Category: Bottom Line

Bottom Line

In Brown-Forman’s BenRiach buy, more deal buzz in Scotland
BenRiach whiskey
BenRiach Classic Speyside

Brown-Forman’s $413 million deal last month to buy single malt distiller BenRiach Distillery Co. of Edinburgh is the latest in a series of takeovers roiling the Scottish industry, according to The Scotsman newspaper; here are four more.

$16 billion: In the biggest deal, Japan’s Suntory bought Jim Beam in 2014; Suntory owns Morrison Bowmore Distillers of Glasgow.

$621 million: Emperador of the Philippines for Whyte & Mackay, also of Glasgow in 2014.

$144 million: William Grant & Sons for whiskey liqueur maker Drambuie of Edinburgh in 2014; deal value is estimated because details weren’t disclosed.

$84 million: France’s Rémy Cointreau for Islay whisky maker Bruichladdich.

Bottom Line

Whoosh! Imagine how much we spend on toilet paper every year

Always looking for a bargain, Boulevard bought a 24-pack of Charmin Basic toilet paper today at ValuMarket on Bardstown Road in the Highlands. Cost: $11.99, after a $1 savings for using our frequent-shopper card. Because we love numbers, that made us wonder how much Louisvillians spend every year on TP.

Here’s the math: Americans use an average of 23.6 rolls per person each year, according to The New York Times. Louisville’s population is now around 613,000 residents. Boulevard spent 50 cents per roll today, which we’re guessing is at the low end of the price range, since Charmin Basic is a no-frills brand.

The bottom line: 613,000 residents would use 14,466,800 rolls, at an annual cost of $7,233,400. You’re welcome!

Related: The history of toilet paper dates to the 6th century.

Bottom Line

Immoral, intemperate would-be barbers need not apply

If you knew all the hoops to jump to get barber licenses under Kentucky law, you’d tip your barber even more generously. The State Board of Barbering‘s governing law and regulations run well over 40 pages, covering everything from the regulatory board (whose five members are appointed by the governor) to how barber schools advertise. My favorite part of the license qualifications section: You must be of “good moral character and temperate habit.”

Outfitting a shop isn’t cheap, either. A traditional striped barber pole alone costs a whopping $1,035 at retailer Minerva Beauty of Monroe, Ga. (The history of poles is interesting, but not for the faint-of-heart.)

10408723_1512343935685110_2971144345046087142_nAs for me, I get a haircut and beard trim every three weeks at Market St. Barbers in NuLu: $45, not including tip. (Today was the day.) The shop’s at 748 E. Market St. Ask for Ken Watts, senior master barber.

Related: barber shops across Louisville.

Bottom Line

Texas Roadhouse reports first-quarter results after stock markets close today at 4 p.m. ET. Here’s how the Louisville-based company describes itself in its annual 10-K report to the Securities and Exchange Commission; its most recent was filed Feb. 26.:

Kent Taylor
Taylor

Texas Roadhouse is a growing restaurant company operating predominately in the casual dining segment . Our founder, chairman and chief executive officer, Kent Taylor, started the business in 1993 with the opening of the first Texas Roadhouse restaurant in Clarksville, Ind. Since then, we have grown to 483  restaurants in 49 states and four foreign countries. Our mission statement is, “Legendary Food, Legendary Service.” Our operating strategy is designed to position each of our restaurants as the local hometown favorite for a broad segment of consumers seeking high-quality, affordable meals served with friendly, attentive service. As of Dec. 29, we owned and operated 401 restaurants and franchised an additional 82 restaurants.

Bottom Line

In Louisville, a flood of hotel rooms may not be enough

Led by the mammoth 612-room Omni, eight hotels are in the works for the Louisville area, The Courier-Journal said today, and if completed, they’ll add 1,500 more rooms at a total cost of $850 million. The Omni has started construction, and hopes to open by spring 2018.

But all those additional rooms may not be enough to satisfy demand once the Kentucky International Convention Center expansion is done; the center will close in mid-August for two years.

There are just under 15,000 hotel rooms in Jefferson County, and 18,670 in the metro area, including nearby Kentucky and Indiana counties. But compare that to other metros in the region that compete for convention and other big-meeting business:

  • St. Louis: 38,000
  • Indianapolis: 33,000
  • Cincinnati: 37,700
  • Nashville: 26,600.