Last of Italian unions agree to Alitalia deal The last unions holding out against a deal to salvage Alitalia signed a plan on Monday to sell the bankrupt airline's good assets to a group of Italian investors. The breakthrough with the AVIA and SDL unions, which represent mostly flight attendants, came after a meeting with the investors and government officials, the premier's office said. All nine Alitalia unions are now on board. Pilots, who had been resisting the deal, agreed to the plan last week after the investors made concessions, including on the number of layoffs. The investors -- led by Roberto Colaninno, chairman of the scooter maker Piaggio -- have pledged to inject 1 billion euros ($1.4 billion) into the money-losing carrier, strip away unprofitable assets and combine it with Italy's second-largest carrier, Air One. They also are looking for an international carrier to take a minority share.
Wendy's customers to see menu changes Wendy's customers will see new options on the company's Frosty and burger-heavy menu as the chain tries to draw more attention to the quality of its food, the new chief executive said Monday after it was formally taken over by the owner of Arby's. The $2.34 billion deal, in the works for years, adds Wendy's International Inc. to the stable of holdings of Triarc Cos. Inc., the company controlled by billionaire investor Nelson Peltz. Roland Smith, the new chief executive of Wendy's and the former CEO of Triarc, said he plans to rebrand the business -- the No. 3 hamburger chain behind McDonald's Corp. and Burger King Corp. -- to emphasize the freshness of its burgers and will attempt to reinvigorate the menu with new products. Smith said Wendy's has fallen behind in part because customers have forgotten that the chain sells "the only hamburger that is fresh, not frozen."
