ThisIsRochester.com: Business and Industry

Virginia company acquires Mastodon Design

Feb. 12, 2019 -- Rochester-based tech company Mastodon Design, has been sold to Arlington, Va., based defense contractor CACI International in a deal worth $225 million.

Mastodon, which employs approximately 50 people at its Anderson Avenue facility, designs and builds communications equipment for the military and other government clients. The company was founded in 2013 by Mark Benoit, a former Harris RF Communications engineer.

Kodak Alaris anticipating changes

Feb. 5, 2019 -- Kodak Alaris, carved out of Eastman Kodak in 2013 after bankruptcy proceedings, plans to sell its photochemical and film unit, and may eventually sell all of its assets, according to company filings.

In its most recent annual report and financial statements, which covers a 15-month period through March 2018, the company noted that its board approved a sale of its PPF (paper, photochemicals and film) business.

"The transaction is expected to deliver a net cash benefit to (Kodak Alaris) in 2019," according to a statement from Kodak Alaris Board Chairman Mark Elliott, which was included in the paperwork.

Kodak Alaris' sole shareholder is a UK pension fund called the Kodak Pension Plan, which has struggled under a large funding deficit. A review last year showed that the fund was unlikely to meet its financial obligations, Elliott said.

Jeweler's parent company hit with eight-figure fine

Jan. 16, 2019 -- Sterling Jewelers, the owner of Kay Jewelers and Jared The Galleria of Jewelry, was fined $11 million for allegedly enrolling customers in a store credit cards without their knowledge, State Attorney General Letitia James announced. Employees solicited personal information from customers under the guise of enrolling them in a rewards program, her office said.

The company, which operates 1,500 stores nationally including 130 in New York, said it disagreed with the allegations, but negotiated a settlement to save on litigation costs.

Sterling imposed a credit card enrollment quota on employees, creating a high pressure situation which lead deceitful tactics, the attorney general's office alleged.

Auto dealership pulls advertising for WHEC

Jan. 9, 2019 -- Ontario Honda became the first major business to announce it had pulled its advertising from WHEC-TV four days after an on-air gaffe that led to the station's chief meteorologist.

Ontario Honda in Canandaigua announced on Facebook that it has terminated its relationship with Channel 10. "Due to the recent events that have occurred at Channel 10 (WHEC), after much consideration, Ontario Honda has decided to discontinue advertising on the station, effective immediately," the statement read.

Meteorologist Jeremy Kappell was fired two days earlier because he appeared to utter a racial slur on the air during a newscast segment. Kappell apologized on his Facebook page and made the rounds on local media to defend himself, saying he was speaking too quickly and jumbled his words. Kappell said he did not realize at the time how the gaffe sounded.

Meanshile, WHEC and station owner Hubbard Broadcasting issued a joint statement doubling down on their decision to fire Kappell. The statement chastised Kappell for not issuing an immediate apology.

"During the previous Friday night broadcast, Mr. Kappell clearly voiced a racially derogatory term. An utterance such as this, with no immediate apology, regardless of intent, is unacceptable and inexcusable," the statement said. "There can be no confusion by anyone who works at Hubbard Broadcasting or by anyone in the communities we serve, that this is unacceptable."

The statement also said the matter had turned into "a vitriolic political debate" and that "we leave the hate-filled back-and-forth to others. News10NBC will focus on its mission to serve the greater Rochester community and move forward accordingly."

Century-old bakery closing local operation

Jan. 9, 2019 -- Gruttadauria's Bakery has shut down after 105 years in the Rochester area, with the family's fourth generation of owners making the decision to move the business to Temecula, Calif., in the heart of the region's wine country.

Salvatore Gruttadauria, an immigrant from Caltanissetta, Italy, started the business on Jay Street in 1914. The bakery relocated to Ridge Road West in 2004.

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	A summary of news about Greater Rochester business and industry
	More from early 2019 Virginia company acquires Mastodon Design Feb. 12, 2019 -- Rochester-based tech company Mastodon Design, has been sold to Arlington, Va., based defense contractor CACI International in a deal worth $225 million. Mastodon, which employs approximately 50 people at its Anderson Avenue facility, designs and builds communications equipment for the military and other government clients. The company was founded in 2013 by Mark Benoit, a former Harris RF Communications engineer. Kodak Alaris anticipating changes Feb. 5, 2019 -- Kodak Alaris, carved out of Eastman Kodak in 2013 after bankruptcy proceedings, plans to sell its photochemical and film unit, and may eventually sell all of its assets, according to company filings. In its most recent annual report and financial statements, which covers a 15-month period through March 2018, the company noted that its board approved a sale of its PPF (paper, photochemicals and film) business. "The transaction is expected to deliver a net cash benefit to (Kodak Alaris) in 2019," according to a statement from Kodak Alaris Board Chairman Mark Elliott, which was included in the paperwork. Kodak Alaris' sole shareholder is a UK pension fund called the Kodak Pension Plan, which has struggled under a large funding deficit. A review last year showed that the fund was unlikely to meet its financial obligations, Elliott said. Jeweler's parent company hit with eight-figure fine Jan. 16, 2019 -- Sterling Jewelers, the owner of Kay Jewelers and Jared The Galleria of Jewelry, was fined $11 million for allegedly enrolling customers in a store credit cards without their knowledge, State Attorney General Letitia James announced. Employees solicited personal information from customers under the guise of enrolling them in a rewards program, her office said. The company, which operates 1,500 stores nationally including 130 in New York, said it disagreed with the allegations, but negotiated a settlement to save on litigation costs. Sterling imposed a credit card enrollment quota on employees, creating a high pressure situation which lead deceitful tactics, the attorney general's office alleged. Auto dealership pulls advertising for WHEC Jan. 9, 2019 -- Ontario Honda became the first major business to announce it had pulled its advertising from WHEC-TV four days after an on-air gaffe that led to the station's chief meteorologist. Ontario Honda in Canandaigua announced on Facebook that it has terminated its relationship with Channel 10. "Due to the recent events that have occurred at Channel 10 (WHEC), after much consideration, Ontario Honda has decided to discontinue advertising on the station, effective immediately," the statement read. Meteorologist Jeremy Kappell was fired two days earlier because he appeared to utter a racial slur on the air during a newscast segment. Kappell apologized on his Facebook page and made the rounds on local media to defend himself, saying he was speaking too quickly and jumbled his words. Kappell said he did not realize at the time how the gaffe sounded. Meanshile, WHEC and station owner Hubbard Broadcasting issued a joint statement doubling down on their decision to fire Kappell. The statement chastised Kappell for not issuing an immediate apology. "During the previous Friday night broadcast, Mr. Kappell clearly voiced a racially derogatory term. An utterance such as this, with no immediate apology, regardless of intent, is unacceptable and inexcusable," the statement said. "There can be no confusion by anyone who works at Hubbard Broadcasting or by anyone in the communities we serve, that this is unacceptable." The statement also said the matter had turned into "a vitriolic political debate" and that "we leave the hate-filled back-and-forth to others. News10NBC will focus on its mission to serve the greater Rochester community and move forward accordingly." Century-old bakery closing local operation Jan. 9, 2019 -- Gruttadauria's Bakery has shut down after 105 years in the Rochester area, with the family's fourth generation of owners making the decision to move the business to Temecula, Calif., in the heart of the region's wine country. Salvatore Gruttadauria, an immigrant from Caltanissetta, Italy, started the business on Jay Street in 1914. The bakery relocated to Ridge Road West in 2004.