Corporate Report: Mar. 18

HSN, Kraft Foods partner for cross marketing

St. Petersburg-based retailer HSN has reached a multi-year partnership with the world's second-largest food company, Kraft Foods.

The agreement calls for HSN and Kraft to share content on each company's website and other various media and marketing venues.

The Kraft Store on kraftfoods.com will showcase HSN cooking-related products from chef celebrities such as Todd English, Wolfgang Puck and Emeril Lagasse. At the same time, HSN.com will start integrating Kraft Foods recipes on product pages in the kitchen category. Other plans include featuring Kraft Foods products in HSN programming and cooking videos that feature both Kraft Foods and HSN products for multiple platforms.

Maxwell House International, a Kraft Foods brand, and HSN have combined for a yearlong partnership that integrates Maxwell House International into HSN programming, HSN.com and various HSN interactive games.

“This partnership is truly unique as it led us to the development of a groundbreaking business model, marrying highly relevant content with interactive shopping and creating multimedia platforms for new product launches,” Julie Fleischer, director of consumer relationship marketing content strategy and integration at Kraft Foods, says in a press release. “It will enable us to expand and deepen our consumer engagement with exclusive recipes and brand programs.”

Kraftfoods.com is one of the top 20 consumer-products goods company food and cooking sites. HSN's TV stations are available in 96 million homes in the United States and it website is a top 10 trafficked e-commerce site with approximately a 250,000 unique users every day.

US Natural Gas Corp. starts production at West Virginia mine

St. Petersburg-based US Natural Gas Corp. says a well located in Wayne County, W.Va., named Butler Davis 9s, has been placed into production.

The company's subsidiary US Natural Gas Corp WV has completed drilling the well and installing a choke device to better control the flow of natural gas. The mine also received a hydrogen-sulfide treatment to improve production.

Initially, the flow of gas at the mine is running at 200 to 400 million cubic feet per day.

“We are pleased to have completed and placed into production one of the deep wells we acquired in the Wilon Resources acquisition in 2010,” Wayne Anderson, president of U.S. Natural Gas Corp., says in a press release. “During the remainder of 2011, we will continue to place the remaining wells into production in an effort to increase the company's daily gas production.”

US Natural Gas Corp is engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mature, long-lived oil and natural gas properties. The company's current operations are concentrated in the Appalachian Basin with its core assets covering 17,000 acres of mineral rights leases and interest in 150 oil and gas wells.

Alico fracturing sand test appears positive for mining

LaBelle-based Alico Inc. has completed the initial field-testing at its proposed Keri Road Sand Mine Site in Hendry County. The testing focused on whether the 866-acre property could be used as a fracturing-sand mine.

Fracturing sand is used to help in the extraction of oil and gas.

In February, a consultant hired by Alico drilled to test the wells. Preliminary testing indicates good potential for possible future mining of moderate-quality fracturing sand on the site.

Based on the consultant's report, the property is believed to contain as much as 94 million tons of potential future fracturing-sand reserves within a mine depth of 125 feet.

Alico plans additional feasibility studies to help it determine its best options for the property, including selling or leasing the site. The company would still need to receive several permits before it or others could mine the property.

Alico owns approximately 139,607 acres of land located in Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee and Polk counties and is involved in various agricultural operations and real estate activities.

Tampa International Airport award non-stop Cuba flights

Tampa International Airport has been authorized by the U.S. government to serve as a port of entry and exit for nonstop flights to Cuba.

Restrictions on flights to Cuba were eased Jan. 14.

“Tampa International Airport has received U.S. government approval, but there is more work to be done,” Jose Valiente, co-chair of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce's Cuba Flights committee, says in a press release. “Now we need to establish regular air service and help Cuban-Americans and businesses learn about the advantages of flying to Cuba through Tampa International Airport.”

IMD Cos. Acquires Positive Solutions LLC

Tampa-based IMD Cos. acquired the juvenile weight-loss and fitness program company Positive Solutions LLC.

Positive Solutions LLC produces a line of kits, books and training programs under the “P.L.A.Y.” (Positive Living and Activity for Youths) name. The fitness programs will be sold through licensing agreements at centers throughout the country.

The purchase agreement was for a mixture of cash and stock.

“This acquisition not only satisfies another target in our open letter to shareholders, but allows IMD to commence its own program to tackle the juvenile obesity problem outlined by the First Lady of the United States,” CEO Saeb Jannoun, says in a press release. “We will be announcing the opening of our first centers in the near future.”

IMD Cos. is focused on businesses in the fitness nutrition-pharmaceutical and medical diagnostics services markets. The company plans to expand into the weight-loss industry.

Superior Uniform Group launches everyBODY media

Superior Uniform Group Inc. of Seminole has launched a new changeable-image apparel line, everyBODY media division. Through a licensing agreement with Eyelevel Interactive, the new division allows customers to create or customize existing uniforms on the fly.

EveryBODY media can print specialized graphic panels with advertising or other temporary messaging. The panels are removable, so customers can change messaging on uniforms on demand by switching out the panels on the uniform. Specialized tags on the panels can also direct consumers with smartphones to custom-designed Web content.

“EveryBODY media represents a new and cutting-edge way to create multiple impressions right at the time consumers are making buying decisions,” Superior Uniform Group CEO Michael Benstock says in a press release.

Superior Uniform Group manufactures uniforms and image apparel.