Sam's Club offering auto-buying program
Sam's Club is offering an auto-buying program for its members, a service aimed at helping save money on the purchase of new and used automobiles.
The warehouse division of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced the program Thursday and is offering it through a partnership with TrueCar. Benefits for members who purchase new cars include an average savings of $3,000 off a manufacturer's suggested retail price.
More than 10,000 dealers nationwide and 500,000 used vehicles are available to members.
"Whether it's your first car or your sixth, the process of purchasing a vehicle can be a daunting task. We've chosen to launch our auto buying program with TrueCar based on their proven ability to bring car buyers a best-in-class experience," Seong Ohm, senior vice president of merchandise business services at Sam's Club, said in a statement.
Sam's and TrueCar also are offering a three-day return policy.
-- Chris Bahn
Cobb-Vantress nears finish of Brazil center
A Tyson Foods subsidiary is finishing a $15 million farm and hatchery project in Brazil.
Cobb-Vantress Inc., a broiler breeder based in Siloam Springs, expanded two farms in Paulo De Faria in the state of Sao Paulo and Itapagipe in the state of Minas Gerais, increasing the company's production capacity by 23 percent and hatchery capacity by 10 percent, the company said Wednesday.
The project, which started in 2013, is set to be completed this month.
"This investment in expanding and improving our facilities will also enhance the welfare of our birds, which is one of our core policies," Idir Savoldi, production manager at Cobb-Vantress, said in a news release. "With the latest advances in technology and automated controls, we can look forward to increases in performance on the farm and at the hatchery."
Last summer Tyson sold its Mexican and Brazilian poultry business to JBS, a Brazilian poultry company, for $575 million. Tyson used the proceeds to help offset its $7.7 billion purchase of Hillshire Brands Co.
-- Claire Williams
Arkansas Index rises 1.29, ends at 320.95
The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, rose 1.29 to 320.95 on Thursday.
Winners and losers were divided evenly.
Shares of ArcBest climbed 1.9 percent in light trading.
J.B. Hunt rose 1.8 percent in heavy volume.
Bear State Financial fell 3.1 percent in lower than average volume.
Total volume of the index was 22.6 million shares.
The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.
Business on 09/04/2015