SFGate
Wendy's attempted to pick a social media fight earlier this week with the Golden State Warriors. A day later, the fast food restaurant had also found a sparring partner in the form of the Oakland A's Twitter account. It all started when a Twitter user spotted someone dressed in a Steph Curry jersey at a Wendy's in Knoxville, Tenn.
MarTech Today
KLM has launched bots for Twitter and WeChat that are fluent in 10 languages. The Dutch airline says this is the first integration of Twitter Direct Messages into a global airline's online checkout process and the first airline bot for WeChat outside of China. KLM also offers a similar bot on Facebook Messenger, where it says it was the first airline to do so.
Drinks Business
Molson Coors Brewing has agreed to import, market and distribute Heineken's Sol beer brand in the United States starting this fall under a 10-year import agreement. Sol will continue to be brewed in Mexico. The combination of Sol's existing brand equity and MillerCoors' sales, marketing, and distribution capability and established nationwide distribution network presents new development opportunities.
Footwear News
New Balance hosted a virtual running relay around the world with its sponsored athletes to celebrate Global Running Day. Starting with Team New Balance runner Olivia Easton in Australia, the brand's athletes took over its Snapchat account to run and passing off to other runners in locations worldwide.
Brand Channel
The brand is reinvigorating its music program to bring new musicians together in an effort to offer guests "authentic connections that curate a unique guest experience." For example, Cracker Barrel produced the updated version of "Jolene" by Dolly Parton and a cappella stars Pentatonix that has garnered more than 25 million views on YouTube. The video was shot in the Cracker Barrel Decor Warehouse.
Deadline.com
Epix will be "the first entertainment service globally" with an app that offers its content to subscribers in a connected car - in this case Honda's 2018 Odyssey minivan. Epix's app will be pre-loaded into the rear-seat entertainment system. Subscribers will be able to watch its movies and shows on demand and via four live linear channels.
The Drive
Tesla has revealed its first teaser picture of the electric automaker's upcoming Model Y compact crossover -- set to be a cheaper, gateway vehicle into the cult of Tesla in crossover form. Tesla CEO Elon Musk spoke on his renewed attitude toward crossover styling -- openly admitting that the Model X's design direction was probably a mistake.
Chicago Tribune
Target Corp. is counting on the Chicago area to help trigger its revival and rescue the company. Under attack from giants Amazon and Walmart, Target is fighting back by opening a raft of mini-stores in neighborhoods - only 40,000 square feet compared to the 175,000-square-foot superstores. The retailer is also refurbishing many of its huge stores.
Seattle Times
Seattle has approved a tax on distributors of sugary drinks. The money collected - 1.75 cents per ounce - will be used to provide access to nutritious foods in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color where soda companies market heavily to children and where more people struggle with sugar-linked health problems such as obesity and diabetes.
Mercury News
AAA says that because Tesla drivers have higher rates of insurance claims, and those claims often pay out more than those of other comparable cars, Tesla owners should be ponying up more for their insurance coverage. The company, which may raise rates by as much as 30%, is basing its plans on information from the Highway Loss Data Institute and other sources.