Business Briefs: Volkswagen ad falls from perch

Volkswagen ad falls from perch

The Super Bowl TV ad that launched the Chattanooga-made Volkswagen Passat has fallen from its perch as the most shared spot of all time, according to Adweek.

"The Force," which featured a mini-Darth Vader, was toppled by a commercial for Activia yogurt after a 41-week reign.

The new champ features Activia and the World Food Programme's three-and-a-half minute music video starring Colombian singer Shakira, which was created for this year's World Cup.

Titled "La La La (Brazil 2014)," the ad has been shared 5,409,192 times across Facebook, Twitter and the blogosphere, according to Unruly Media. And it's only widening its lead over "The Force," which has racked up 5,254,667 shares, Adweek said.

Playing off its highly popular commercial, VW brought its mini-Vader to the official unveiling of its Chattanooga plant in 2011.


Miller Industries boosts profits

Miller Industries Inc. boosted its second quarter earnings by nearly 17 percent over a year ago to $3.4 million, or 30 cents per share.

The Ooltewah-based wrecker and towing equipment maker said Wednesday sales in the spring quarter were up 15.7 percent over last year, rising to $122.4 million in the three months ended June 30. Miller also announced it will pay a quarterly dividend of 15 cents per share, payable Sept. 22, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Sept. 15.

"Our second quarter performance reflected strong sales growth driven by positive consumer demand and an improving market environment," Miller Industries CEO Jeff Badgley said in a statement. "We continued to see rising demand for our products across the markets we serve as supported by our growing orders and expanding backlog levels."


IHP to build senior campus

Independent Healthcare Properties and Morning Pointe Senior Living are building a $25 million senior campus in Louisville, Ky., that will employ 125 health care workers when it is completed next winter.

The Ooltewah-based senior services company, which has already built 23 Morning Pointe facilities in five Southeastern states, will begin site excavation for a 120-unit senior living and Alzheimer's memory care community. The 9-acre campus will offer dining, life enrichment programs and professional health and wellness services. Innovative and therapeutic programs such as Simple C Companion services, Cuddle Therapy and the Meaningful Day program have been developed by the Morning Pointe team and incorporated into daily activities to ensure the highest quality of care for residents.

"With the growing number of people living longer and needing more health services, we believe Morning Pointe can serve the Louisville community and its seniors with more options and choices that enrich the quality of life," said Greg A. Vital, president and CEO of IHP and Morning Pointe Senior Living. "Morning Pointe's history of service in Kentucky began 15 years ago and we are continuing that tradition by expanding in Central Kentucky."

Morning Pointe has seven other locations in Kentucky.

This two-phase development project will feature 53 senior living/personal care apartments and an additional 20 apartments will be in The Lantern, a secure dedicated wing specially designed for residents with Alzheimer's and other forms of memory loss. The new senior campus will also provide 44 apartments in a freestanding Alzheimer's Center of Excellence.


BASF wins safety award

BASF in Chattanooga has won the Governor's Award of Excellence for Workplace Safety and Health after the company's 130 employees worked for more than 300,000 hours without a lost-time accident or injury at either of BASF's local plants.

BASF operates plants on Polymer Drive and Lost Mound Drive and collectively employs 130 workers in Chattanooga.

"BASF has demonstrated strong commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace," said Burns Phillips, the commissioner for Tennessee's Department of Labor and Workforce Development who presented the award to BASF at the closing session of the Tennessee Safety and Health Congress in Nashville.

BASF produces polymer dispersions that are commonly used in adhesives, carpet backing, foams, paper coatings, and asphalt modifiers.


BIA opens office on North Shore

Brock Insurance Agency in Rossville, Ga., will open an office in the One North Shore building on Manufacturers Road.

The new 1,900-square-foot office next to Pure Barre will offer all the services of BIA with commercial, auto, home and other types of insurance along with bond and employee benefit products.

"BIA has grown consistently over the years and with the addition of new personnel, downtown Chattanooga was a natural location for us to settle on," Mark Brock, president of Brock Insurance Agency, said in a statement Wednesday.

Brock Insurance Agency currently operates at 823 Chickamauga Ave. in Rossville and has operated for more than 50 years.

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