Business news briefs for 02/09/12
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Pittsburgh International Airport is one of 28 airports being added to a pilot program launched by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration to expedite security checkpoint screenings for travelers who volunteer information about themselves before flying. To enroll, visit http://www.globalentry.gov/ . If the TSA determines a traveler is eligible, information will be embedded on the barcode of the traveler's boarding pass. American and Delta airlines are part of the program. US Airways, United and Alaska airlines are to be added this year.
Chase's BBQ on Wylie Avenue in the Hill District was ordered closed by the Allegheny County Health Department Monday for numerous food safety violations, including "rodent activity" and operating without a health permit. On Jan. 31, the department posted a consumer alert at Mullen's Bar and Grill on Federal Street on the North Shore because of a mouse infestation in the kitchen and basement prep kitchen, plus other violations. The alert was lifted Feb. 2. View inspection reports for Allegheny County restaurants at http://webapps.achd.net/Restaurant/ .
Minneapolis food distributor Supervalu Inc. plans to cut 800 positions from its national workforce. A spokesman said the company's New Stanton distribution center would not be affected and the impact in the Pittsburgh area would be minimal. Supervalu supplies groceries to Shop'n Save, Foodland and Save-A-Lot stores.
• Dynavox Inc., a South Side-based speech technology company, reported second quarter net income of $300,000, or 3 cents per share, compared to $200,000, or 2 cents per share the same time last year. Gross profit for the quarter decreased 7 percent to $16.6 million, compared to $17.9 million during the same period last year.
• Groupon Inc. reported a fourth-quarter loss after an expansion into lower-margin businesses sapped profitability during its first period as a publicly traded company. Chicago-based Groupon said in a statement Wednesday its net loss was $42.7 million, or 8 cents per share, for the period. A year earlier, it booked a larger loss of $378.6 million, or $1.08 per share. Groupon says its adjusted loss was 2 cents per share, while analysts expected an adjusted profit of 3 cents per share. Revenue rose to $506.5 million from $172.2 million.
• CVS Caremark is benefitting from a contract squabble between Walgreen Co. and pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts Inc. that has driven customers to CVS pharmacies, prompting that company to raise its 2012 earnings forecast on Wednesday. CVS Caremark, based in Woonsocket, R.I., reported earnings from the fourth quarter of 2011 climbed nearly 4 percent to $1.06 billion, or 81 cents per share, from $1.03 billion, or 75 cents per share, in the final quarter of 2010. Revenue rose 15 percent to $28.32 billion. For the full year, the company earned $3.46 billion, or $2.59 per share, on $107.1 billion in revenue.
First Published February 9, 2012 12:00 am
