiency yet, to detail is outstanding, allowing him to coordinate numerous projects simultaneously, while maintaining the highest regard for our employees and customers,” Hancock said.
 
Smith has served 18 years in the financial services industry. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Arkansas State University.

A resident of Fayetteville, Smith is married to Amy, and has one son, Brooks. Smith will office in Centennial Bank’s Joyce Branch at 1400 East Joyce Blvd., Fayetteville.

He has served on NWA Miracle League board where he was a buddy and coach, past member of Fayetteville Kiwanis, and current member of TeamWorks.

Casey’s General Stores has signed an asset purchase agreement to acquire 24 Stop-n-Go locations, with 20 of the stores located in North Dakota and four located in Minnesota.


“We are excited about the opportunity to acquire the Stop-n-Go chain as they are a well-managed and established group of stores in a relatively new market area for Casey’s,” said Robert Myers, President and CEO. “This acquisition will be accretive to earnings in the first year of operation and will provide future earnings enhancements as we realize operating efficiencies and integrate our prepared food operations.”


The acquisition is subject to certain regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, including the company’s receipt of satisfactory inspection reports related to the stores. The transaction is expected to close in May 2014, and will be funded by a combination of existing cash and operating cash flow
.

“We hope this acquisition serves as a springboard for more Casey’s locations in the area as we continue to look for opportunities to build and buy stores in the upper Midwest,” Myers said.


Casey’s first expanded into Northwest Arkansas more than two years go. The convenience store chain has 16 stores in Benton and Washington counties.