Public concerns about food safety have shown a significant gain in the past two years, reports a recent survey by Chicago-based consultancy Technomic. It found that 40% of consumers were "extremely concerned" about food safety issues in restaurants. In a similar September 2012 poll, 38% of people surveyed said they were "extremely concerned." And 32% of survey respondents said the same in a July 2011 poll. Among people ages 18 to 24, 58% said they were "extremely concerned" and 29% said they were "somewhat concerned" about food safety.

Reebok has invited ad execs Emily Hodgson and Emilie Riis to collaborate on potential future footwear designs, following the pair's recent high-profile media campaign aimed at Nike's "too pink" women's products. The campaign, which ran under the banner Purple Unicorn Plant (PUP), centered its lobbying efforts on Nike, with social media executions running with the hashtag #PleaseJustDoIt. "It's great to see that we've struck a chord with so many women round the world who feel the same way we do," Riis says, "and we are driven by giving them a better trainer selection in smaller sizes."

Parents across the country are trying to save on items for the back-to-school shopping season, according to a new survey from Mintel. Some of the key trends: 48% shopped sales or clearance racks or outlet stores to save on back-to-school shopping last year. And 32% bought clothes on sale throughout the year in 2012 and saved them for the new school year.

Aiming to rebuild its credibility in the hot luxury market, Lincoln is debuting a new line of limited-edition products -- the Black Label Collection. Models feature "ultra-premium" exterior and interior design "themes" specifically crafted for individual models like the Lincoln MKZ and the upcoming MKC compact crossover. Plans call for special services and support, including a "traveling trunk show," with salespeople calling on potential buyers rather than requiring customers to come to showrooms.

Ask any winemaker in Virginia what tempted him (or her) to make wine in such a challenging climate, and the answer is almost always something like this: I wanted to make wine in a place where good wine was on its way to becoming world-class wine. Virginia wine country is a beguiling mistress to be sure, so it's easy to appreciate why many winemakers come and never leave: Virginia terroir is fertile with potential for vintners, including Early Mountain Vineyards, owned by AOL co-founder Steve Case and his wife Jean Case, CEO of The Case Foundation.

For stores that count on emailing promotions to potential customers, Google Inc. is adding insult to injury. Not only are ads now siphoned off into an easily bypassed "Promotions" folder, there is another wrinkle: For Gmail users that do visit those Promotions folders, the first items they see will often be ads sold by Google. Big emailers like Delta Air Lines, Gap and Groupon have sent their mailing lists instructions on how to escape the Promotions tab.

Starbucks plans to double the number of its locations around the world that offer the premium Clover brewing system and higher-end Reserve coffees by the end of next year, the company says. About 500 coffeehouse locations within the 19,209-unit chain now offer Clover machines in 25 U.S. and 10 international markets. The brewing process takes longer and is more expensive. Reserve brews have been priced up to $7 per cup, though more typically they are a dollar or two more than standard brewed coffees. Starbucks contends that a growing number of consumers are looking for a premium coffee experience.

AOL says it has promoted Erika Nardini, previously AOL's VP/head of marketing solutions, to CMO of AOL Advertising, "Erika is a marketing operator. She utilizes creativity and innovation with a strategic angle making memorable and dynamic marketing for AOL Advertising," wrote Norton in a blog post announcing the news. "She has driven the core barbell strategy for AOL, defining the strength and balance that we offer to our clients and partners."

Walgreens has hired a longtime Alliance Boots GmbH executive from Britain to transform its front-of-store operations in the U.S. Alex Gourlay, chief executive of Alliance Boots' Health and Beauty Division, will join Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreens as president of customer experience and daily living, where he will oversee merchandising, marketing and other non-pharmacy operations. (Walgreens bought a 45% stake in Alliance Boots last year, and has said it will purchase the remaining portion within the next two years.)

While critics have long lambasted Sears faulty fashion moves, the retailer has been getting plenty of press lately for showing some discipline, with a variety of provocative bondage items, including a "leather adjustable harness," a "leather spanking skirt," and a "leather bra and g-string set." Despite reports that Sears has pulled the entire line from Elegant Moments, one of its third party lingerie vendors, there were still plenty of bondage-inspired products still available on Sears' site: