Who would have thought that climate conditions in West Africa might move Cadbury investors to side with Kraft? Parmy Olson ends his story with that question. Let's back up. Supply problems have partly stemmed from difficult harvests in top cocoa producer Ivory Coast, which produces more than a third of the world's cocoa. Last year too much rainfall led to bad harvests, and this year more drought-like conditions could produce the same outcome. So far, the October to January cocoa harvest in the African country has been strong, according to Laurent Pipitone, senior statistician at the International Cocoa …

While some marketers are still assessing their relationship with the golfing great, global consulting firm Accenture PLC, which may have had the most to lose, on Sunday ended its dealings with the scandal-plagued Tiger Woods, write Emily Steel and Vanessa O'Connell. Woods was the centerpiece of the company's business-to-business ad campaigns, which included print, cable and TV advertising in 27 countries, as well as display ads in airports and extensive internal branding within Accenture itself. Many of the firm's advertising slogans -- such as "Opportunity isn't always obvious" -- appeared archly ironic in light of Woods's admitted sexual misconduct. …

Noreen O'Leary writes that Americans had more memorable encounters with new fast-food products than any other category in this recession-laden year. Five of the top 10 slots in 2009's Most Memorable New Product Launch Survey, conducted by Schneider Associates, IRI and Sentient Decision Science, were QSRs. No. 1 KFC made its biggest product launch ever with Grilled Chicken and No. 2 McDonald's backed its gourmet espresso-based McCafe beverages with one of the largest marketing pushes since the '70s, when it introduced breakfast offerings. The survey's most memorable launch began with near disaster, after KFC locations couldn't keep up …

While there are more than enough unique branding moments for American Airlines and Hilton Hotels to make their participation in "Up in the Air" worth millions in media dollars, not a penny was exchanged to secure either placement, writes Andrew Hampp. Instead, the companies provided locations and branding that helped defray what would have otherwise been incrementally massive production costs for Paramount and director Jason Reitman to shoot the film's many scenes in airports and hotels. "If we were to go and rent an airplane for a movie, it would be very expensive. But if you can get somebody …

At last, the Googlephone has appeared, Charlie Sorrel tells us. Forget the Droid, the G1 and all those other Android wannabees. Google will begin to sell its own reference Android 2.1 handset, designed by Google, made by hardware partner HTC, and called the Nexus One. The phone will be sold online by Google itself. The Nexus One will, crucially, be sold unlocked, giving Google complete control over the hardware and software with no pesky carrier interference. Even the iPhone, which has had almost unprecedented autonomy in its functionality is still constrained by carriers: AT&T's anti-tethering paranoia is a good …

In other techy news, Gizmodo's Jack Loftus is posting about brand-worthy Martha Stewart and her cryptic tweeting about a content tablet. "The tablet planned is NOT a kindle as we know it," he quotes her as having tweeted. "They're kind of cryptic," he blogs, "but if she's anything like The New York Times or Conde Nast then she might be talking with a certain company or companies about magical newspaper/magazine-saving tablets too. No surprise. Here are the other two: "'Would like more comments on reading colorful magazines on a tablet reader- new improved, very interactive. will you use …

Hollywood is banking on 3-D to boost box office, and the sci-fi epic "Avatar" is about to test whether audiences will go along with the program.