As part of a new marketing campaign in China, Pepsi has launched a can that is all red except for a blue stripe on one side--raising at least a few eyebrows because of its resemblance to Coca-Cola's Olympics-themed cans. Like Coke's current design, the new Pepsi can also features Olympic athletes, though they are different from the ones used by Coke, which is an official sponsor of the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Pepsi is a sponsor of Team China, the national team. Pepsi has marketed its signature cola in a blue can internationally since 1996. At the beginning of …

Burger King is introducing raw apples cut to look like French fries and served in a box it calls the Frypod. The catch is that they aren't fried, and there's no sugar added. "We think kids will flock to it," says BK spokesman Keva Silversmith. This fall, Burger King will begin testing a kids' meal that swaps fried, crown-shaped chicken tenders for flame-broiled ones, and replaces Mott's apple sauce with the organic, no-sugar-added variety. It will also serve Hershey's 1% fat chocolate milk instead of soda. The new products are expected to be in Burger King locations …

A mix of incentives on Chrysler and Dodge vehicles and the introduction of new Jeep products--Compass, Patriot and the four-door Wrangler--are helping prop up the Auburn Hills automaker in a year when General Motors and Ford have seen significant declines, experts agree. Sales of Jeep Wranglers are up nearly 71% so far this year, according to Autodata. A new design was launched last fall. The Jeep Compass, which was introduced in August 2006, and the Jeep Patriot, which was introduced in December 2006, are also providing a lift and "play right into where the market is going in terms …

The struggle over intellectual property rights between China and the West--a battle that has ranged over products from designer handbags to computer chips--now extends to cars. Charging that the CEO, a Chinese sport utility vehicle, is a copy of its popular X5, BMW has filed suit to prohibit its sale in Germany by the Chinese carmaker Shuanghuan Automobile. And DaimlerChrysler is taking legal action against Shuanghuan to prevent it from selling the Noble, a subcompact that bears an uncanny resemblance to Daimler's Smart minicar. "Naturally, our cars are inspired by European carmakers," says Karl Schl"ssl, a …

As more hotels try to become more environmentally friendly--in part to satisfy customers who are demanding it--they find themselves cluttered with "green" products and hype--but without many reliable guideposts for what's effective. Major corporations, including Marriott and Hilton, are studying options as they make decisions on far-reaching environmental initiatives intended to appeal to consumers with a conscience. And, at the same time, save on water, energy and waste, without downgrading quality. One problem is that there isn't a standard for what makes a hotel green. A handful of hotels have gotten certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, …

Sony is introducing the palm-size Rolly digital-music player--a small egg-shaped player that spins, flashes lights and jiggles like a robot. It has two small speakers, but no outlet for headphones. Rolly looks a little like an iPod-compatible device called Miuro, which was unveiled last year by Japanese robot company ZMP. But Sony's device--which will be priced at about $350--is lighter, more compact and less than half the cost. Its one big drawback may be that it isn't compatible with Apple computers or music downloaded from Apple's iTunes. Sony has kept the Rolly under wraps. It took the unusual step of …

Celestial Seasonings is unveiling new packaging, a new logo and new products--including an organic premium line called Saphara--as well as entering the coffee category with an organic line called Morning Thunder. Celestial Seasonings' makeover comes as sales declined 3.9%, to $50.5 million for the 52 weeks ended Aug. 12, per IRI. An integrated marketing program will support the rebranding of teas from the 37-year-old company. "Our teas involve more than taste so we want to convey the sentiment of 'tantalizing the senses,'" says Matt Sungy, senior product manager at Celestial Seasonings, a division of The Hain Celestial Group. Packaging was …

Aware of the pitfalls of being seen as trying to lure kids to drink sweet, caffeinated beverages, Starbucks has for years insisted that it does not market to children--even as stroller traffic jams build outside some stores and teenagers pack others. Now, the company is revising its stance, acknowledging that the under-18 set is part of the chain's customer base. There are still no plans to market specifically to children, according to Starbucks spokesman Brandon Borrman. But he says Starbucks is considering whether to add new drinks or drink sizes that better meet the needs of kids or teens. Borrman …

Dame Anita Roddick--who combined a passion for social change with a nose for business to become one of the leading figures in the environmental movement--suffered a brain hemorrhage Sunday evening and died at the age of 64. A child of Italian migrants, Roddick said her sense of justice was stirred by reading a book about the Holocaust at the age of 10. Roddick opened her first Body Shop in Brighton, England, in 1976 with the help of a £4,000 loan, hoping to provide some income while her husband was abroad. She had no training or business acumen, she said, but …

The most important trend in gaming over the last two years has been the pastime's explosive growth outside its traditional demographic base of young men. "Noobs"--short for newbies--is the online vernacular for players who are new to gaming. In the video game industry, those are known as new customers. Daniel A. DeMatteo, vice chairman and COO of GameStop, the largest specialty game retailer, says he expects that noobs will continue to affect console makers, game producers and retailers this coming holiday season. Since the casual gamer and the gift-giver do not always know what they want, GameStop is setting up …