Hallmark Cards begins headquarters staff cuts

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Hallmark Cards followed through this week with headquarters staff cuts announced in March.

The company, based in Kansas City, had expected to eliminate about 200 product development and creation positions but was able to reduce the number to 165.

Even at the reduced reduction rate, the company didn’t receive enough voluntary separation requests, so involuntary cuts began this week.

Company spokesman Julie Elliott said the affected employees’ final workdays will be later this month. All are receiving severance packages and outplacement assistance.

Taco Bell in Chicago will offer alcohol

CHICAGO – What wine pairs best with a quesarito?

You’ll be able to find out for yourself this summer. Taco Bell has confirmed earlier reports that a soon-to-open location in Chicago’s hip Wicker Park neighborhood will serve beer, wine and boozy “freezes,” according to a spokesperson for the brand.

Don’t get any ideas about to-go cups, though. Alcoholic drinks will be served to eat-in customers only, in a different cup than virgin drinks.

No word yet on the hours alcohol will be served, but fingers crossed for a Sunday morning mimosa-biscuit taco special.

Wal-Mart workers can start wearing denim

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Wal-Mart is hoping denim pants will raise the spirits of its more than 1.2 million U.S. store workers.

Starting July 1, workers at the nation’s largest private employer will now be able to wear khaki or black denim, in addition to the slacks of the same color allowed before. Workers in more rigorous jobs like unloading merchandise or the garden area will be able to wear T-shirts and blue jeans.

It’s among several changes Wal-Mart’s U.S. division is making in response to complaints from workers about their jobs, from big issues like the lack of flexibility in scheduling and pay to smaller gripes like the redundant music piped into its stores.

The relaxation follows a dress code mandated last September that included white or navy collared shirts with khakis or black pants and a navy blue vest. Wal-Mart is paying only for the vest, igniting a flurry of complaints from workers.

The new policy doesn’t change that.

Wal-Mart is also equipping all its department managers with more advanced mobile devices by October so they will be able to quickly check store inventory.

And to address worker complaints about store temperatures that could be too cold in winter and too hot in summer, it’s adjusting the store thermostats – controlled from the corporate headquarters – by 1 degree Fahrenheit.

Corn, soybean growers are worried by bird flu

DES MOINES, Iowa – Corn and soybean producers are keeping a close eye on the bird flu outbreak, concerned that the loss of nearly 45 million birds might reduce demand for poultry feed made with the grains and send prices lower.

Todd Hultman, a grain market analyst for DTN, an Omaha, Nebraska-based agriculture market data provider, said there appears to be no significant impact to commodity prices in part because demand remains strong from other sources, such as hog and cattle producers.

About 1 billion bushels each of corn and soybeans went into turkey and chicken feed last year. That’s out of 14 billion bushels of corn and nearly 4 billion bushels of soybeans.