JONESBORO, ARK. — Contract manufacturer SANY Nutrition Group has opened a food production plant in Jonesboro that will turn out a range of better-for-you and comfort snacks and other products for the private label and branded channels in North America.

In a more than $30 million investment, SANY Nutrition acquired and remodeled the former Butterball manufacturing plant in Jonesboro, according to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC). Operations at the facility, which can make up to 400 million bars and bites annually, are underway. The site is expected to create over 150 new jobs in three years.

SANY Nutrition’s manufacturing capabilities cover six product categories: better-for-you snacks (high protein, reduced sugar, functional, plant-based and nutritionally balanced); sports nutrition (performance bars/bites and functional snacks to support energy, endurance, recovery and active living); indulgence-focused comfort snacks (with rich textures, layered fillings, chocolate coatings and bold flavors); frozen plant-based snacks (made with real fruit and vegetables such as pumpkin, beetroot and sweet potato and then protein-enriched and coated in sugar-free chocolate); baked foods and pastries (sweet, savory, better-for-you and functional bakery products, from cinnamon rolls and filled pastries to protein-rich, individually wrapped items); and pet nutrition (treats and functional snacks formulated to meet the needs of pets).

The Jonesboro plant also can produce a range of food ingredients, inclusions, fillings, coatings, bases and semi-finished solutions for food manufacturers, retailers, foodservice operators and brand partners, the AEDC said.

The Jonesboro facility has the capacity to produce up to 400 million bars and bites annually.

| Photo: SANY Nutrition Group

“SANY Nutrition Group is an innovative protein snack manufacturing company that combines the speed and fearless mindset of a startup with the technology, expertise and scale of a global organization,” said Angela Pernsteiner, an investor in Jonesboro-based SANY Nutrition. “Through tailor-made formulation, premium ingredients, state-of-the-art equipment and European-American process excellence, we transform bold ideas into distinctive, shelf-ready products — in weeks, not years.”

With the Jonesboro facility, SANY Nutrition also brings an integrated platform that encompasses consumer insight, concept development, formulation, design, regulatory support, advanced manufacturing, shelf-ready packaging, warehousing and distribution, the AEDC added.

“SANY Nutrition Group is choosing to invest its capital to grow in Jonesboro, Ark., building a new manufacturing facility and creating 150 new jobs,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the AEDC. “Jonesboro has become a food manufacturing hub thanks to its abundant natural resources, low costs, and the strategic vision of its leadership. This has led to investments from companies like SANY.” 

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Mortgage rates fell for the second week in a row, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday.

Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, released Thursday, showed the average rate on the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 6.65% from last week’s reading of 6.67%. 

The average rate on a 30-year loan was 6.58% a year ago.

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“With a dip in rates providing modest relief for homebuyers, it’s important to remember borrowers can potentially save thousands by shopping around for the best mortgage rate,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

A real estate agent sets up for an open house in Rancho Cucamonga, California, on May 9, 2026. (Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The average rate on a 15-year fixed mortgage fell to 5.95% from last week’s reading of 5.96%.

Mortgage rates are affected by several factors, including the Federal Reserve and geopolitics. Though mortgage rates are not directly affected by the Fed’s interest rate decisions, they closely track the 10-year Treasury yield. The 10-year yield hovered around 4.7% as of Thursday afternoon.

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“Today’s print is best understood as the base level from which mortgage rates may push higher next week amid market volatility,” said Realtor.com senior economist Jake Krimmel. “The 30-year Treasury hit a nearly 20-year high this week, enough to prompt the Treasury Department to step in and buy back billions. But thankfully for homebuyers, since most mortgages are only around for seven to ten years before borrowers refinance or move, mortgage rates track the 10-year, which has not moved nearly as dramatically this week.”

Yields on U.S. Treasurys have been elevated recently, in part due to the growth in debt, with the federal government projected to run a roughly $2.1 trillion budget deficit this fiscal year, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

Two recent Treasury auctions in the last week drew attention due to the yields reaching historic levels – the sale of 10-year notes cleared at a high of 4.683%, the highest in 19 years, while the 30-year bond auction stopped at 5.216%, a 25-year peak.

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Sales at the US retail giant Walmart grew at their slowest pace for more than six years in the most recent quarter, suggesting American shoppers are under strain.

Walmart, which due to its size is well-placed to gauge consumers’ mood, blamed the rising price of fuel.

Sales at comparable sites across the chain were up by 2.6%, excluding fuel, between May and July the company said.

Walmart said it would use up to $3bn of expected tariff refunds to lower prices in a bid to keep customers spending.

The rebate stems from duties the retailer paid after President Trump imposed a wave of tariffs on imported goods last year. Retailers are receiving refunds from central government after those tariffs were ruled unlawful.

Rival retailer Target recently said it had received $1bn in rebates boosting its profits.

Walmart, the US’s largest retailer, said the nearly $3bn in tariff rebate it anticipated would help it continue a programme of price cuts or “rollbacks” that it expanded earlier this year, external.

Walmart has leaned heavily on price cuts to retain customers, launching 11,000 of its so-called “rollbacks” across categories.

Chief financial officer John David Rainey said those lower prices were already lifting transactions and unit sales, especially in food and other staples like toys.

But he acknowledged that the retail environment remained uneven, with lower-income households – a core part of Walmart’s base – feeling squeezed.

Rainey said rising petrol prices were leaving shoppers with less spare cash, saying the shift in behaviour became clear once fuel went above $4 a gallon.

Price moves in June made the impact obvious, he added, with lower-income customers pulling back and focusing spending on essentials.

Beyond the consumer pullback, Walmart’s results highlighted several additional risks that could shape the firm’s prospects in the months ahead.

Much of the quarter’s profit lift came from tariff refunds that had already come in, a one-off benefit that analysts say won’t recur to the same extent.

The price rollbacks could put pressure on margins, while Walmart is also spending money on automation, new warehouses, and tech upgrades.

On the earnings call, analysts pressed management on whether lower prices were already driving a lift in sales and whether some rollbacks could be locked in for 2027.

Walmart said the benefits were showing up most clearly in food and other staples, and that certain cuts might remain if they continued to resonate with shoppers.

“Our hope and intention always is that rollbacks can become permanent … wherever possible,” Rainey said.

Analysts also questioned whether Walmart’s income could continue to grow despite flagging sales. Executives said they believed it could, pointing to businesses such as membership and advertising.

Alex Sparkes and fellow University of Hull computer science graduates have launched Heuro Studios, a new venture which turns ideas into interactive technology, making digital content more accessible, simple and enjoyable

A young East Yorkshire entrepreneur has received a significant boost from a major Hull employer. Alex Sparkes, 21, has joined forces with fellow University of Hull graduates Rand Nessif and Jack Shanks, also both 21, to establish Heuro Studios, a new venture that transforms ideas into interactive technology, making digital content more accessible, straightforward and engaging.

Alex, from Hornsea, and his new partners – all computer science graduates – have set up the company in Hull city centre’s K2 building, where they are now concentrating on creating immersive digital experiences, apps and websites. Heuro Studios primarily focuses on educational and heritage projects, including recent work bringing historical figures to life using AI, for the team at Hull Minster.

The fledgling business has now secured a grant through an innovative partnership established by rural communications firm Quickline. The broadband provider announced the two-year collaboration with the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank (JCYEB) earlier this year, joining forces to champion digital inclusion and youth entrepreneurship across East Yorkshire.

The partnership forms part of Quickline’s broader commitment to Project Gigabit, the UK Government programme designed to help hard-to-reach and rural communities gain access to fast, reliable gigabit-capable broadband. Alex was awarded £728 by Quickline, which he is putting towards a camera, tablet and website domains to strengthen the quality of work delivered to their clients.

He said: “A big part of what we do is making digital content more accessible, whether that’s turning a board game into a digital learning tool, or helping a costume business reach new audiences. Having the right tools to do that matters, and this grant has made sure we’re not held back by equipment when the ideas are there.”, reports Hull Live.

“When you start a new business, you need all the help you can get and, for a young company like ours, that support is massive. Quickline have been so supportive and this will really help our business offering, as lots of clients need new, high quality images for their websites.”

Created to help break down digital obstacles and empower young people to launch, maintain and expand their enterprises, the partnership provides digital inclusion grants of up to £1,000 to young business owners aged 16 to 29 who reside in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

The scheme is run by JCYEB, collaborating with partners including East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Yorkshire in Business, C4DI, Hull City Council’s Making Changes for Careers (MC4C) programme and the Smile Foundation.

The grant was provided after the Heuro Studios team requested assistance from the MC4C programme, through which Rand, from West Hull, secured a test market grant of £741 to further support the company’s development. Charles Cracknell, founder and secretary of the JCYEB, said: “We welcome our partnership with Quickline, which has enabled us to give even more support to young East Riding entrepreneurs. It’s thanks to them that we plan to support at least 25 enterprising young people over the next two years.

“We’re now in our 23rd year supporting young entrepreneurs and, thanks to companies like Quickline, have issued more 1,500 grants to aspiring young entrepreneurs and enterprise projects in the Hull and East Riding area.”

Ash Cane, social values executive at Quickline, added: “We’re delighted to support Alex in growing his business and it means a huge amount to us to create these exciting opportunities for young entrepreneurs, opening up new doors. It’s helping them to get a foot on the business ladder and hopefully providing that first stepping stone to a long and successful career.”