In brief: California to offer bid for Boeing 777X work
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California will be among states submitting bids to Boeing Co. this week in an effort to land a production facility for the company’s newest commercial jetliner.
An official for Gov. Jerry Brown’s Office of Business and Economic Development, or GO-Biz, confirmed Monday that California will submit a proposal to Boeing ahead of the company’s deadline today for states seeking to host production of the 777X.
GO-Biz declined to say what incentives, if any, are included in the proposal, though Brown has significant latitude to negotiate.
Boeing is searching for another site to build the 777X after a machinists union in Washington rejected Boeing’s proposed contract.
Customer bill of rights prohibits profiling
NEW YORK – Responding to allegations of racial profiling, a coalition of major retailers agreed Monday to create a customer bill of rights that will explicitly prohibit profiling and unreasonable searches.
Civil rights leaders met Monday with representatives from retail chains including Barneys, Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Lord & Taylor and The Gap, the Rev. Al Sharpton said.
The agreement, drafted by the Retail Council of New York State trade group, prohibits profiling and unreasonable searches and states that workers who violate their employers’ prohibition on profiling will be disciplined and could be fired.
The two groups first met last month after several black shoppers alleged they were racially profiled at Macy’s and Barneys New York. The stores denied they had policies that targeted black customers.
Chobani yogurt will air first Super Bowl ad
NEW YORK – Chobani says it will air its first Super Bowl ad this February, a move intended to make the Greek yogurt company more of a household name.
The debut on advertising’s biggest stage comes as Greek yogurt continues to surge in popularity. Known for its thick texture and tart taste, Greek yogurt now accounts for more than a third of the U.S. yogurt market, up from just 1 percent in 2007, according to a report by Bernstein Research. And the figure is expected to top more than 50 percent in coming years.
Chobani is the market leader but says only about a third of Americans are familiar with its brand.
To boost awareness, the company hired Peter McGuinness as its first chief marketing officer four months ago. McGuinness declined to provide details on the Super Bowl spot, but said it would be more than 30 seconds and mark the start of a more aggressive marketing strategy.
Delivery company tests drones for drops
FRANKFURT, Germany – Germany’s express delivery and mail company Deutsche Post DHL is testing a drone that could be used to deliver urgently needed goods to hard-to-reach places.
The small pilotless helicopter flew a package of medicine Monday from a pharmacy in the town of Bonn to the company’s headquarters on the other side of the Rhine River. The aircraft can carry up to 6.6 pounds.
Company spokesman Thomas Kutsch said the flights this week are strictly a research project to see if the technology works and there are no plans yet to start actual drone deliveries. The test flights required permission from local aviation authorities.
Online retailer Amazon is also working on a drone to deliver goods to customers despite legal obstacles in the U.S.