Strauss: Pesek Zman protest out of control
Is the story that Pesek Zman candy bars can be bought in New Jersey for less than half the local price just stuff and nonsense? No. But almost a week after a public uproar ensued following the Facebook publication of a picture showing the low price, Strauss is speaking out. Or rather, its CEO Zion Balas is, and what he has to say is this: Yes, its candy costs less in the United States, but he feels the Pesek Zman protest is out of control. In a video clip on Strauss' Facebook page, he vows that the "basket of Strauss products" is 20% cheaper in Israel than abroad. "I am so confident of the facts that I call on Israelis living in the United States to send us pictures or even receipts for Strauss products, so you the consumers can see the facts too," he said. (Adi Dovrat-Meseritz )
Strike alert at all Israel's seaports
Union representatives of all Israel's port workers will be meeting with government officials tomorrow to discuss the workers' pension rights. If minds do not meet, a full-blown strike at the Haifa, Ashdod and Eilat ports could erupt next week. The workers are upset that their non-contributory pensions, which are paid in full by the state, are being held in the port companies' bank accounts rather than in designated vehicles, and that they could suffer if the ports' fortunes flag. They're also not happy about how their pensions are calculated: Raises they received in recent years are not factored in. Stay tuned. Treasury officials snort that the real issue is that the state is planning to allow private docks to be built at the ports, or more simply: Competition is rearing its head. (Daniel Schmil )
Electra sweetened offer, bought Ace
Mazal tov: Electra Consumer Products upped its offer to buy Ace Auto Depot by NIS 9 million and won over the judge presiding over the do-it-yourself chain's demise and resurrection. During Wednesday's hearing, Ace's trustee managers urged that Ace's offer should win, even though two other bids were presented on Wednesday. Indeed, the court refused to delay the process to study the other bids, and Electra prevailed. Electra, which owns Shekem Electronic, Machsanei Hashmal and various import companies, had offered to pay NIS 120 million for Ace, of which NIS 80 million is for inventory. It jacked up the offer to NIS 129 million and the deal was done. (Adi Dovrat-Meseritz and Jasmin Gueta )
Bill: Make industry file emissions reports
A bill requiring heavy industries to report their annual emission levels to the Environmental Protection Ministry passed its first of three readings in the Knesset on Wednesday. The law would apply to about 500 companies that handle more than a stipulated amount of hazardous material. The reports will be accessible to the general public. The companies certainly affected include the Israel Electric Corporation, Israel Chemicals, other chemical companies, desalination plants, food companies, sewage treatment companies and waste treatment companies. They will have to state which chemicals, and in what amounts, they emitted into the environment or transferred to another body. (Itai Trilnik )
Maxine Fassberg staying CEO of Intel Israel
Maxine Fassberg will remain general manager of Intel Israel in addition to her new position as head of Intel Israel's production division, which was announced last month. Mooly Eden, a senior vice president of the global Intel group, will be returning to Israel as announced to serve as president of Intel Israel, but in contrast to previous reports, he will not be CEO of the company. Fassberg will continue to handle negotiations between Intel and the Israeli government over investment subsidies. (Guy Grimland )
