Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 15, 1994                   TAG: 9403150216
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IN BUSINESS

Taco Bell Corp., an Irvine, Calif. unit of PepsiCo Inc., said Monday that it will enact a no-smoking policy for all its company-owned restaurants, following other fast-food chains. Effective March 28, ``No Smoking'' signs will be placed in each of its 3,300 company-owned locations. In addition, the company expects 1,000 franchise stores to join in this effort.

Citing year-long customer research, Taco Bell said 70 percent of smokers and 84 percent of nonsmokers found smoking in fast-food restaurants offensive.

- Associated Press

VF Corp. workers in Danville strike

About 1,200 workers of VF Corp.'s Health-tex division on Monday walked off their jobs at plants in Danville and in Alabama and Georgia. Members of the Amalgamated Clothing & Textile Workers Union, they charged the company with unfair labor pratice during contract negotiations. Health-tex makes children's clothing.

- Staff report

Tobacco processor acquires stock

Dibrell Brothers Inc., a Danville tobacco processor and dealer and fresh flower dealer, said Monday it has acquired 6.2 percent of the outstanding common stock of Standard Commercial Corp., an international leaf tobacco and wool processor and dealer headquartered in Wilson, North Carolina.

The two companies a year ago agreed to merge but after several weeks terminated the agreement.

Dibrell president, Claude B. Owen Jr. said Monday the stock purchase ``reflects our continued belief that a combination of Dibrell and Standard would create opportunities to improve customer service and asset utilization, reduce costs and increase shareholder value.''

- Staff report