Tyson Foods is expected to announce today that it is investing millions of dollars for a minority stake in Freshpet, a Secaucus, N.J., company that is rolling out refrigerated dog food to stores such as Kroger, Supervalu and PetSmart, Scott Kilman reports. Freshpet's executives -- a collection of former Meow Mix managers -- are trying to make dog food look, smell and taste as much like human food as possible. "Everyone talks about the humanization of pets," says Scott Morris, Freshpet marketing vp. "But pet food looks the same as it did 30 years ago." Jeff Webster, a Tyson …

With consumers seeming to return to traditional Chinese-style fast-food options -- usually rice or noodle dishes that feature chicken -- McDonald's has opened a virtual store to promote its Super Value Meals through an alliance with the online portal Taobao, Normandy Madden reports. The company launched Super Value Meals in China last month. McDonald's is leveraging the popularity of the Taobao auction site "to communicate the benefits of everyday super value to more young netizens," says Phyllis Cheung, McDonald's vp-chief marketing officer in China. To promote the meals, McDonald's and Taobao launched a promotion that gives consumers a chance …

"Dancing With The Stars" winner Brooke Burke will star in a campaign for two new sugar-free "superfruit" Jell-O gelatins -- strawberry acai and raspberry gogi, Elaine Wong reports. The new low-calorie offerings also contain vitamins A and E, according to Kraft. The "Red Haute Flavors of Summer" campaign features Burke educating consumers on the benefits of the new varieties. Print ads will run in the April and May issues of Redbook, People, Self and Kraft Foods' Food & Family magazine. There will also be a spreadvertorial showing consumers how to incorporate the new flavors into "fun, fitness and fashion." …

We last saw Jack -- the CEO/mascot of Jack in the Box -- getting hit by a bus last month during a Super Bowl commercial. His accident inspired more than 81,000 get-well messages to be posted on the company's www.hangintherejack.com website. Jack emerged from his coma March 4, Dan Neil reports, "newly inspired." At Jack's direction, the chain will undertake a brand makeover this spring, including a new logo, redesigned store environments and a new corporate website that launched Monday. The six-week "Hang in There Jack" campaign was a 360-degree social media event …

A deal between Cincinnati-based Macy's and Clorox brings Clorox Disinfecting Wipes prime space in the retailer's Herald Square display windows on Seventh Avenue in New York and showcases the retailer's spring clothing fashion line. Clorox products are not sold in Macy's but samples are available at information booths in the stores.

Frustrated that unsettling news stories are telling the General Motors story, dealers are clamoring for an upbeat, brand-oriented ad campaign. "I think a bold move is needed, like 'Keep America Rolling,'" the marketer's interest-free incentive following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, says Bob Bakshi, a dealer in Valencia, Calif. The GMC brand did introduce a new national TV spot last week for the Sierra full-size pickup, and GM does have a lot of regional ads out. But a national brand-oriented campaign may be in the making, Jean Halliday reports. "We do believe we've got a great story to tell …

Best Buy is preparing to fend off Wal-Mart's brutal price competition by giving consumers stores that are more interactive, Miguel Bustillo reports. Instead of being wowed simply by low prices, customers will be able to step into the world of a new videogame or see their faces captured by a high-definition video camera. The effort will be lead by current COO Brian Dunn, who takes over as CEO in June. A onetime Best Buy stereo salesman, he still believes that the best retail innovations come from front-line workers, and he has embarked on a tour of stores in search …