Kraft CEO Irene Rosenfeld has been launching one product after another, and executives say its most-promising new product may be a sandwich kit for keyboard-bound workers. Deli Creations was pulled together in less than a year by a team of managers with expertise in manufacturing, marketing, and market research. But Kraft is emblematic of what seems almost inevitable at big, old companies with familiar brands. Accustomed to being on top, they cling to the mass market, missing shifts in customer tastes. They become more conservative and often settle for safer bets, such as extending lines with new iterations of …

Jon Rubinstein--known as Apple's "Podfather"--officially joined Palm in October, but he's been on-site since July and putting in 70-hour weeks, sources say. Alongside CEO Ed Colligan, he has cleaned up the company's product plans, overhauled its engineering staff, and made several strategic new hires. Rubinstein faces numerous challenges at Palm, which helped originate the smart phone earlier this decade but has been straining to get back on the right track, after stumbling against hipper competitors such as Apple and Research in Motion. Last week, Palm warned it would miss estimates when it reports earnings on Tuesday, sending its stock …

Webkinz dolls--which were introduced by Ganz in the spring of 2005 and quickly become one of the most popular toys among the elementary-school set--appears to be changing its business model. The formerly ad-free Webkinz Web site began running movie ads in October (but they were withdrawn yesterday). And its stuffed toys are now sold at mass retailers so parents no longer need to hunt them down at small specialty stores. Ganz has been decreasing the number of sales reps that sell to small stores, and some small stores are starting to promote other toys--like Russ Berrie Shining Stars--which also …

Yum Brands will introduce new products, including beverages and breakfast meals, expand its value menus and offer healthier options at all three of its main U.S. brands--KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. CEO David Novak says the U.S. division's transformation is being modeled after moves made in the past few years at McDonald's. These techniques--particularly menu variety and healthier offerings--have already proved successful in Yum's mainland China division, according to Novak. At KFC restaurants in China, for example, the company offers fish products and is testing a line of beef items. In the U.S., the chain mainly sells …

PepsiCo has formed a joint venture partnership with Strauss Group of Israel to operate Sabra, a New York-based global marketer of hummus, the whipped chickpea and olive oil spread. The venture will produce and sell a variety of dips and spreads in North America. Sabra's other products include eggplant dips, babaganoush spreads and Mediterranean salsa. The brand has a strong presence in the Northeastern U.S. and Florida. Sabra products are available in supermarkets like Publix and warehouse clubs such as Costco. Sabra is among the fastest-growing marketers of hummus with U.S. sales approaching $56 million through September …

Partnering with Dawn Foods, Weight Watchers has cut a deal to sell individually wrapped muffins and snack cakes in 7-Eleven stores across the U.S.--the first distribution deal for the diet company at a national convenience store. Stacy Gordon, Weight Watchers vice president of licensing and products, says she hopes a broader array of products will follow. 7-Eleven operates some 7,000 stores in the U.S. and is known more for hot dogs and coffee than for healthy food. Bob Goldin, executive vice president of research and consulting firm Technomic, says the deal may bring Weight Watchers a large distributor, …