British firm weighing purchase of Boeing Wichita

A British firm that bought a Boeing Co. plant in St. Louis three years ago is interested in purchasing Boeing’s commercial airplane operation in Wichita, a spokesman for the British aerospace company said.

GKN PLC has not made a bid for Boeing Wichita’s commercial airplane facility, but the expression of interest marks a change from May, when GKN said it would not pursue a deal.

“Things have moved on since then,” GKN spokesman Peter Baillie told The Wichita Eagle for a story in Saturday’s editions. “I can confirm that we are looking again at the Wichita outsourcing.”

Chicago-based Boeing wants to sell Boeing Wichita along with its commercial operations in Wichita and Tulsa and McAlester, Okla.

Food and beverage

Starbucks to raise prices

Inflation watchers, take note: Starbucks announced it would raise prices for the first time in four years, although it won’t say by how much. The coffee company’s executives cite higher costs of milk and health insurance, but analysts say a slowing of top-line growth may also be a factor.

Same-store sales at Starbucks grew 8 percent last month, compared with 9 percent in August of last year.