Asda, the British retail banner of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., announced Monday (March 24) plans to reduce around 200 corporate jobs from its Leeds home base and the Lutterworth clothing arm of its George apparel brand.

"In the spirit of openness, we've let our colleagues know that we will be having some more detailed discussions with them this week about a new structure." an Asda spokeswoman told the London media in a Monday (March 24) briefing.

Russell Craig, spokesman with Asda, told The City Wire that the retailer is still talking with its workforce today and tomorrow about these changes and more details will become available later this week.

The job cuts are part of a new five-year plan underway to tackle heightened competition from rival discounters and supermarkets. The moves were reportedly part of a package of recommendations put forward by consultancy firm McKinsey, which also included calls for a widening of product ranges, according to the BBC report.


For the fourth quarter, Walmart International reported net sales in the U.K. increased 1.3% while comparable sales declined 0.2%.

“We are pleased that traffic increased 0.2% offset by a ticket decline of 0.4%. Gross profit rate was flat for the quarter, as sourcing benefits and efficiencies were invested into maintaining a strong price position,” David Cheesewright, CEO of Walmart International, said during the February earnings call.

Cheesewright also recently noted that the macroeconomic climate in the U.K. is slowly improving but consumer sentiment and participation is still muted. He said stable price inflation is outstripping personal earnings and creating a tough retail climate, with all the major retailers posting overall share declines in the fourth quarter. He said Asda remains committed to redefine value retailing in the U.K. investing $1.25 billion in price and quality over the next five years.

“We will bring this value to more customers by improving access and reach across the U.K., focusing on online growth and expanding stores into the faster growing South East and London markets,” Cheesewright recently noted.

ATLAS Technology Group recently promoted Chris Oswald to vice president of engineering for the Bentonville-based retail tech service supplier. Oswald has been with ATLAS for 18 months as director of enterprise architecture. 

In his new role, Oswald will report directly to ATLAS President Nicholas Dozier. Oswald has more than a decade of enterprise software experience, which includes team leadership, architecture and application development with USA Trucks Inc. and Data-Tronics Corporation.

“Since Chris joined ATLAS, he has played a critical role in building out our team of 5 employees to 28 today, which has included acquiring some of the best and brightest talent in the region, Dozier said. “He will be responsible for ensuring our strategic vision is executed through the design and structure of our software products.”

Jim Keenan, senior vice president of Enterprise Customer Solutions for Arkansas Best Corporation, will retire March 31, 2014, after 33 years of service with the company.

"Jim's many years of service at ABF Freight, in the areas of sales and pricing, contributed to the development of our sales approach and to the unique tools that allow our company to be a leader in the transportation industry," Arkansas Best President and Chief Executive Officer Judy McReynolds said in a statement. "He has been a valuable resource for our company and a dedicated employee.  We thank Jim and wish him and his wife Monika the very best in the coming years."

Keenan joined the company in 1981 as a result of ABF Freight's acquisition of East Texas Motor Freight.

During his years with ABF Freight he worked in the pricing department and held various leadership roles in the sales department, culminating as ABF Freight's senior vice president of Sales and Marketing. Additionally, for three years, he led the sales and marketing initiatives at an Arkansas Best subsidiary that was subsequently sold.

His existing role at Arkansas Best was created to coordinate the numerous supply chain services offered across ABF Freight, ABF Logistics and Panther Expedited Services.

High school students can meet Arkansas’ new digital learning requirement and earn college credit at the same time through an offering of NorthWest Arkansas Community College.

NWACC was one of 23 organizations recently designated as a digital learning approved provider by the Arkansas Department of Education. The development of the approved provider list follows the Arkansas General Assembly’s passage in 2013 of Act 1280. The legislation sought to expand digital learning opportunities to all Arkansas public school students and to remove any barriers to digital learning. 
 
Under the legislation, all public school districts and public charter schools shall provide at least one digital learning course to their students as either a primary or supplementary method of instruction. Starting with the ninth grade class of the 2014-15 school year, each high school student shall be required to take at least one digital learning course for credit to graduate.
 
Through NWACC’s Early College Experience program, qualified high school students can take college classes online that are coordinated through the student’s high school or by registering through the NWACC’s admissions office. 
 
To qualify to take online courses, high school students must demonstrate the ability to work at a college level through placement test scores such as ACT, SAT, PLAN, PSAT or EXPLORE.  The cutoff scores are determined by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education and the college. 
 
General education courses, including English, math, science and history, that count toward an associate’s degree are available online. In addition, a few career and technical courses are available to students in areas such as hospitality management and occupational safety and health.
 
NWACC is the only college in Benton and Washington counties on the approved provider list. The Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art also are among the approved providers in the region.
 
More information on this and other NWACC programs is available online.
 

The fallout from the investigation into the online activities of Faulkner County Circuit Judge Mike Maggio continues, as the Conway judge's current docket has been reassigned.

Maggio, who until early this month was a candidate for the Arkansas Court of Appeals, dropped out of the race after blogger and attorney Matt Campbell of the Blue Hog Report posted anonymous comments Maggio had been making on a Louisiana State University sports website. In the postings, Maggio made racist and homophobic statements. He also revealed confidential information relating to cases currently before his court, including details of an adoption by actress Charlize Theron that took place on his docket.

A follow up post by Campbell also revealed that Maggio lowered penalties in a lawsuit around the same time one of the defendants in the lawsuit created and funded political action committees which eventually donated to Maggio's campaign.

An order signed Monday (March 24) by Chief Justice Jim Hannah of the Arkansas Supreme Court said a special judge, or a group of special judges, would take over Maggio's docket.

"The Supreme Court has been advised that court operations in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, Division 2, have been disrupted, and that the orderly administration of justice has been severely compromised, due, in part, to recusal issues," Hannah said in the order.

A complaint has been filed with the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission tied to the donations from the PACs to Maggio's campaign.

Maggio has yet to resign from his judicial position.

A new online university and many new degree programs were approved at last week's meeting of the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees meeting. But not much discussed was a fee to fund a new fitness facility at the system's Fort Smith campus.

A request from UAFS Chancellor Dr. Paul Beran was approved unanimously and will add a fee that equals $5 per credit hour to each class taken by a student.

According to UAFS.edu, the new facility will house a 5,800 square foot fitness area, a 2,600 square foot individual and small group fitness area, along with three studio rooms and a possible two-story rock wall.

Additionally, the facility will house two full-size basketball courts and a three lane track on the second floor above the basketball courts.

The new recreation center, as well as a new visual arts building, are the first two buildings to receive approval for construction as part of the university's latest master plan, which was revealed to the public in 2013.

The existing fitness and recreation facility was renovated and opened to the public in May 2006. A site for the new facility has not been announced.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. issued an immediate recall of the My Sweet Love / My Sweet Baby Cuddle Care Dolls sold exclusively at its store since August 2012. The dolls were pulled from the retailer’s shelves because the circuit board in the chest cavity can overheat, posing a burn hazard to the consumer, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Wal-Mart has received 12 reports of incidents including two reports of burns or blisters to the thumb. There are an estimated 174,000 units in circulation.Consumers are asked to discontinue use immediately and return the product to Wal-Mart for a full $20 refund. This recall renders it illegal to resale the dolls.

The 16-inch is packaged with a toy medical check-up kit including a stethoscope, feeding spoon, thermometer and syringe. The doll is identified with UPC 6-04576-16800-5 and a date that begins with WM. That code is on the label sewn into the bottom of the doll.

The toys were manufactured in China by Tak Ngai Electronic Toys Co. 


Tyson Foods Inc. announced the promotion of Flavio Malnarcic as president and general manager of Tyson do Brasil, the company’ poultry subsidiary in Brazil.

“Flavio has done an outstanding job leading the finance team in Brazil,” said Rob Tanksley, senior vice president of Tyson’s Latin America business unit. “I’m certain he’ll do a great job continuing to grow the business by making us a stronger player in the poultry industry there. 

Malnarcic joined Tyson do Brasil in 2010 as director of finance and accounting. Before he joined the company, he worked in accounting and finance with Cargill for a total of 17 years, including six years in its U.S. operations and 11 years with Cargill do Brasil. He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in business administration.

Tyson Foods created Tyson do Brasil when it acquired three companies in southern Brazil, two in the state of Santa Catarina, and one in the state of Parana. The plants are now at full capacity, processing about 2 million chickens per week.

Tyson do Brasil produces a wide variety of chicken products, including frozen, fresh and marinated cuts. Brazil has a population of 192 million people, a growing economy and a rising middle class. Through its Brazilian operations, the company has additional access to growing international export markets, including the European Union, which currently does not allow chicken from the U.S. to be imported.

John Brown University Construction Management students brought home several awards from the Associated Schools of Construction Student Competition. The team placed first against ten other teams in the commercial building category and second against seven other teams in the heavy civil category. Senior Logan Willard won the best presenter award in the heavy civil category.

Each team was divided into separate construction categories. They were assigned construction project packages and spent the next 16-hours developing into proposals or bids for their projects. The final proposal included a set of project plans and specifications, bids from subcontractors and parameters about the project and project site, according to the release.

The teams were judges on their proposals and presentations based on how well they understood the project, estimated and planned the project's specifications and completed the contractual requirements.

The competition was hosted the TEXO Construction Association in Dallas.

A land swap between the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority and the Army National Guard has the city of Barling wanting something, too.

At the city's Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday (March 25), FCRA Executive Director Ivy Owen was on hand to make an offer of land to the city to make up for the land within its city limits that the FCRA is giving to the National Guard so the military can construct a new $40 million training center along Arkansas Highway 22, near the guard base's main gate.

According to Owen, the land swap involves about 80 acres that fall within the Barling city limits, taking those acres out of the city's taxable property.

"If we do this exchange and the Guard builds their $40 million training center, it would be in Barling. It wouldn't create a lot of property tax, but it would create a heck of a lot of sales tax," he said, adding that there was some concern among Board members that the FCRA was not treating the city fairly in the land swap.

"It was simply for the region to gain," he explained. "We're here to create jobs and quality of life and that sort of thing. But I think they (the city of Barling) still have a bit of a bad taste in their mouths from years ago when there was a disagreement from Fort Smith and Barling on who was going to get the most Chaffee land (following the closure of the U.S. Army installation). I get the feeling that there is still a bad taste there and I'm just caught in the middle."

Owen said FCRA's gift of 200 acres in exchange for 522 acres from the National Guard allows for nearly three times as much land available for development, though he said the deal could fall through should all parties not find a satisfactory solution.

"I told (the Board of Directors) if it wasn't a good thing for Barling, we wouldn't do the land exchange at all."

No action has been taken, though Owen said the city has been offered 80 acres by the FCRA that borders the Barling city park.

Wal-Mart Stores filed suit against Visa this week in U.S. District Court (Fayetteville) claiming the defendant conspired with large banks to fix interchange fees charged to merchants between Jan 1, 2004 and Nov. 27, 2012. 

Much of the retail industry, including Wal-Mart, rejected a $7.25 billion settlement last fall between Visa and Mastercard over the interchange fees saying it did nothing to disclose the hidden fees or otherwise create transparency to encourage competition that would lead to lower fees for merchants and their customers. (Interchange fees are charged to merchants by the card providers each time a consumer pays with a debit or credit card.)

“Wal-Mart and all other merchants were subjected to rules and practices that harmed competition, suppressed fraud preventing technology in the U.S., and inflated interchange fees charged to merchants when customers used their credit and debit cards. As a result, many merchants were forced to pass on some of these artificially high fees to consumers,” said Wal-Mart corporate spokesman Randy Hargrove.

The suit claims that Visa raised interchange fees by 234% between 1998 to 2006. The complaint also alleges Visa’s anticompetitive conduct generated more than $350 billion in interchange fees for the colluding issuers during the damages period — fees that Wal-Mart and other retailers paid and continue to pay.

Wal-Mart’s suit comes on the heels of Visa’s complaint against the retail giant filed in June 2013 after the retailer opted out of the $7.25 settlement. The Visa suit sought to block Wal-Mart from pursuing more damages with an injunction.

“We’ve asked the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to dismiss the unwarranted suit VISA filed against Wal-Mart in retaliation for opting out and objecting to an unfair interchange settlement agreement,” Hargrove said.

Wal-Mart estimates its injuries are in excess of $5 billion.

“We continue to oppose the proposed credit card interchange fee settlement, which would give the defendants a sweeping release that poses considerable risk of abuse and does nothing to change the broken market,” Hargrove said.

Wal-Mart and much of the retail industry continue to support innovation around payment technologies that better guard against fraud. The retailer said those new payment technologies could be stifled if the settlement with Visa and Mastercard stands.

Payne Brewer has joined Arvest Bank, Benton County, as senior vice president and commercial banker. He will work from the Village On The Creeks in Rogers, according the release.

Brewer has worked for Arvest Bank in Fayetteville since 1997 as senior vice president then as executive vice president and loan manager. Prior to joining Arvest, he began his banking career in 1984 with Merchants National Bank in Fort Smith, moved to First National Bank of Fayetteville in 1988 and continued with successor banks – Worthen National Bank and Boatmen’s National Bank until joining Arvest.

“Payne is a benefit to the Arvest team wherever he works,” said Mark Ryan, commercial loan manager in Benton County. “His banking experience and knowledge is a treasure both to us and to Arvest Bank customers. He understands a businesses’ financial needs and knows how to provide sound solutions and advice to our customers.”

A native of Fayetteville, Brewer earned his bachelor’s degree graduating with high honors in 1984 from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He has completed Arkansas Bankers Association Lending School at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro in 1985, American Bankers Association Commercial Lending School at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla.,  in 1987 and the School of Banking of the South at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., in 1993.

Brewer has also been active in community service, involved in the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Washington County. He is a Paul Harris Fellow and served as a former president for the Fayetteville Northside Rotary Club; was formerly a board member and treasurer for the Fayetteville Public Education Foundation; was a former board member for Lifestyles Inc.; and formerly served on the fundraising committee for the Arkansas Council on Economic Education. He is a graduate of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce Leadership Fayetteville Class of 1993.

Retail giant Wal-Mart Stores has coughed up more than $439 million in legal fees over the past two years to investigate bribery allegations and other potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. 



Experts say so far this probe is one of the most expensive in U.S. history. Wal-Mart said during its February earnings call compliance costs for this year would range between $200 million and $240 million, a figure that also includes the company’s internal compliance overhaul. 

Last year Wal-Mart spent $282 million on FCPA legal dealings on top of the $157 million costs in 2012, the year the probe in Mexico began and was expanded to India, China and Brazil.



"While we believe that it is probable that we will incur a loss from these matters, given the ongoing nature and complexity of the review, inquiries and investigations, we cannot reasonably estimate any loss or range of loss that may arise from these matters,” Wal-Mart noted in its recent 10K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Susan Steffens has been named executive director of the Arkansas-Oklahoma Cancer Support Foundation and Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House of Fort Smith.

Judy Englehart, president of Regions Insurance and president of the Cancer Support Foundation Board of Directors, said Steffens’ personal and career background are well suited for the Executive Director position.

“Susan brings a wealth of experience in fundraising, grant writing, marketing, public relations, finance, business development, and management,” Englehart said in the statement.

Originally from Cleveland, Tenn., Steffens attended the University of Tennessee and earned a bachelor’s degree from Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Ga. She earned her master’s degree of Business Administration from Webster University in Fort Smith.

She recently served as executive director for the Donald W. Reynolds Crisis Intervention Center (aka Crisis Center for Women). She previously held the position of assistant executive director and chief financial officer for Bost Inc., the second largest non-profit of its kind in the State of Arkansas.

Steffens is a 2011 graduate of Leadership Fort Smith. Her community affiliations include: Zonta International, the Network of Executive Women, and the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce committees. She previously served on the board for the Children’s Emergency Shelter, on the board for the Mount Magazine Girl Scout Council, on the board for the Fort Smith Art Center, on the board of the Christian Women’s Job Corp, on the Step Up, Speak Out, Prevent Child Abuse committee, and as director of women’s ministries for a local church.

The Arkansas-Oklahoma Cancer Support Foundation was founded in 1978 to support the Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House, whose mission is to provide an array of cost-free programs and services to cancer patients and to provide cancer awareness education programs across a 14-county area of Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma. A myriad of services and programs are available for cancer patients and their families.

During 2013, the Cancer Support House served 579 new cancer patients. 2013 services and programs included: providing 872 mastectomy and ostomy supplies, held 14 specialized support groups, privately fitting and providing 1174 wigs, hats and turbans, disbursing 1,500 gas vouchers, distributing nutritional supplements to 93 patients, paid $9,200 in utilities or prescription assistance, and celebrating countless milestones. Located at 3324 S. M St., in Fort Smith, all services are confidential and are provided free of charge to cancer patients.

On April 5, 2014, the Cancer Support House is hosting the 20th Annual Wine & Roses fundraising event. This premier event accounts for 30% of their budget to provide vital services and programs to cancer patients. Tickets and Sponsor opportunities are still available online at ReynoldsCancerSupportHouse.org or at 782-6302.

Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus will host a series of receptions that will provide students, faculty, staff and community members with an opportunity to learn more about the four finalists to become the 12th president of Arkansas Tech.

Following are the dates for the visits to ATU-Ozark.

Monday, March 31
Dr. Robin Bowen, executive vice president and provost, Fitchburg State University

Wednesday, April 2
Dr. J. William Berry, executive vice president and provost, University of Dallas

Monday, April 7
Dr. Rex Gandy, provost, Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Monday, April 14
Dr. Robert Marley, vice president for student success, Montana State University

All four presidential finalist receptions at ATU-Ozark will take place from 2:30 to 4 p.m. in the Student Services Conference Center at 1700 Helberg Lane in Ozark.

Arkansas Tech is seeking a successor for Dr. Robert Brown, who announced on Aug. 23, 2013, that the current academic year would be his last as active president of the university. Brown has served as president at Arkansas Tech since July 1, 1993.

Superior Industries International has appointed Margaret S. Dano, the company’s lead director, as chairman, succeeding Steven J. Borick, who is retiring from the company’s day-to-day operations, including his role as chief executive officer, effective Mar. 31,  Borick will remain on the board of directors.

Superior also named its two executive vice presidents, Michael J. O’Rourke and Kerry A. Shiba, as interim co-CEOs, while the board completes its search for a CEO successor to Borick, 61.

Dano, 54, has served on Superior Industries’ board since January 2007 and as its lead director since 2010. She has chaired Superior’s nominating and corporate governance committee and served as a member of the audit committee. Dano previously held senior management positions at units of Honeywell International, Avery Dennison, Black and Decker and General Electric.

“Steve Borick has been an outstanding leader at Superior and for the automotive industry, serving as our CEO since 2005,” Dano said. “He has been instrumental in building a strong foundation for our company, one that will serve as a solid platform for the new leadership team. I am pleased that Superior will continue to benefit from his guidance as a continuing member of our board.”

O’Rourke, 53, joined Superior in 1987. He was named executive vice president in 2008 and holds responsibility for the company’s marketing, sales and operational functions.

Shiba, 59, Superior’s chief financial officer, joined the company in 2010. He was promoted to executive vice president in 2012.

Superior said it is in the process of conducting interviews with potential CEOs, as well as additional board candidates.

“Thanks to the dedication and hard work of our employees, I am retiring at a time when Superior is healthy and postured for long-term growth,” Borick said. “My decision was primarily based on a desire to have more time for personal interests, including philanthropic activities. I wish the company and everyone associated with it all the best.”

Texting while driving is a recipe for disaster as one text takes the eyes off the road for an average of five seconds. At 55 mph, that’s driving the length of a football field completely blind, according to AT&T’s “It Can Wait” campaign aimed at educating teens against the dangers of texting while driving.

AT&T is taking the virtual texting while driving chair simulator around the state from March 28 through April 5.

The Jones Center and NorthWest Arkansas Community College will each be hosting virtual driving and texting simulations on March 31 and April 2, at their respective campuses in Springdale and Bentonville.

The simulator is a video game driving setup that houses a chair, steering wheel, pedals, and monitor for the driver. Students will be able to the 3-D driving simulation that re-creates the eyes-off-the-road and hands-off-the-wheel experience of texting while driving.

AT&T has garnered more than 3.5 million pledges in its “It Can Wait” movement and continues to educate young drivers with this simulator.

• The Jones Center event is slated between 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Mar. 31.

• The NWACC event is scheduled between 10 a.m  and 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2 in the student center.

For the second time in as many months Tyson Foods Inc. was ranked among the most outstanding companies in the nation. Forbes selects “America’s 100 Most Trustworthy Companies” each year. Tyson Foods made its debut on the 2014 list, ranking sixth among large-cap companies. In February, the company was among “America’s Most Admired Companies,” as selected by Fortune.  
 
“Recognition of this sort is always appreciated,” said Sara Lilygren, executive vice president of corporate affairs for Tyson Foods. “It reflects well on the thousands of Tyson Foods team members who make up our company.
 
“Food is a trust business. Consumers put their trust in us that what they feed their family will be safe to eat,” Lilygren said. “From the farm to the production floor and beyond that into every aspect of marketing, R&D and our corporate offices, the expectation is the same. We always strive to do what’s right.”
 
Forbes’ selections for the most trustworthy companies are made by GMI Ratings, which evaluated a set of credibility factors for 8,000 publicly-traded companies in North America. The large-cap category included companies with more than $5 billion in market capitalization, according to the release.
 
A third business publication recognized Tyson Foods’ leadership in its December/January edition. Tyson Foods President and CEO Donnie Smith and Chief Financial Officer Dennis Leatherby were named to Institutional Investor’s “2014 All-American Executive Team” within the food category.
 
In addition to the accolades from the business press, Tyson Foods’ stock price has more than doubled over the past two years and continues to trade near its all-time high of $43.45. Tyson shares (NYSE:TSN) ended the first quarter of 2014 at $43.15, climbing 30% since the first day of trading in 2014.
 

The University of Arkansas alumnus Robert H. Biggadike has made an estate gift commitment of $7.8 million to benefit the UA College of Engineering. The future gift will be used to establish the Robert H. Biggadike Endowment for Teaching in the college.


“This is a fantastic gift for the College of Engineering and the University of Arkansas,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “Robert’s generosity is inspiring, and we are deeply touched by his support of his alma mater. His gift will allow the College of Engineering to make impressive advances and contribute greatly to its future success.”

Biggadike, a native of Newport, Ark., who now lives in West Covina, Calif., received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the university in 1958 and began a career in the aerospace industry. He later returned to Arkansas and earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. His aerospace career took him to California, where he worked for companies including Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics and Boeing. He was a control systems engineer, developing rigid and elastic body simulations of missiles and designing autopilot systems.

Biggadike attributes his ability to provide this gift to consistent investing throughout his career saying “engineers tend to be productive citizens who make a contribution to society.”

Engineering Dean John English said a gift of this magnitude “is an excellent investment in our future. We are deeply appreciative to Mr. Biggadike for his philanthropy.”

In 1983, Biggadike established a scholarship endowment in the College of Engineering in memory of his father. That gift is used to support juniors and seniors majoring in mechanical engineering. Because of his philanthropy, Biggadike is recognized in the Towers of Old Main, a society that honors the university’s most generous benefactors.

America's Car-Mart has opened dealership No. 132, according to a release provided by the Bentonville-based company late Monday evening (March 31).

This newest used-car dealership is located in Warrensburg, Mo., and is the company’s 18th store in the Show Me State and its eighth new opening this fiscal year. The Warrensburg dealership will be managed by John Hall.  

Car-Mart shares closed Monday at $36.66, up 3.44%. For the past 52 weeks the share price has ranged from a high $49.21 to a low $34.56, according to Yahoo! Finance.