Posted on March - 28 - 2010
Coffee Break: All-electric trucks join FedEx fleet
FedEx’s first all-electric delivery trucks to serve the U.S. market will start making their rounds in the Los Angeles area in June.
The company is buying four trucks from manufacturers Navistar and Modec to evaluate performance under demanding everyday conditions. Two more electric trucks from a third manufacturer are due later in the year.
The Navistar model was displayed in Chicago Monday and sent on a “Charge Up Route 66″ tour ending in Los Angeles.
FedEx, which pioneered the use of hybrid-electric pickup and delivery vehicles and already has electric vehicles serving London, will have 1,869 alternative energy vehicles in its fleet by the end of June.
CKx confirms sale talks
CKx Inc., the media company that controls Elvis Presley Enterprises, confirmed Monday that it is in talks to sell the company.
The company, however, did not give a price or say who the prospective buyer is.
It also cautioned that a deal still might not happen and said it won’t be releasing more details until it has a firm agreement.
The disclosure came after The Wall Street Journal reported that CKx is close to selling itself to the private-equity firm One Equity Partners, a division of JP Morgan Chase, for about $6 per share.
As part of the deal, CKx chief Bob Sillerman is expected to retain control of his 21 percent stake. Sillerman is spearheading the company’s plans to redevelop the Graceland area.
CKx’s properties include 19 Entertainment, the company behind the “American Idol’ franchise. It also owns rights to the name, image and likeness of boxer Muhammad Ali.
Perkins reports revenue results
Memphis-based Perkins & Marie Callender’s Inc. said revenues were $536.1 million in 2009, down 7.9 percent from revenues of $582 million in 2008.
Comparable sales at company-owned Perkins restaurants were down 6.6 percent, while sales at company-owned Marie Callender’s fell by 6.4 percent.
The company said adjusted earnings before income taxes, depreciation and amortization rose to $39.7 million in 2009, an increase of $4.1 million from adjusted EBITDA of $35.6 million in 2008.
In a statement, company president and CEO Joseph Trungale said, “Although 2009 was a challenging year, we were successful in holding margins, continuing to improve store-level execution, and managing corporate-level costs without adversely affecting our guests.”
Pizza With Planners
Pizza With Planners will focus on Aerotropolis: River, Road, Rail, Runway and Your Neighborhood from 5:30 to 7 p.m. today at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar.
The program presented by the Coalition for Livable Communities, will feature Jim Covington, Greater Memphis Chamber vice president of logistics and aerotropolis development, and Chuck Strong, president of the Whitehaven Economic Development Corp.
Piano’s Flowers and Gifts is providing pizza and soft drinks.
For information, send an e-mail to sarah@livablememphis.org.
Similar Posts:
- FedEx to roll out all-electric delivery trucks in Los Angeles in June
- FedEx outlines plans to add clean diesel and electric vehicles in Memphis
- Memphis-based Perkins restaurant chain seeks bankruptcy protection
- Coffee Break: FedEx adds to growing green fleet
- Robert F.X. Sillerman resigns from CKx, company that operates Graceland
