Joel Backaler, head of Asia Pacific Operations for Frontier Strategy Group, is fascinated by the way that Western consumer goods companies are introducing brands in emerging markets where consumers had no idea that they wanted or needed the product -- or even that it existed. He points out in "The China Tracker" blog that Procter & Gamble's Bob McDonald has a goal of adding a billion new customers worldwide over the next five years, which translates into 500,000 newbies every day. One way it's hitting those numbers is by convincing Chinese parents that with Pampers disposable diapers, "Baby …

General Motors' market share has slipped to levels below the company's turnaround goals in the past couple of months, following its stronger-than-expected emergence from bankruptcy, Tim Higgins reports. He cites Toyota's high incentives, recalls of the Chevrolet Cobalt, the elimination of Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and Hummer brands, and about 2,000 planned dealership closings as contributing factors in the shortfall. The company has made gains with the four U.S. brands it is keeping, however, and remains confident. "We've got a plan and we're sticking to it," says spokesman Tom Henderson. GM's turnaround plan …

Pizza Hut is counting on lower prices, new advertising and two-click ordering to woo consumers in the reinvigorated pizza wars, vp-marketing Kurt Kane tells Emily Bryson York. It has prioritized online ordering in recent years and expects to surpass $2 billion in online sales by the end of this year, he says. But the No. 1 issue, as far as customers are concerned, is value, Kane says. "We've got insight-led advertising now that is bringing to life how value from Pizza Hut fits in their everyday lives," he says, praising the work of its new shop, The Martin …

Coca-Cola intends to use the World Cup to target mainstream American consumers, who are taking a more active interest in soccer, Reinaldo Padua, the brand's assistant vp of Hispanic marketing for North America, tells Elaine Wong. Its efforts in the past, he says, focused more on the core Hispanic market. Its theme for the tournament is "Open Happiness." "With the growth in the practice and popularity of this sport, we are at that tipping point where, during the weekends and in the summer, you see soccer moms taking kids to practices and games," he says. In fact, Padua …

Hoping to reverse an unspecified slide in sales of its 15-year-old Frappuccino brand, Starbucks is ready to roll out some recommendations gathered from its Passion Panel -- its best customers who respond to online questions in exchange for perks. Among the innovations will be customized Frappuccino, branded ice cream and more bottled versions of the concoction. Starbucks also got the message to test "wacky" ingredients and devise new products, Bruce Horovitz reports. "We know we can grow the brand around the world," says global CMO Annie Young-Scrivner; it is looking to figure out the best categories into which it …

Mariano Rivera is one of the most understated superstars in the history of American team sports, writes Harvey Araton, which makes him pitch-perfect for his role as a model for high-end Italian clothier Canali. He is the first athlete the company has ever used in its advertising. "He reflects the positive attitude that we would like to deliver to our consumer," says Elisabetta Canali, the company's global communications director. "He is solid." The way the relationship came about is perhaps typical of the workaday way Rivera goes about his business. Shopping …

Hertz Global Holdings is buying Dollar Thrifty Automotive for about $1.2 billion. Dollar Thrifty rents cars under the Dollar Rent A Car and Thrifty Car Rental brands, primarily in the U.S. market. The company will have a single publicly traded company -- Avis Budget -- to compete against. Hertz plans to keep the Dollar and Thrifty brands, according to the Wall Street Journal's Sarah Nassaeur. The acquisition is "really about having a multi-brand strategy in the leisure segment," according to Mark P. Frissora, Hertz chairman and CEO. Dollar Thrifty also has a …

Lane Bryant claims that Fox and ABC have a double standard when it comes to plus-sized models, with Fox demanding "excessive re-edits" of a Cacique commercial featuring model Ashley Graham, and ABC not allowing it to air on "Dancing with the Stars." "ABC and Fox have made the decision to define beauty for you by denying our new, groundbreaking Cacique commercial from airing freely on their networks," the company says. ABC says Lane Bryant is just looking for publicity. Erin Donnelly invites comparisons to "scantily clad housewives so desperate they seduce every man on the block" …