Free Republic

It looks like a case of wiener take all. Nathan’s Famous, an iconic American hot dog maker and fast-food chain, was sold to Smithfield Inc., a Chinese-owned pork producer, in a $450 million all-cash deal. The two companies announced the merger in a statement Tuesday. Smithfield Foods will acquire all of Nathan’s Famous shares for $102 each, according to the announcement. "The Nathan’s Famous acquisition is a meaningful step in the progression of Smithfield Foods allowing us to own all of the top brands in our packaged meats portfolio," Shane Smith, Smithfield CEO and president, said in the statement. Smithfield...

QUINCY, Mass. — A Massachusetts woman is facing an assault charge for allegedly punching a restaurant worker for putting too many pickles on her steak and cheese sandwich, police said Monday. Tina Drouin, 49, ordered the sub from Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs in the Quincy Center subway/commuter rail station at about 2 p.m. Saturday, according to MBTA police. Drouin started loudly complaining, used a profanity, and made other derogatory comments about the ratio of certain ingredients as the worker prepared the sandwich, police said. Finally, she demanded a refund. The worker refused. That’s when Drouin allegedly punched the female worker...