Starbucks delivery to start in Seattle, New York City

NEW YORK » Starbucks says it will start delivering to customers in select parts of Seattle and New York City later this year. In Seattle, it said it will team up with a company called Postmates to deliver to homes and offices within specific areas. In New York City, delivery will be from existing or newly setup Starbucks shops in certain buildings, starting with the Empire State Building.

Starbucks Chief Digital Officer Adam Brotman said there will be no minimum purchase required, but that deliveries will require "a small flat fee." He declined to say what the exact fee will be. Delivery workers will accept tips, too. Brotman said the average time for deliveries will be 30 minutes, starting from when the order is placed.

Foodland CEO tapped to join A&B’s board

The CEO of a local supermarket chain has been nominated to join the board of directors of Hawaii real estate development firm Alexander & Baldwin Inc.

Jenai Wall, chief executive of Foodland Super Market Ltd., has been nominated for a three-year term on A&B’s nine-member board, according to a proxy statement A&B filed Wednesday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Wall, 56, is being nominated to replace local attorney Jeff Watanabe, who is stepping down under A&B’s retirement policy for directors. Watanabe has been on A&B’s board since 2003.

Economic group forecasts more growth

PARIS » A key international economic watchdog has nudged up its forecast for global economic growth this year in response to low prices and expectations that interest rates will remain low in many leading economies.

The Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, a grouping of the world’s richest countries that acts like a think tank, said Wednesday that easy and cheap monetary policy in many parts of the world, including Europe, has helped underpin growth. However, it warned that a total reliance on that tool could strain the international financial system.

Herbalife ‘pyramid scheme’ suit dismissed

LOS ANGELES » A judge dismissed a lawsuit by Herbalife shareholders who claimed that the business structure and marketing practices of the weight loss and nutritional supplements company violated the law and that they lost money because it amounts to a pyramid scheme.

Plaintiffs did not show that accusations by activist investor Bill Ackman proved fraud by Herbalife, U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer in Los Angeles wrote in his ruling Tuesday.

Ackman, who runs Pershing Square Capital Management, bet heavily against the company’s stock, describing Herbalife as a pyramid scheme.

Judge concedes error in oil spill lawsuit

little rock, ark. » A federal class-action lawsuit against Exxon Mobil Corp. over a 2013 crude oil spill in central Arkansas has been dismissed by a federal judge, who acknowledged in his ruling that his decision seems unfair.

U.S. District Judge Brian Miller on Tuesday dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled.

Miller said in a 22-page ruling that he was incorrect in granting class-action status in the case and concluded that the easement contracts Exxon Mobil held with the property owners do not require the company to maintain the pipeline.

Minimum-wage law clears legal hurdle

SEATTLE » Supporters of higher pay for minimum wage workers hailed a federal judge’s decision clearing the way for Seattle’s new minimum wage law to take effect as planned next month.

U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones rejected claims by franchises of big national chains that the law discriminates against them.

The president and CEO of the International Franchise Association said the group would continue to fight the parts of Seattle’s new wage law that apply to franchises.

China to add more electric transit vehicles

BEIJING » Chinese authorities have announced plans to boost the number of electric, hybrid and other alternative fuel-powered vehicles used for public transportation, while sales of such cars for private use have spiked in recent months.

The Transport Ministry announced Wednesday that officials aimed to add 200,000 buses and 100,000 taxis powered by alternative fuels by 2020. Last year, the country added 15,000 alternative fuel-powered buses to its roads.

Sales of alternative-fuel vehicles have spiked in recent months as China offers tax breaks and other incentives to encourage purchases of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, amid a larger anti-pollution fight. Government data show vehicle exhaust makes up 30 percent of pollution in smoggy Beijing.

The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers reported that 5,996 electric vehicles were sold in January and February, 4.2 times the number sold during the same period last year. Another 6,444 hybrid vehicles were sold during those two months, 2.2 times more than the same period last year.

On The Move

» Communications Pacific (CommPac) has promoted the following people:

— Charley Memminger to director of editorial services from senior writer. He has been with the firm for the last three years and is a national award winning columnist, screenwriter and novelist.

— David Lato to director from account supervisor. He has 10 years of experience in public relations as well as nonprofit grant administration and management and joined CommPac in 2012 as an account executive.

— Shere’e Young to senior account executive from account executive. She first started as an intern for CommPac in 2010. Young later left for a position at KITV as a television news producer before rejoining CommPac in 2012.

Ship Ahoy!

Today’s ship arrivals and departures: