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Fresh Scent

Fresh Scent

Mulberrys seeks to make dry cleaning sustainable—and convenient. In three years, it has opened six locations.
Heard and Seen

Heard and Seen

Alpha Video and Audio introduces an innnovative emergency notification system for schools.
American Crystal Sugar: Full Steam Ahead

American Crystal Sugar: Full Steam Ahead

Despite escalating costs for all concerned, American Crystal Sugar is operating without 1,300 unionized factory workers locked out six months ago. Upping the ante, the union threatens to pull support for the Farm Bill, which in turn could hurt the entire sugar industry.

Buffets Enters Bankruptcy; 81 Restaurants to Close

The restaurant operator also filed a reorganization plan that includes eliminating its $245 million of outstanding debt and closing 81 "underperforming" restaurants; the company expects to complete the restructuring process and exit bankruptcy protection within about six months.

Dayton Finds Faults in Stadium Plans, Leans Toward One

The governor appears to favor the Linden Avenue site near the Basilica of St. Mary, although he believes all three of the front-runner proposals have problems that could prevent a stadium proposal from receiving legislative approval this year.

Ecolab to Cut 500 Positions in Post-Merger Restructuring

Shortly after finalizing its purchase of Nalco Holding Company, Ecolab said that it's embarking on a restructuring and cost-saving effort that will result in pre-tax special charges of $480 million over the next couple of years-but fuel cost savings of $250 million annually by the end of 2014.

Snap Fitness Buys Iowa-Based Fitness Chain

Chanhassen-based Snap Fitness said that it recently acquired Kosama Complete Body Transformation, which franchises clubs that offer instructor-led fitness classes that do not use cardio or weight machines.