BloggingStocks

Kellogg Reports Soggy Earnings Results

Mark Fightmaster — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Earnings Reports, Kellogg Co (K)

Tuesday morning, Kellogg (K) announced that its third-quarter net income dropped 6% thanks to slumping cereal sales. In addition to the weakening cereal sales, Kellogg saw competition strengthen and continuing impact from a cereal recall.

First things first, the cereal king reported earnings of 90 cents per share ($338 million), which came in lower than last year's earnings of 94 cents per share ($361 million).

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Kellogg Reports Soggy Earnings Results originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan Recalling Cubes Because of Fuel Leak

Mark Fightmaster — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Nissan Motors (NSANY)

Reportedly, Nissan (NSANY) is recalling roughly 46,000 of its 2009 - 2010 Cubes in the United States because of non-compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards. According to the automaker, a fuel leak developed during crash tests. This leak could result in a fire, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nissan said that when "the vehicle was rotated following a rear moving barrier crash test as required, the amount of fuel leakage exceeded the allowable limits."

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Nissan Recalling Cubes Because of Fuel Leak originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler Recalls 600,000 Vehicles

Michael Fowlkes — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Other Issues, Products and Services, Consumer Experience, Toyota Motor Corp. (TM)

Chrysler Group announced that it has issued a recall for 600,000 vehicles today for a range of safety concerns.

The company announced that the recall was in light of concerns including faulty brakes, sticky accelerators, and electrical fires. Today's reports come as drivers are already dealing with safety concerns stemming from the massive recalls Toyota has been forced to issue over the past year.

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Chrysler Recalls 600,000 Vehicles originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota to Test Safety on All SUVs

Michael Fowlkes — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Products and Services, Consumer Experience, Competitive Strategy, Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Japan

Earlier this week Toyota Motor Corporation (TM) took another hit to its public relations when Consumer Reports hit one of its new SUV models, the Lexus GX 460, with a 'Don't Buy' rating. Toyota announced today that in light of the concerns over the Lexus SUV it would be running safety tests on all of its SUVs to reassure Toyota drivers that their vehicles are indeed safe.

The concern comes from tests that Consumer Reports ran on the Lexus GX 460 that showed the SUV was a rollover risk. The electronic stabilizer that was supposed to correct the SUV from spinning out was not kicking in as quickly as it should be.

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Toyota to Test Safety on All SUVs originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota Suspends Sale of Lexus SUV over Safety Concerns

Michael Fowlkes — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 09:40:00 EST

Filed under: Bad News, Products and Services, Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Japan

It was not that long ago that Toyota Motor Corp. (TM) was known for the safety of its vehicles, but the past year has been a nightmare for the Japanese automaker. And things took a turn for the worse Tuesday when it was forced to suspend sales of its Lexus GX 460.

The decision to suspend sales of the Lexus SUV came after Consumer Reports hit the model with a rare "Don't Buy" rating due to rollover concerns.

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Toyota Suspends Sale of Lexus SUV over Safety Concerns originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota President Asked to Testify Before House Committee

Michael Fowlkes — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:40:00 EST

Filed under: International Markets, Law, Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Scandals, Japan

With so much uncertainty surrounding the recent recalls by Toyota Motor Company (TM), the House committee that is investigating the recalls has asked the company's President to come and testify before it.

Over the past several weeks there have been more reported deaths resulting from sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles, and the House committee's chairman announced his desire to have Toyota's president, Akio Toyoda, to come in for testimony.

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Toyota President Asked to Testify Before House Committee originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starbucks Recalls Glass Water Bottles

Mark Fightmaster — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Products and Services, Starbucks (SBUX)

I couldn't make this stuff up, and I'm not sure that many people could have or would have. That said, Starbucks (SBUX) announced a recall of its glass water bottles on Thursday.

The glass bottles were not recalled because of some harmful substance that started to seep into the water from the glass, or because the water in the glass bottles was contaminated. No folks, the glass bottles were recalled because (wait for it) the glass bottles could shatter, causing lacerations to the hands.

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Starbucks Recalls Glass Water Bottles originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cookie Dough Shortage in Our Future?

Beth Gaston Moon — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:40:00 EST

Filed under: Bad News, Consumer Experience

Remember the Eggo waffle shortage in November that had everyone up in arms? Well, we could all be facing a similar crisis soon with a treat that's even more sinful: cookie dough.

Now, we all know we are supposed to cut and bake that tube of raw cookie dough, but how many of us haven't opted, instead, to grab a spoon and dig in? It's not the healthiest practice to begin with, for sure, but it becomes a bit more dodgy if harmful bacteria is involved.

Continue reading Cookie Dough Shortage in Our Future?

Cookie Dough Shortage in Our Future? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota to recall around 3.8 million vehicles

Michael Fowlkes — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Other Issues, Bad News, Products and Services, Consumer Experience, Toyota Motor Corp. (TM)

The world's largest auto maker, Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) announced Tuesday that is was about to issue the biggest recall in the company's history, as problems with some floor mats has led to numerous accidents and at least five deaths.

The recall involves eight different models of Toyota and Lexus vehicles manufactured and sold in the U.S. over the past six years, and include the popular Prius hybrid. Apparently, there is a problem with the driver side floor mats that result in the mats coming loose and jamming down the accelerator.

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Toyota to recall around 3.8 million vehicles originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pistachio recall could be widespread, includes Kraft

Sarah Gilbert — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:10:00 EST

Filed under: Bad News, Products and Services, Rants and Raves, Kroger Co (KR), Kraft Foods'A' (KFT)

When we first noted a small-ish recall which were recalled yesterday and, at first blush, the alert looks as if it could be as widespread and enormous as the peanut butter recall (mollified a little by the fact peanuts are far more ubiquitous than pistachios). recall of canned pistachios early yesterday, it was limited to Kroger (NYSE: KR) and, frankly, made little in the way of waves. Later, the news began to hearken to the beginning of the peanut recall, in which I wondered how many foods could be impacted (oh, I had no idea!). The pistachio nuts' originator, Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Calif., decided to recall its 2008 crop after Kraft (NYSE: KFT) tested some of its pistachio-containing products and found "several types of salmonella." Where the possibly tainted pistachios ended up isn't clear, but Kraft pulled a trail mix with pistachios.

The nuts were sent in 1,000-pound and 2000-pound bags to wholesalers, who then parceled the pistachios further to redistribute them among retailers and manufacturers. As I wrote on DailyFinance, this is yet another example of a food industry that is built on logistics, not food; quality ingredients are marketing, not reality. Neither Kroger nor Kraft nor even (to point a finger at random) Unilever's Haagen-Dazs ice cream can trace to the individual farm the origin of all of their ingredients, no matter how many times the packaging mentions it.

It's further proof that food safety is not truly possible in the industry as it currently stands.

Pistachio recall could be widespread, includes Kraft originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kellogg (K): Peanut butter turning out to be risky to shareholders?

Douglas McIntyre — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 06:47:00 EST

Filed under: Before the Bell, Bad News, Kellogg Co (K), Mattel, Inc (MAT)

Mattel (NYSE: MAT) had trouble with its stock price when lead was found in some of its toys. Now Kellogg (NYSE: K) may have a similar problem. Some of its peanut-based products may be a cause of the spread of a dangerous salmonella. The trouble has been traced to Peanut Corp. of America, a wholesaler and supplier to Kellogg.

Are Kellogg products among those tainted? It is too early to tell, but the fact that it is pulling 16 products off of grocery store shelves may spook shareholders.

Often shareholders consider selling stocks for reasons that are not rational. Since Kellogg is on a list of firms that may have dangerous products, people holding the stock may think it's an unnecessary risk. In the AP story on the deadly outbreak, Kellogg is the only public company mentioned.

The most visible link at the Kellogg website today says "Austin, Famous Amos & Keebler Product Recall."

Fair or not, reasonable or not, Kellogg opens down at the open on Tuesday.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

Kellogg (K): Peanut butter turning out to be risky to shareholders? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 18 Jan 2009 06:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kellogg pulls crackers as peanut butter recall hits manufacturers

Sarah Gilbert — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bad News, Products and Services, Scandals, Kellogg Co (K)

When I wrote yesterday about the recall of peanut butter due to salmonella poisoning (which is now considered possibly responsible for five adults' deaths), I worried that the "complex" and "widespread" description of the outbreak by the CDC could mean that, not only was the institutional peanut butter spread to thousands of school and corporate cafeterias, but also, the peanut butter might be in other products. Today's move by Kellogg (NYSE: K) to voluntarily pull Keebler and Austin peanut butter crackers off retailers' shelves says to me that we could have no idea how "complex" and "widespread" this disease might be. Kellogg will be investigating to see if its products include tainted peanut butter.

Kellogg products included in the investigation include peanut butter sandwich crackers, peanut butter and jelly sandwich crackers, cheese and peanut butter sandwich crackers, and peanut butter-chocolate sandwich crackers. Kellogg stock was down about 60 cents on the news, to $42.07 as of 1 p.m.

'Green' moms are calling the move by Kellogg a good one; but, as it's only removing items from shelves and not a recall (and is only one company when it could be many more which are affected by the tainted peanut butter), perhaps it doesn't go far enough. Part of the complication: Austin peanut butter crackers are sold in vending machines and small, independent convenience stores, among other places, making their removal fraught with mechanical and communication problems. And my money says more companies will soon follow suit and pull peanut butter off the market.

Kellogg pulls crackers as peanut butter recall hits manufacturers originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Guerilla consumer groups testing toys for lead in stores

Sarah Gilbert — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:02:00 EST

Filed under: Bad News, Consumer Experience, Technology

Worried about the honesty and effectiveness of the toy-screening conducted by major toy manufacturers and retailers? Zap 'em yourself with a Niton X-ray fluorescence analyzer, or XRF gun. That's what many consumer groups, including the Center for Environmental Health and HealthyToys.org, do in the continuing struggle to keep dangerous toys off retailer's shelves. The handheld guns go for $25,000 and emit mini x-rays which strike the toy; the "elements in that sample emit return rays with frequencies that indicate which elements are present and in what amounts."

Retailers and manufacturers are not pleased, contending that such guerilla testing is a poor manner of assessing a toy's safety. But the XRF gun is what the CPSC itself uses to test toys, which consumer groups point to as evidence that the technology is appropriate. (The CPSC goes on to send toys that read hot to a third-party laboratory for verification.) And anyway: this manner of testing actually uncovers toys which are toxic, much better than the CPSC's old strategy: go to stores, and look for the ones with bright colors (more likely to be tainted with lead). A comparison of the two strategies showed the XRF gun screening to have a far higher discovery rate, though of course many items that had high readings on the XRF gun were shown to be safe after further lab testing.

But who wants consumer advocacy groups out looking for bad toys? Certainly not the toy companies, who can only stand to be hurt by the increased scrutiny and "fear-mongering." In a column published earlier today I wrote about my concern over the fate of small toymakers given the impending effective date of the CPSIA. I can't exactly shed big tears, then, for the bigger manufacturers and importers who might be hurt by the discovery of toxins (even if the alarm bells ring a bit too loudly and too soon). The two manners of dealing with the toxic toy issue -- attacking it in the streets with ray guns, or clamping a shackle of expensive testing around each toy before it hits the market -- both seem wrong-headed, one too reactive, the other too proactive. Isn't there a better middle ground?

Guerilla consumer groups testing toys for lead in stores originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lean Cuisine 'Tuscan' and 'Mediterranean' chicken meals recalled

Sarah Gilbert — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:38:00 EST

Filed under: Bad News, Products and Services

If one is honest with oneself, she will recognize that the most exotic ingredients in her Italian-themed frozen foods are likely the plastic trays they're packaged in. A new recall for Lean Cuisine frozen chicken meals ("approximately" 879,565 pounds of them) offers the addition of one more exotic ingredient: "foreign matter," namely bits of hard plastic of unknown origin that caused at least one injury.

The company which packaged the products, Nestle Prepared Foods Company of Springville, Utah, is voluntarily recalling the products after several consumer complaints and the lone injury. The three meals that are part of the recall are the 10.5-ounce "chicken mediterranean" pictured here; 9.5-ounce "pesto chicken with bow-tie pasta" and 12.5-ounce "chicken tuscan." Further information about specific bar codes and sell-by dates can be found at the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.

While this is in no way a serious health risk, the enormous size of the recall and the timing -- coming in an environment in which budget-conscious consumers are beginning to question the true "convenience," nutritional value and safety of packaged food -- will be somewhat harmful for the convenience food industry as a whole. As someone who is taking a more cautious eye toward the food she is feeding her family, I have been asking questions such as, "if pieces of hard plastic weren't even recognized until consumers complained, what invisible ingredients have been slipping through without reparation or admittance?" In food, that what you can't see; and don't recognize for many years; is the most harmful of all.

Lean Cuisine 'Tuscan' and 'Mediterranean' chicken meals recalled originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Makeover needed: Mattel

Trey Thoelcke — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 09:10:00 EST

Filed under: Competitive Strategy, Mattel, Inc (MAT), Hasbro Inc (HAS)

This post is part of a feature on companies and products that our bloggers think are in need of a makeover. See all 26.

Founded in 1945 in a garage workshop in southern California, Mattel Inc. (NYSE: MAT) is now the world's biggest toy maker, with a market cap of about $5.2 billion. Number two Hasbro Inc. (NYSE: HAS) has a market cap of about $4.2 billion. Mattel produces from everything Barbie and American Girl, to Hot Wheels, Fisher Price toys, ~~Scrabble~~, and the Magic 8 Ball, as well as tie-ins with Pixar, the Dark Knight, Harry Potter, and Nickelodeon. However, in 2002 Mattel shut its last factory in the United States, and since then most of its products have been produced in China.

That decision came back to bite Mattel when, beginning in the summer of 2007, it was forced to issue a series of recalls of Chinese-made toys that contained lead paint. The company is still reeling from that PR disaster, which for some reason included an apology from Mattel to the Chinese people. The situation prompted BloggingStocks contributor Tom Barlow a year ago to suggest (tongue in cheek) that Mattel merge with Waste Management Inc. (NYSE: WMI) so that toxic toys could go directly where they belonged, bypassing the middleman (i.e., the children). That would be one way to make over the company, I guess.

As Christmas of 2007 approached, it looked like the worst might be behind Mattel. The year-end numbers were respectable, and some investors were beginning to eye Mattel again. But first quarter 2008 results were disappointing, and by mid year, expectations were very low. The share price has continued to slide since the recalls, reaching a multi-year low recently. While there was a copyright infringement lawsuit settled in Mattel's favor (though they didn't get as much out of it as they wanted), and they are no doubt hoping for the Dark Knight and other tie-in merchandise to help boost what otherwise looks like it could be dismal holiday season for retailers, the newest thing Mattel has to contend with is claims by some parents that one of its dolls secretly promotes Islam, which Mattel denies.

Continue reading Makeover needed: Mattel

Makeover needed: Mattel originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 25 Oct 2008 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Company nicknames: Ford's reputation for quality found on road dead

Elizabeth Harrow — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:10:00 EST

Filed under: Industry, Consumer Experience, Ford Motor (F), Marketing and Advertising

This post is one in a series on prominent company nicknames. See all 25, and share your thoughts and memories about Ford below in the comments.

I didn't grow up in one of those families that placed a high premium on American-made goods. If the Japanese can make it better, we'll buy it from them! was the general consensus. And those foreign autos served the Harrows well. My parents bought their 1984 Toyota Tercel when it was new, and that unattractive but reliable compact was part of the family through the beginning of my college career -- even surviving my first, hilarious attempts to operate a manual transmission. So, it wasn't until I moved in with my friend Debbie, as an adult, that I learned the details behind a particularly unflattering nickname for the Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F).

There are those who would joke that the letters in "FORD" stand for "Fix Or Repair Daily." I know from experience that if you make that particular wisecrack within Debbie's earshot, she probably won't crack a smile. Instead, you can almost see her wheels churning, as though she's trying to calculate the thousands she's already poured into her Ford Focus -- or maybe she's just trying to predict which part will break down next.

During the time we shared a mailbox, it was a not-out-of-the-ordinary occurrence for Debbie to receive recall notices bearing the familiar Ford logo. These repair-o-grams arrived with such frequency that the exact number now escapes my memory; when I questioned her via text message, she replied, "I have had six. Stupid car."

Continue reading Company nicknames: Ford's reputation for quality found on road dead

Company nicknames: Ford's reputation for quality found on road dead originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford (F) recalls over 650,000 pickup trucks

Michael Fowlkes — Thu, 15 May 2008 11:46:00 EST

Filed under: Bad News, Products and Services, Consumer Experience, Ford Motor (F)

If you own a Ford F-150, or a Lincoln Mark LT pickup truck, then you want to pay special attention to this, as Ford (NYSE: F) has announced that more than 655,000 of these vehicles are being recalled at this time.

The reason behind the current recalls is a possible problem with a hose that can affect the trucks' ability to brake properly. So far, Ford claims that there have been 11 accidents resulting from the faulty hoses, but that there have been no injuries to date.

The vehicles in question involve the 2005 and 2006 models of the trucks that come with the 5.4 liter 3-valve engines. If you have one of these trucks you should contact your local Ford dealer as soon as possible and get your replacement hose, at no cost to you.

Most of the trucks in question are located in the United States, which accounts for more than 600,000 of the trucks. Canadian residents account for another 50,000 vehicles, with the small remainder being located in other countries around the world.

Michael Fowlkes has worked as a stock trader for seven years and spent the last four years working as an analyst for the online investment advisory service Investor's Observer.

Ford (F) recalls over 650,000 pickup trucks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 15 May 2008 11:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler recalls nearly a quarter million vehicles

Michael Fowlkes — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:42:00 EST

Filed under: International Markets, Bad News, Products and Services, Consumer Experience

An electrical problem in Chrysler LLC's Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger vehicles is resulting in a massive recall of 212,347 cars to fix the problem.

The vehicles in question involve models from 2007-2008 that deploy standard tire pressure monitoring systems. Apparently, electrical connectors in the system have been rusting, leading to problems starting the engine, dead batteries, inoperative cruise control, or even the vehicle's engine stalling.

Chrysler has stated that there have been no injuries reported as a result of the problem, but that it had already received nine reports from consumers that their engines had stalled out on them.

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Chrysler recalls nearly a quarter million vehicles originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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John Deere tractors recalled

Gary Sattler — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:57:00 EST

Filed under: Bad News, Press Releases, Products and Services, Consumer Experience, Deere and Co (DE)

On January 16, 2008, a voluntary recall of approximately 5,400 John Deere Compact Utility Tractors was initiated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in cooperation with Deere and Co. (NYSE: DE). The problem with the tractors is described as a forward drive pedal that can get stuck, creating a potential for loss of control and injury to people.

The recalled tractor's model number is 3203, and you may check the CPSC press release for specific serial numbers. It is suggested that consumers discontinue using these particular tractors and contact a John Deere dealer to schedule a free repair. You may reach Deere & Company at (800) 537-8233 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. ET Saturday. You are also invited to visit the company website at: www.johndeere.com.

John Deere tractors recalled originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Merck (MRK) issues recall for childhood vaccines

Michael Fowlkes — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 13:22:00 EST

Filed under: Bad News, Press Releases, Products and Services, Consumer Experience, Merck and Co (MRK)

Drug maker Merck & Co. (NYSE : MRK) announced yesterday that it had recalled slightly over one million doses [subscription required] of its childhood vaccine Hib.

For parents out there, this recall, at this time, appears to be more proactive than anything else. According to Merck, the company decided to recall approximately 1.2 million doses of the popular childhood vaccine after it discovered that the equipment used to make the vaccine had been contaminated with bacteria.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Hib vaccine, it is used to vaccinate children against meningitis, pneumonia and other serious illnesses.

Continue reading Merck (MRK) issues recall for childhood vaccines

Merck (MRK) issues recall for childhood vaccines originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 13:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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