Ticker: Negotiators start budget talks; Georgia firm buys Vermont-based Koffee Kup

Beacon Hill’s top budget-writers made a brief public appearance on Zoom before quickly retreating to private negotiations Tuesday to hash out a final version of the fiscal 2022 budget plan.

Chairmen Rep. Aaron Michlewitz and Sen. Michael Rodrigues appeared to be in their State House offices, joined on the call by fellow conferees Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante, Rep. Todd Smola, Sen. Cindy Friedman, and Sen. Patrick O’Connor.

Their work sorting out differences between the House and Senate budgets is supposed to be wrapped up before the fiscal new year on July 1. Since Gov. Charlie Baker gets 10 days to act on the bill after it lands on his desk, the committee and the Legislature would need to okay a deal by around June 20 to guarantee an on-time budget.

Georgia firm buys Vermont-based Koffee Kup 

A national producer of baked goods has purchased the assets of Burlington, Vt.-based Koffee Kup Bakery, which shut its doors earlier this year.

On Monday, Flowers Foods of Thomasville, Ga., the producer of Nature’s Own, Dave’s Killer Bread, Wonder, Canyon Bakehouse and Tastykake, announced it had acquired Koffee Kup’s assets.

The Burlington-based Koffee Kup, which includes the Vermont Bread Co. in Brattleboro, and Superior Bakery in North Grosvenordale, Conn., closed abruptly in April due to financial problems.

Ryals McMullian, president and CEO of Flowers, said the acquisition brings brands and production capacity to the Northeast.

“We have no immediate plans to reopen the bakeries but will be assessing how they may fit our strategic network optimization efforts in the future,” he said.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3x4A1LO