Hartford Business Journal

4 Hartford Business Journal • August 27, 2018 • www.HartfordBusiness.com Briefs Edible Arrangements plans Atlanta relocation; 110 Wallingford jobs lost Wallingford-based Edible Arrangements announced plans to relocate its corporate headquarters to Atlanta as the purveyor of fresh-fruit arrangements significantly reduces its presence in Connecticut. The franchisor of fresh-cut fruit, snacks and treats said it will maintain a Wallingford office with about 20 employees, but will eliminate 110 jobs in the state. The move isn't all that surprising as the company has been growing its presence in Atlanta, where it opened a second headquarters in March that employed 50 people. The company's transition continued last month when it named former Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Mike Rotondo as its new chief executive, taking the reins from Edible's founder and longtime CEO Tariq Farid. Edible officials said the company opened a second headquarters in Atlanta because it provided a centralized location, access to major transportation hubs and other resources previously handled in Wallingford. UTC acquires Atlanta software company Farmington conglomerate United Technologies Corp. announced it has acquired an Atlanta-based predictive analytics software company. UTC, the maker of Pratt & Whitney jet engines, Otis Elevators and Carrier Air conditioners, said purchasing Predikto Inc. will support its global digital strategy and improve its business investments. Financial terms were not disclosed. UTC said it will leverage Predikto's cloud-based software platform to help it better predict when jet engines and other industrial equipment will breakdown. "By harnessing the best of our combined predictive analytics skill sets, we can better connect all critical assets, understand the reliability and health of our products and ultimately deliver an improved customer experience," said Vince Campisi, UTC's chief digital officer. Recently, Predikto completed a pilot with Pratt & Whitney to study unplanned engine events and to report on product improvement. The pilot, using Predikto's software, decreased the evaluation period for data scientists from two months down to just two days. HBJ taps former Providence news exec. as publisher The Hartford Business Journal has appointed a former Providence business news executive as publisher. Christopher D. Santilli, the former vice president of The Providence Business News, now leads Hartford Business Journal alongside New England Business Media President Joe Zwiebel, also the founding publisher of HBJ. Santilli began Aug. 13. In addition to a 16-year run with Providence Business News, during which he held various positions, Santilli has served as a corporate development officer for Roger Williams University, a banking officer for Citizens Bank and what is now, Bank of America. Most recently, he led talent recruitment for Providence Public Schools' 3,700 employee school system, which serves more than 24,000 students. HBJ, Connecticut's only subscription- based business publication, has a readership of over 31,000 in 61 towns. The publication is part of New England Business Media, which also publishes the Worcester Business Journal and Mainebiz. The group also includes New Haven Biz. In November, the company will add a bimonthly print magazine that will publish twice in New Haven this year. UConn football's '18 concession menu upgraded; brewhouse added With the onset of UConn football season, Pratt & Whitney Stadium will feature new handcrafted food and beverage offerings on game days, the stadium's operator says. Spectra Food Service announced two new beer-and-food providers — Stratford's Two Roads Brewing Co. and Week in Review TOP STORY Downtown Hartford office pair sold at $2.35M L andlord Shelbourne Global Solutions LLC has expanded its downtown Hartford office portfolio yet again, purchasing for $2.35 million a pair of adjoining, historic buildings on Pratt and Trumbull streets, opposite the XL Center. Shelbourne, based in Brooklyn, N.Y., announced it recently closed on the pair containing a combined 115,000 square feet of space, of which 17,500 square feet is streetfront retail space. Built in 1910, the property is comprised of two interconnected buildings whose tenants include Caribbean bar-restaurant The Russell and Max Bibo's delicatessen. Though separate addresses and street frontages, both share a common hallway, a Shelbourne official said. As previously reported, Trumbull Towers Management owned the properties and originally listed them at $2.95 million and marketed them as suitable for conversion to apartments or other commercial uses. Shelbourne Chief Operating Office Michael Seidenfeld said the investor is contemplating various redevelopment plans. In recent years, Shelbourne has acquired three of downtown's largest, most recognizable office towers: 20 Church St., known locally as the Stilts Building; 18-story, blue-glass sheathed 100 Pearl St.; and Metro Center, 350 Church St., housing Lincoln Financial Group. BY THE NUMBERS 39 The number of Connecticut business- es that made Inc. Magazine's annual list of the nation's 5,000 fastest-grow- ing private companies. $138M The projected surplus for Connecti- cut's fiscal 2019 budget, which went into effect July 1, according to the Office of Policy and Management. 74% The percentage of UConn's approxi- mately 5,550 incoming freshmen who are Connecticut natives, which is the highest total in recent years. $61.5M The amount of money the state is awarding to build, restore or expand 978 affordable housing units in 20 towns. TOP 5 MOST READ On HartfordBusiness.com • 1. 39 CT companies listed among Inc. Magazine's fastest-growing • 2. Downtown Hartford office pair sold at $2.35M • 3. Edible Arrangements plans Atlanta relocation; 110 Wallingford jobs lost • 4. Whistleblower accuses Pratt & Whitney of selling government defective jet engines • 5. I-84 lanes in Waterbury to open this week STAY CONNECTED For breaking and daily Greater Hartford business news go to www.HartfordBusiness.com HBJ on Twitter: @HartfordBiz HBJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HartfordBiz HBJ on Linkedln: www.linkedin.com/company/ the-Hartford-Business-Journal Daily e-newsletters: HBJ Today, CT Morning Blend www.HartfordBusiness.com/ subscribe Weekly e-newsletters: CT Health Care Weekly www.HartfordBusiness.com/ subscribe 93-99 Pratt St., Hartford. Christopher D. Santilli, Publisher, Hartford Business Journal PHOTO | HBJ FILE

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