Pabst Brewing Company claims that MillerCoors wants to put it out of business by ending a longstanding partnership. The case has high stakes for Pabst, whose lawyers argue that the company’s very existence relies on the partnership. Chicago-based MillerCoors produces, packages and ships Pabst Blue Ribbon, Old Milwaukee, Natty Boh and Lone Star. MillerCoors says it’s not obligated to continue brewing for Pabst and that Pabst doesn’t want to pay enough, according to the Washington Post.

Tesla and the Mexican tequila industry are at odds over Tesla co-founder Elon Musk’s efforts to trademark an alcoholic beverage as “Teslaquila.” On Oct. 12, he tweeted “Teslaquila coming soon” and an accompanying “visual approximation” of a red and white label with the Tesla logo and a caption that said “100 percent Puro de Agave,” according to the New York Post. But Mexico’s Tequila Regulatory Council responded saying that the “name ‘Teslaquila’ evokes the word Tequila … (and) Tequila is a protected word.”  

In a first of its kind move among major pet stores, Petco announced it will stop selling dog and cat food and treats with artificial colors, flavors and preservatives, both online and at its nearly 1,500 stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico “We are making sure we are always taking the nutritional high ground,” Petco CEO Ron Coughlin told The Associated Press. Natural pet products still account for a small portion of the U.S. market share but growth has more than doubled to 6.5% between 2013 and 2017, according to Nielsen.

BMW is considering sale of its U.S. credit card business, according to Bloomberg. Sources indicate that the German company has already held talks with banks about the value of the credit card portfolio. “BMW is seeking to take advantage of aggressive bidding among banks for co-brand card deals in recent years,” Bloomberg reports. “Lenders see the cards as a lucrative way to profit from a customer's loyalty to a certain brand or store.” The automaker is one of the last major consumer companies to still own and manage its card portfolio.

The cereal maker said it is exploring a sale of its cookie and fruit snack businesses so it can focus on "core" parts of the company, according to CNN. "These brands have had difficulty competing for resources and investments within our portfolio," said Chief Executive Officer Steve Cahillane in a statement. "These changes will make Kellogg more agile and better focused on growing demand for our foods."

Diageo is selling 19 spirits brands, including Seagrams VO Canadian whisky and cinnamon schnapps Goldschlager, to Sazerac for $550 million. The deal comes as the company focuses on its premium whisky brands such as Johnnie Walker in the United States, according to RTE.  "The disposal of these brands enables us to have even greater focus on the faster growing premium and above brands in the U.S. spirits portfolio," the company said in a statement.

Nanoinfluencers, or Nanos for short, are people who have as few as 1,000 followers and are willing to advertise products on social media. “Their lack of fame is one of the qualities that make them approachable. When they recommend a shampoo or a lotion or a furniture brand on Instagram, their word seems as genuine as advice from a friend,” according to the New York Times. “Brands enjoy working with them partly because they are easy to deal with. In exchange for free products or a small commission, nanos typically say whatever companies tell them to.”

Coca-Cola is planning to launch a line of energy drinks made with naturally derived caffeine and guarana extract. The timing comes as the soft giant giant “intensifies efforts to break away from its traditional fizzy sodas and shift to health-focused trends,” according to Reuters. “Coke has previously taken a cautious approach to energy drinks as they are wrought with controversy in both the United States and international markets after some drinks were linked to deaths in young people,” per the wire service.

Competition in the segment is fierce, but that means new technology and lower prices reign as grocers seek to win consumers’ ever-elusive “stomach share,” per Grub Street. In-store shopping is less stressful, delivery has never been easier, and stores are offering an array of amenities including exercise classes and upscale bistros.

Consumer electronics company Royole has beat Samsung to market with its very own flexible display device. Called the FlexPai, the 7.8-inch hybrid device can fold 180 degrees and transform from a tablet into a phone. Samsung is expected to unveil its own version soon. Royole introduced the phone at an event in San Francisco.The FlexPai will be available as a consumer device in China with a base model price of 8,999 yuan, or around $1,300.