Wood names top agents for June

William E. Wood of Elizabeth City has named Debbie Morrisette its top real estate selling agent for June and Benbury Wood Jr. its top listing agent for June.

Guilford OKs tax breaks for FedEx

GREENSBORO — Guilford County commissioners have approved nearly $1 million in tax incentives as they try to lure FedEx Ground to bring an operations hub to the area.

The News & Record of Greensboro reported that county leaders approved the package Thursday. But William Connor with FedEx Ground said it will be two months before the company decides whether to bring 259 new jobs and the $100 million investment to the proposed Kernersville location.

Furniture makers to increase jobs

HIGH POINT — Two High Point furniture manufacturers are preparing to expand their work force and production, bucking a trend that has cut thousands of jobs from one of North Carolina's formerly premiere industries.

Jobi Blachy, president of Edward Ferrell and Lewis Mittman, told the Winston-Salem Journal the companies have succeeded by specializing in customized furniture for affluent clients. Blachy says almost all of the upholstered furniture is produced in High Point.

Other furniture manufacturers in the Triad have been closing or shipping jobs overseas to produce cheaper products.

Starbucks to close 10 stores in N.C.

CHARLOTTE — Starbucks' search for a quick fix will make it harder for some of its North Carolina customers to get theirs.

Starbucks has identified 10 company-owned stores in North Carolina that it plans to close in a bid to shore up its bottom line. The Seattle coffee retailer has planned to cut 600 stores nationwide.

Charlotte will take the biggest hit in North Carolina, losing five stores. The company will also drop one shop each in Chapel Hill, Greenville, Hickory, Wilson and Winston-Salem.

Charlotte Coke to trim 350 jobs

CHARLOTTE — Charlotte's Coke Consolidated says it is cutting 350 jobs, including 35 in its headquarters city, in the wake of soaring fuel and sweetener costs.

The Charlotte Observer reports that the cuts represent about 5 percent of the 6,500 people working for the nation's second largest Coke bottler, which operates in nine southeastern states.

Attrition and other previous departures have already trimmed about 200 employees, with the balance of 150 representing new layoffs. The company expects to take a charge of $4 million to $5 million as a result of the job cuts.

From staff, wire reports