USA Today
Froot Loops Mini Donuts are now on the menu at two fast food restaurants. The miniature donuts, inspired by the Kellogg's cereal, are available at both restaurant chains across the U.S. starting Wednesday. A five-pack of the mini-donuts costs $1.99 and they will be available for a limited time. (No word yet on the cut-off date from the chains' parent company CKE Restaurants, per USA Today.)
CNBC
Campbell Soup plans to sell its fresh food business, including Bolthouse Farms, as well as its Arnott's and Kelsen brands overseas. The 149-year-old condensed soup maker is struggling to regain its financial footing and refocus on its signature packaged foods. The moves follow efforts by former Chief Executive Officer Denise Morrison to double down on product lines it knows well: snacks, meals and beverages.
Food Dive
The beer company is launching Cape Line, low-calorie alcoholic beverages aimed at millennials. It's MillerCoors' second try to lure this market, expected to go on sale next spring with a major marketing campaign. Earlier this year, the company introduced Two Hats, a light beer that came in lime and pineapple flavors and was marketed as "good, cheap beer." But Two Hats failed to take off -- and was recently discontinued.
The Wall Street Journal
J.Crew Group Inc.’s signature brand posted a slight gain in quarterly sales, ending a four-year slump. Chief Executive James Brett called the results a “watershed moment,” attributing them to the company's recent efforts to make the brand more accessible. Brett told the Wall Street Journal he plans to expand J.Crew’s assortment with more entry-level prices, a larger selection of styles, as well as more size and fit options.
Boston Globe
More than 100 Hasbro toys (including Mr. Potato Head and Play-Doh) can now be purchased from Amazon without the Fort Knox-like packaging that used to encase it. “When customers receive a package at home, they want to get into it very quickly and not work through any materials seen in a brick-and-mortar package,” Hasbro’s Jeff Jackson tells the Boston Globe. “When it’s a frustration-free package, all of that ‘stuff’ is gone.”
New York Post
Procter & Gamble has applied to trademark millennial-friendly internet acronyms including “LOL,” “WTF,” “FML” and “NBD” for use on soap and cleaning products such as Febreze. The company wouldn't explain to The Post exactly what it wants to do with the acronyms, which, respectively, stand for “Laughing out loud,” “What the f-ck?,” “F-ck my life” and “No big deal.” But here's a clue: "[N]ew board member Nelson Peltz has blasted the multinational for its aging brands and failure to capture the millennial market."
Women's Wear Daily
Actress Kate Hudson and New York & Co. have entered what’s described as a multi-year, multi-pronged agreement for a ready-to-wear collection. Hudson, who also is co-founder of athletic wear company Fabletics, will serve as ambassador of the $225 million Soho Jeans franchise. She describes the future RTW collection as “statement casual.” Customers have been asking for a partnership with Hudson for years, said Greg Scott, chief executive officer of New York & Co.
Los Angeles Times
Harry Overly, Sun-Maid Raisin’s 39-year-old president, who has a marketing background, is trying to find ways to bring the company into the future. While the brand and its bonnet-wearing farm girl are highly recognizable, they aren’t appealing to younger consumers. Sun-Maid is launching a national campaign next year focused on rekindling fondness for the brand, its first in more than a decade.
The Wall Street Journal
Coca-Cola Co.’s mandate to its subsidiaries to develop more local flavors resulted in expansion into new categories and the ability to bring products to market faster. Examples include Maaza Chunky, a chunky mango beverage, cucumber-flavored Sprite in Russia, a line of whey shakes in Brazil, a sesame-and-walnut drink in China and a salty lemon tonic water in France and Belgium. Coke says its expanding portfolio is helping to drive its
recent growth in volume..
Cincinnati Enquirer
Reactions to the national grocery retailer’s announcement that it will transition from single-use plastic bags to reusable bags by 2025 were mixed. Many took to social media to support the positive impact on the environment, but some questioned why it will take the company seven years to enact the ban. Others said they will miss the bags because they reuse them for a variety of household tasks like picking up dog droppings.