Business briefs

Kraft Heinz looking to bring in innovative food, beverage ideas

The Kraft Heinz Co., an iconic food company struggling to find new products to spur sales growth, said it would launch a platform called Springboard. The plan appears to be acquiring promising ideas, but the company is also trying a contest to bring in innovators with cool visions. Kraft Heinz said through April 5, Springboard will accept applications for first-to-market, disruptive food and beverage startups.

ADP says small business hiring looks a little stronger

Small business hiring is looking a little stronger, according to a report from payroll provider ADP, which said its small business customers added 68,000 jobs in February, up from January’s 63,000. ADP also said it revised higher its previously reported job figures for both January and December. Small business hiring has fluctuated for more than a year.

Amazon to open center in St. Louis suburb

Amazon is planning to open a packing and shipping facility in suburban St. Louis that will employ more than 1,500 full-time workers. The Missouri Department of Economic Development said Amazon could receive more than $11 million in state incentives. The Seattlebased online retailer has more than 75 fulfillment centers across the U.S. and Canada.

Coca-Cola may get boozy in Japan

Coca-Cola may be getting into the booze business again by developing a bubbly alcoholic drink in Japan. The soda maker says it’s experimenting with a canned beverage that would be a mix of sparkling water and an alcoholic Japanese drink. Coca-Cola Co. sold wine about 40 years ago, but got out of that business in 1983.

Discovery completes takeover of Food, HGTV

Discovery Communications completed its merger with Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. and assumed control of the Scripps television channels HGTV, Food Network and Travel Channel. The nearly $12 billion purchase was designed to give Silver Spring, Md.based Discovery more leverage with pay-TV operators such as DirecTV and Charter Communications’ Spectrum.

American Express to disclose gender pay parity

American Express Co. will disclose data on its gender pay gap by the end of the year, according to a shareholder activist that’s been pushing Wall Street to release the information. The credit-card company pledged to report to shareholders any findings on pay disparities, Arjuna Capital said.