Pairing a brand's message with, of all things, a food truck has been increasingly employed in recent months, with major advertisers using trucks as rolling sandwich boards while advertising agencies issue the call to independent food truck operators to participate in brand-sponsored events. Food trucks selling things like falafels and waffles have grown in popularity in cities like New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and advertisers now see them as a vehicle for delivering their message directly to consumers. "All the companies that are involved in this understand the power of this guerrilla-type marketing, being on the …

Ann Lathrop of the Toy Chest, a store in Ridgefield, Conn., says the Black Friday weekend isn't usually bustling for smaller shops, as the rush typically comes during the two weeks leading up to Christmas. But Lathrop, who has experienced a sales slump the past two years, says her store was quite busy Friday, Saturday and Sunday. She attributes part of the boost to American Express's first "Small Business Saturday" promotion, which encouraged holiday shoppers to visit and purchase from local stores. Some business owners in other parts of the country also saw a slight uptick.

The QSR is trying to end a deal by which the food giant distributes packages of its coffee to grocery stores. In a statement on Monday, Kraft recognized Starbucks' right to take over the business but said the deal is perpetual in nature and calls for Kraft to get sufficient time to prepare for any transition, Reuters reports. Kraft also said that Starbucks must compensate it with the fair market value of the business plus a premium as high as 35%. Kraft accused Starbucks of acting "unilaterally." Starbucks disputes Kraft's assertion that the deal was in effect indefinitely. The coffee …

Toys R Us Inc. recently announced it was tripling its Rewards R Us program, offering 10% back on purchases made in stores or online through Christmas Eve. Target Corp.'s RED card program is upping its ante to 5% back on merchandise. GameStop Corp., a leading video game retailer, has unleashed its Power Up Rewards program, a first for the company. GameStop rolled out its Power Up Rewards program after positive consumer tests in the summer. Aiming for those seeking immediate gratification, GameStop's program gives customers benefits before they even buy anything. Members can choose between the free version …

The line's newest ship, Allure of the Seas, sets sail on its maiden voyage Dec. 1 with DreamWorks and Starbucks aboard. When passengers sail with Allure, they will see "Megamind" in 3D -- in the first movie theater of its kind on a ship -- and "How to Train Your Dragon on Ice," among other DreamWorks productions. DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg said the brands plan to expand the "DreamWorks experience" to other Royal Caribbean ships. Starbucks is also touting its partnership with Royal Caribbean. After posing questions on MyStarbucksIdea.com, the coffee chain decided to give consumers …

Short on cash, many are dining and partying at home so the companies that market packaged foods like soup, candy, soft drinks, flour, canned and frozen vegetables, gravy, coffee, cake mixes, broth and cookies are out to reach them with bigger advertising budgets. House-Autry is inviting cooks to enter a holiday contest, called I'm Dreaming of a Fried Christmas, by uploading video clips. The company is also asking consumers to visit Facebook and join an organization named the Southern Cooking Preservation Society. Pinnacle Foods Group is introducing bottles of its Mrs. Butterworth's syrup in three Christmas designs - the …

Avery Baker, EVP of global marketing and comms for Tommy Hilfiger, sits down with Age to talk about the latest doings among the Hilfigers, a fictional Americana family. Members of the Hilfiger clan, along with Baker, were just in Paris for the opening of the lifestyle brand's largest store in France. Globally, the company counts some 1,000 stores and brings in $2.25 billion in annual revenues. Meanwhile, a branded TV spot -- the company's first since 2005 -- began airing in the U.S. It features a chaotic Hilfiger family picnic, in celebration of the holidays. The Hilfigers, introduced …