Business Briefs

Sara Lee profit jumps

Sara Lee Corp., with leaner operations and more profitable product line, reported quarterly profit jumped 23 percent and raised its outlook for the year.

The Downers Grove, Ill., company said Thursday that its long-term efforts to cut costs and launch better-selling new products helped its bottom line, along with prices for key ingredients stabilizing below last year's highs.

Sara Lee has about 250 employees at its Mobile bakery, producing bread and buns.

The firm reported profit of $284 million, or 41 cents per share, up from $230 million, or 32 cents per share, in the same quarter last year. Adjusted for one-time items in both quarters, the company earned 38 cents per share, up from 31 cents per share in the prior year.

Revenue fell 7 percent to $2.59 billion, as it sold fewer products, shed some product lines and saw a negative impact from the stronger dollar.

Analysts expected profit of 16 cents per share on $3.16 billion revenue, according to a poll by Thomson Reuters.

Kia brings jobs to Alabama

The Alabama Development Office said Thursday that Kia is responsible for more than 3,600 new jobs at 34 automotive supplier plants in Alabama.

Of those 34 plants, 25 supply both Alabama's Hyundai plant and the Kia plant just over the Georgia line.

ADO director Neal Wade said 20 to 25 percent of Kia's workforce is expected to come from Alabama.

The Kia plant began production this month.

— From staff, wire reports