Converging with a major trend in branding, Diet Pepsi asked HGTV star designer Vern Yip to come up with a new limited-edition mini-can that will invite consumers to "Sip in Style" this spring. The soon-to-hit shelves can continues the brands' multi-platform "Love Every Sip" campaign that has starred Sofia Vergara in TV ads.

While arguably Yip comprises only a "light" instance of the phenomenon, Diet Pepsi's collaboration with him also adds to the growing number of partnerships between celebrities and brands to fill or originate "creative director" spots, including Alicia Keys and BlackBerry, Swizz Beatz and Reebok, Marc Jacobs and Diet Coke, Polaroid and Lady Gaga, Bud Light Platinum and Justin Timberlake and Intel and Will.i.am.Continue reading...

PepsiCo continues to shore up the foundations of one of its key beverage brands even as it finally enters a hot-growing segment where it hasn't gone before in a bid to win more market share. Diet Pepsi is employing a new formulation that includes a substance called acesulfame potassium (known as Ace-K) as one of its sweeteners.

Previously, Diet Pepsi had been sweetened entirely by aspartame, but sources told BeverageDaily.com that the beverage giant found that heat would break down amino acids in the sweetener and lead to loss of flavor. Rollout of the new formula reportedly has begun in New York, Omaha and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Acesulfame potassium, as AP noted back in August, is meant to prevent taste degradation, and also perhaps to make the US formula for Diet Pepsi consistent with that used elsewhere, for manufacturing efficiencies. PepsiCo now tells AP that the goal is to put the tweaked flavor of Diet Pepsi "in high definition," and that a new ad campaign touting the new flavor, logo and tagline for the soft drink is launching in January.

In the meantime, PepsiCo also is leaping into the increasingly popular fruit-and-vegetable drink segment with new Tropicana Farmstand. It's a chilled, 100-percent fruit-and-vegetable juice that targets parents looking to sneak veggies into their kids' diets, with carrots, beets and sweet potatoes part of the mix.Continue reading...

Toyota sets to reclaim world sales crown as GMand Volkswagen vie for No. 2 and hints at elimination of Matrix model.

Domino's Pizza founder sues over Obamacare contraception coverage mandate.

McDonald's tries to get franchisees to stay open on Christmas.

Akamai taps co-founder as new CEO.

Burger King works with franchisee to expand in Mexico.

Chobani nears openingof huge new factory in Idaho.

Cosi uses pop-up unit in Chicago to test growth ideas.

Cox cable TV guide offers personalized recommendations in U.S. first.

Discover Communications makes key European deals.

Facebook counts on big deal with Walmart.Continue reading...

Angry Birds first Christmas song ("Fly Me Home Tonight") released by Rovio.

Apple downgraded by Citi on China suppliers, while first weekend iPhone 5 sales in China top two million.

NRA goes silent in wake of Newtown, CT, school massacre as President Obama vows to get tougher on guns.

Diet Pepsi quietly changes sweetener in advance of new logo, tagline and can design.

Barclays protests US energy fine.

Best Buy extends deadline for founder's buyout bid.

Chrysler undecided on minivan plan.

Cisco reportedly plans to sell Linksys brand.

Coca-Cola resurrects Mello Yello in Australia, plans pop-up beach at Sydney Cricket Stadium.

Facebook's monetization efforts may ride on Walmart campaign lessons.

Li Ning projects substantial loss.

Microsoft urged to ditch Windows brand by Dell.

PPR goes shopping for young brands.

Starbucks defended by London mayor Boris Johnson.

Toyota set to seize global auto sales crown as GM vies for 2nd place.

In a video born to go viral, Pepsi uploaded this video on YouTube of Dancing with the Stars choreographer Mark Ballas showing off some fancy footwork with a can of Diet Pepsi on his head. 

ABC announced the next batch of DWTS competitors today, with Ballas pairing up with Welsh opera star Katherine Jenkins in the 14th season, which starts on Monday, March 19th.

Other new cast members include tennis legend Martina Navratilova, and singers Gladys Knight and Gavin DeGraw. Ballas also choreographed Diet Pepsi's recent commercial featuring another ABC star, Modern Family's Sofia Vergara, dancing her heart out to promote Diet Pepsi's skinny can.

New York Giants Super Bowl champion Victor Cruz cut the ribbon today in a kick-off event for New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, now gearing up to debut Fall 2012 collections starting Thursday morning at Lincoln Center.

There's also a whirlwind of virtual activity in what the HighLow blog calls "the most egalitarian" New York Fashion Week yet, including a Facebook invitation to RSVP to live-streams of the runway shows and join the conversation on Twitter via the #liverunway hashtag.

YouTube and Maybelline will once again sponsor a real-time YouTube channel that will bring 30 of the Fall 2012 runway shows to the world. The runway videos will also be archived at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week YouTube channel.

Cover Girl is partnering with Polyvore and the Fashion Institute of Technology on Polyvore.com/Live, which will see four FIT grads debut their collections to an audience of fashion insiders and bloggers: Lauren Bagliore, Vengsarkar “Ven” Budhu, Sergio Guadarrama, and Dana-Maxx Pomerantz.Continue reading...

Last seen on the beach with Diet Pepsi's skinny can and in retro print ads, Modern Family star Sofia Vergara is back with a new spot for the brand (boasting the same tune, and directed by McG) that features her dancing her way through a Miami nightclub. Watch the 15-second version below.Continue reading...

Pepsi tonight unveiled its new summer campaign, with the tagline "Summer Time is Pepsi Time" and a none-too-subtle tweak at its chief rival in the cola wars. Yes, Virginia — that's Santa Claus, the iconic Coca-Cola brand mascot.

Saint Nick is shown boogying on summer vacation (with assorted elves in tow) to the Pepsi beat — and rejecting a bartender's offer of Coke. Watch it below and tell us what you think.Continue reading...