New Channels News In Brief…
Shareholders of Walgreens and members of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility are filing a shareholder proposal requesting that the board of directors review the risks of tobacco sales in Walgreens’ pharmacies. A separate resolution requesting disclosure of lobbying expenditures also was filed. The proponents of the resolution argue that the sale of tobacco products in Walgreens pharmacies exposes the company to significant and long-term risks that may impact shareholder returns. Chief among their concerns is the impact this contradiction will have on Walgreens’ brand image as a company focused on health. Shareholders say they decided to file the resolution this year because management has failed to respond to their requests for further study of the topic in ongoing dialogues…
Since being the first in the industry to announce efforts to help U.S. wheat growers double organic wheat acres last December, Ardent Mills, a flour-milling and ingredient company, has expanded its producer program to a total of seven U.S. states and a Canadian province while adding more organic-certified milling and packaging locations along with storage. “Since our initial announcement, we have continued to see growing demand from restaurants and food companies for organic wheat flour for use in fresh, packaged and menu recipes,” said Ardent Mills CEO Dan Dye. “This is a significant opportunity for growers to become a part of an emerging market and to create additional value for their crops on the path to organic certification. We have been providing organic flour since 1996 and are well positioned to meet this bold challenge.”
