Posted on: Friday, November 12, 2004
BUSINESS BRIEFS
New Sam's Club cuts 90 jobs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
Sam's Club said yesterday it will lay off approximately 90 employees at its recently opened Ke'eaumoku Street store "due to business results being different than anticipated."
The employees were told that their positions would be cut effective Nov. 18, according to a news release from the company. The workers will be given the opportunity to interview for 65 full and part-time jobs at the Pearl City Sam's Club or at the Wal-Mart store on Ke'eaumoku Street. Both Sam's Club and Wal-Mart are owned by Arkansas-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Hilo mac nut firm posts loss
Hilo-based ML Macadamia Orchards LP yesterday posted a third-quarter loss of $817,000, or 11 cents a share, compared with a $9,000 loss in the same quarter a year ago. Revenues fell 37 percent to $3.3 million, in part because of a later-than-normal harvest. Results also were "disappointing" because of $450,000 in legal fees incurred to challenge the acquisition of competitor Mac Farms Hawaii by Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp., ML Macadamia said.
Through the third quarter the company lost $1.1 million, or 14 cents a share, compared with a loss of $337,000, or 4 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenues fell 29 percent to $6.1 million through the first nine months of this year.
Planners will gather on Maui
About 500 executives from the Insurance Conference Planners Association will gather at the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa on Maui next week for the association's 2004 annual meeting, the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau said yesterday.
ICPA's membership comprises planners representing insurance and financial services companies. About 200 of those attending the Nov. 14 to 18 meeting are planners responsible for booking thousands of meetings and incentives a year. "ICPA is a 'Grand Slam' industry convention and a tremendous opportunity to sell meetings and incentives statewide," said HVCB official Michael Murray. "This is a huge showcase event for Hawai'i."
