New Channels News In Brief….
The New York City Council voted to collect a fee on each carryout bag, paper or plastic, with some exceptions. The council settled on a 5-cent minimum fee after an earlier version of the bill called for 10 cents. Stores can collect and keep the fees and can even charge more if they choose. Exceptions include “plastic bags used for produce, small paper medicine bags at pharmacies, bags used at state-regulated liquor stores and bags used by soup kitchens.” Those buying groceries with food stamps also are exempt from paying the fee. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said he will support the fee. Proponents of the legislation say they want to encourage the city’s consumers to bring their own bags to stores and cut down on the “estimated 10 billion single-use plastic bags a year” that the city’s Sanitation Department says it collects. Opponents, however, say that single-use bags often are anything but, having other uses after the initial store use. The bag fee is scheduled to take effect in October…
Staples and Office Depot plan to terminate their merger agreement following last week’s U.S. District Court recent ruling granting the Federal Trade Commission’s request for a preliminary injunction to block the acquisition. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Staples will pay Office Depot a $250 million breakup fee. Staples also plans to terminate its agreement to sell more than $550 million in large corporate contract business and related assets to Essendant in connection with the termination of the Office Depot merger agreement…
Sprout Nutrition and Crossmark announced a new nationwide partnership to bring organic whole foods to babies, toddlers and all family members. The partnership gives Sprout expanded category presence and broad access to retailers with consumer insight capabilities while broadening Crossmark’s presence within the baby and organic family snack categories, the companies say.
