Toyota Temporarily Suspends Sales of Selected Vehicles

/PRNewswire/ -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today announced that it is instructing Toyota dealers to temporarily suspend sales of eight models involved in the recall for sticking accelerator pedal, announced on January 21, 2010.

"Helping ensure the safety of our customers and restoring confidence in Toyota are very important to our company," said Group Vice President and Toyota Division General Manager Bob Carter. "This action is necessary until a remedy is finalized. We're making every effort to address this situation for our customers as quickly as possible."

Toyota announced it would recall approximately 2.3 million vehicles to correct sticking accelerator pedals on specific Toyota Division models. Toyota has investigated isolated reports of sticking accelerator pedal mechanisms in certain vehicles without the presence of floor mats. There is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may, in rare instances, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position.

Toyota's accelerator pedal recall and suspension of sales is confined to the following Toyota Division vehicles:

2009-2010 RAV4,
2009-2010 Corolla,
2009-2010 Matrix,
2005-2010 Avalon,
Certain 2007-2010 Camry,
2010 Highlander,
2007-2010 Tundra,
2008-2010 Sequoia


No Lexus Division or Scion vehicles are affected by these actions. Also not affected are Toyota Prius, Tacoma, Sienna, Venza, Solara, Yaris, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser and select Camry models, including all Camry hybrids, which will remain for sale.

Due to the sales suspension, Toyota is expected to stop producing vehicles on the following production lines for the week of February 1 to assess and coordinate activities. The North America vehicle production facilities affected are:

-- Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Canada (Corolla, Matrix, and RAV4)
-- Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana (Sequoia and Highlander)
-- Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky - Line 1 (Camry and Avalon)
-- Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (Camry)
-- Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas (Tundra)



No other North American Toyota vehicle production facilities are affected by the decision to stop production.

The sticking accelerator pedal recall is separate from the on-going recall of Toyota and Lexus vehicles to reduce the risk of pedal entrapment by incorrect or out of place accessory floor mats. Approximately 1.7 million Toyota Division vehicles are subject to both separate recall actions.

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Peanut Industry Weathers Storms as Consumers Return to the All-American Staple

/PRNewswire/ -- According to U.S. Department of Agriculture's November crop report, U.S. peanut farmers continue to face challenges as persistent rains and flooding throughout the Southeast have made this year's harvest a challenging one. With rain accumulations in the majority of these regions totaling 200 percent of normal or more, harvest in 3 of the 4 largest peanut-producing states has been delayed and crop forecasts are down 30 percent from last year. But despite the wet field conditions, America's peanut farmers and their families have something to be thankful for this holiday season as retail data shows a dramatic increase in peanut butter sales as consumers move past January's product recall.

In January, farmers watched recalled peanut products being pulled from shelves while unaffected peanut products, such as peanut butter, sat unpurchased. Through the National Peanut Board's (NPB) integrated marketing campaign - incorporating public relations, advertising and special events - farmers were front and center before the consumers who buy their products to allay concerns and remind consumers of the great taste of peanuts and peanut butter and its role in a healthy diet.

"We were brokenhearted to see a crop we raised and relied upon for our family's success involved in such a large food recall due to negligence of one food manufacturer," said Roger Neitsch, a Texas peanut farmer and Chairman of the NPB. "Although we weren't responsible for the manufacturing problem, we knew we had to do something."

Their efforts are achieving dramatic results; peanut butter sales continue to recover from a devastating 19.42 percent drop in volume during the January recall to positive volume growth for peanut butter in all outlets as early as March 2009. Back-to-school season in August was an important test of confidence for the American consumer and data showed an 18.6 percent increase in volume over the same period in 2008.

"Peanut farmers are passionate about what they do and the food they grow," said Raffaela Marie Fenn, NPB's president and managing director. "When the research pointed to a high degree of confusion and misperception among consumers, our farmers jumped at the opportunity to speak directly with consumers to ease their concerns."

With increases in peanut butter volume sales recorded every month since March the efforts of the industry have paid off and are proving to be a sunny spot in an otherwise rainy harvest season. Before October, many peanut producers were expecting an especially productive harvest but uncommon and heavy rains have proven to be the next challenge to hit America's peanut farmers.

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Handgun Manufacturer GLOCK, Inc. Announces their Mid-Year Guidance Concerning the Sales Efforts

Handgun Manufacturer GLOCK, Inc. Announces their Mid-Year Guidance Concerning the Sales Efforts for U.S. Law Enforcement, Commercial and Federal/Military Markets

With more than half a year in the books, handgun manufacturer, GLOCK, Inc. announced today industry guidance on the firearms market and the success of the company for the fiscal year. Coming off of five years of record sales both in the Civilian, Law Enforcement and the Federal/Military segments of their business, the U.S. based manufacturer revealed that demand for their product has been unprecedented. With the downturned economy and the jump in sales activity for sport shooting and personal defense, the company is making plans to expand for future sales similar to the ones generated at the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW) show.

Despite GLOCK Inc.'s good fortune, other manufacturers are falling on hard times. "We are seeing that certain categories of the firearms industry are severely depressed, and the companies who lack sales in those specific categories are finding their bottom line adversely affected and are not maximizing owner profitability," commented Gary Fletcher, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "Over the last couple of years we saw a certain amount of consolidation in the industry, yet we also witnessed more and more companies expand their product line on the weight of their brand and take on tremendous amounts of debt. And in certain cases we saw companies do both. As in any industry, companies that incurred massive debt, especially in the last few years, who are expanding based on their brand are now seeing that debt as an anchor. They fail to have the necessary capital to invest and make their product more valuable and it further impinges on their bottom line. And the folly of this management style is showing, as the competition has been forced to offer costly incentives, which are difficult to fulfill, so they can boost their unit sales at the expense of their bottom line. To further degrade their profit margin and brand, many of these same companies will take losses against their more popular and profitable products to gain market share based on price rather than product capabilities, which in turn forces them to record Unit Sale increases while taking Gross Margin decreases. All of this further weakens their economic viability in this tight credit market."

But as other companies struggle with incremental gains, GLOCK, Inc., with over 65% of Law Enforcement using their handguns featuring the highly regarded "Safe Action System" continues to set a blistering pace in agency conversions. More and more agencies are determining that rock solid reliability and world class customer service combined with an economical price tag win out over marketing and pricing schemes dreamed up to move excess inventory. In the last eighteen months GLOCK, Inc. has converted over eighty (80) agencies in the United States from a single competitor. This success has carried over to the conversions of agencies from other competitors as well.

Not to be outdone, the Federal Law Enforcement and Military segments continue to gain market share to put GLOCKs into the hands of U.S. Government forces serving domestically and overseas. Unlike some competitors, GLOCK, Inc.'s focus has been and will remain on those who go in harm's way to protect and serve. They use a bottom-up end user compared to a top-down business model. "This sales strategy is proving itself on a daily basis as GLOCK replaces other manufacturer's pistols as their respective pistol of choice," commented Joshua Dorsey, Vice President of Operations and Federal/Military Sales. "We have worked diligently with our contacts to make sure that the units that are outfitted with our product have the best equipment configured in the manner they specifically request. We stand ready to not only meet U.S. Government requirements, but to exceed them."

The Commercial segment remains GLOCK Inc.'s focal point as made evident at NASGW. Having been the past recipient of the 2005 Manufacturer of the Year and the 2006 Chairman's Award, the highest award given at the show, GLOCK, Inc. once again took high honors in 2008 with its second Chairman's Award. "The NASGW award system is based upon certain criteria that wholesalers in the Sporting Goods industry define as crucial," stated Craig Dutton, Director of Commercial and Law Enforcement Sales. "Being the recipient of this award is a culmination of the hard work and effort of the entire organization. Our employees are honored to be the recipient of this award that is voted on, and presented by, our customers."

The Firearms Industry expects that economic uncertainty will remain for some time and GLOCK, Inc. is prepared for growth. Being privately owned, and with no debt on their books, GLOCK, Inc. will soon break ground and expand its manufacturing capabilities beyond its current state. As businesses flourish and flounder, the survivors will be those companies that practice sound, conservative business practices, leveraging their ability to delight customers beyond their desired expectations. GLOCK, Inc. has been perfecting that practice for the past 22 years and envisions even better days ahead.

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Dillard's, Inc. Reports December Sales Results

Little Rock, Arkansas, January 10, 2008 -- Dillard's, Inc. (DDS: NYSE) ("Dillard's" or the "Company") announced today that sales for the five weeks ended January 5, 2008 were $1,167,314,000 compared to sales for the five weeks ended December 30, 2006 of $1,223,755,000. Sales declined 5% for the five-week period in both total and comparable stores.
Sales for the combined November and December period, the nine weeks ended January 5, 2008, were $1,726,586,000 compared to sales for the nine weeks ended December 30, 2006 of $1,773,807,000. Sales declined 3% for the nine-week period in both total and comparable stores.

Sales for the 48 weeks ended January 5, 2008 were $6,769,660,000 compared to sales for
the 48 weeks ended December 30, 2006 of $7,012,382,000. Total sales declined 3% for the 48-week period. Sales in comparable stores declined 4% for the 48-week period.

During the five weeks ended January 5, 2008, sales in the Central region were above the Company's average sales performance trend for period. Sales were slightly above trend in the Western region and below trend in the Eastern region.

During the five weeks ended January 5, 2008, sales in shoes were significantly above trend. The sales trend in the juniors' and children's apparel category and cosmetics was significantly below trend.

Dillard's, Inc. is one of the nation's largest fashion apparel and home furnishing retailers.

The Company's stores operate with one name, Dillard's, and span 29 states. Dillard's stores offer a broad selection of merchandise, including products sourced and marketed under Dillard's exclusive brand names.