TD takes top spot on Interbrand's new Best Canadian Brands ranking.

JCPenney continues claw-back of new business model, plans to use term "sale" again.

Sara Lee renames North American business Hillshire Brands and narrows focus to meat.

Apple uses more celebrities in marketing; what does that say about new products?

Justin Bieber debuts another fragrance concept called Girlfriend.

Burger King expands in Russia.

Clear Channel shifts royalty deal for music artists including Taylor Swift's label.Continue reading...

Budweiser is hoping to put the "win" back in "Winnipeg" by rallying fan support for Canada's latest NHL franchise.

Canada has plenty of good beers of its own but the nation’s latest entry into the NHL, the new version of the Winnipeg Jets, will have a beer sponsorship that couldn’t get more American: Budweiser.Continue reading...

For decades, Canada's Molson Breweries owned NHL sponsorship rights, only to have them grabbed by Labatt back in 2007. Now an Ontario appeals court has given the rights, worth hundreds of millions, back to Molson.

The pair faced off in court because Labatt “failed to sew up an extension of its sponsorship rights within an exclusive negotiating window last winter,” the Globe and Mail reports. The league then went back to Molson and signed a deal with them. Labatt requested and received an injunction last month, but then lost its appeal Tuesday and is now “reviewing its options for further legal action.”

Molson execs are likely tipping a few back to celebrate the fact that they get to spend “about $375-million over the next seven years” for the NHL branding exclusive, the paper notes.Continue reading...

Molson Deal with NHL Leaves Bitter Taste for Labatt

The National Hockey League is switching from Labatt to Molson Canadian in a seven-year endorsement agreement with MillerCoors and Molson Coors Brewing Co, Bloomberg reports. The deal, which will begin with the 2011-12 season, is purportedly worth $375 million, the largest corporate sponsorship in league history. Meanwhile, Labatt is finding the announcement hard to swallow, saying it was in good-faith negotiations with the NHL to renew its sponsorship and vowing to “pursue all legal remedies.”

Below: Booze Newz samples eco-beer, does the can-can and brown-bags it.Continue reading...