Even green beans can be strategic in the continuing struggle by QSR brands to come up with better-for-you options that are appealing to kids and yet acceptable to nutrition scolds.

KFC made green beans the default option in its new Li'l Bucket kids meal, which is joined in the $3.99 package by a Kentucky Grilled Chicken drumstick, an applesauce pouch from GoGo squeeZ and a Capri Sun Roarin' Water. The new repast aimed at kids also appeals to parents with robust infotainment options such as puzzle games that are attached to the bottom of the bucket lid.

"Green beans are one of the more popular green vegetables with kids," Cynthia Koplos, KFC's senior director of marketing, told brandchannel. "They're already available at almost all of our restaurants." Parents also can choose mashed potatoes or macaroni and cheese as side items in the Li'l Bucket, in place of green beans.Continue reading...

China is the second latest economy in the world, every significant brand's future is impacted by its growth (or collapse!); but who's got the time?! A weekly potpourri of ten reads that will make you look like a keen China observer during any conversation about China.

Apple, Björn Borg, Scotland and Australia, Ford, Hermes, brand colors, Bentleys, deleted photos of China's leader riding a Taiwanese bicycle and more... Continue reading...

The 2012 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) is out and it demonstrates the kind of consistency that a fast food behemoth like McDonald's can't be too happy about. 

The ACSI's new ranking puts the burger-meister dead last in the "Limited-Service Restaurants" category, with a satisfaction rating of 73 percent. That puts McDonald's just below rival Burger King (75 percent), but considerably below Wendy's (78 percent). Pizza delivery company Papa John's was rated #1 in the limited service category with a satisfaction rating of 83 percent, an increase of 5.1 percent from the previous year. Interestingly, the company in this category with the largest drop in customer satisfaction from last year was Starbucks. Often touted for its customer service, the coffee house fell from 80 percent in 2011 to 76 percent in 2012. 

Unfortunately, the lowly ranking should come as no big surprise for McDonald's management; the company has ranked last in the ACSI since 1995. In fact, its current rating of 73 percent is a percent higher than last year, and 73 percent is the highest rating ever achieved by McDonald's on the ACSI.Continue reading...

AIG plunges back into U.S. real-estate investing.

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Amazon adds in-app purchases to woo developers away from Apple.

BJ's Wholesale Club grows locally produced program.

Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn quits amid "personal-conduct" probe.

Coty explores U.S. IPO potential.

Cracker Barrel adopts poison pill.

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With every turn of the menu, McDonalds becomes more like Starbucks becomes more like Jamba Juice becomes more like — well, you get the idea.

Apparently reacting specifically to the opportunity to compete with Massachusetts-based Dunkin' Donuts for the morning sweet tooth of New Englanders, McDonalds is expanding its breakfast lineup in its stores in the region to include baked goods: cheese danish, two kinds of muffins, banana bread, and vanilla scones. They join traditional standbys such as Egg McMuffins and recent additions such as oatmeal on the morning menu, but unlike those staples, the new bakery fare will be available at McDonald's all day.

The goods will be baked on-site at each of the McDonald's involved. "The fact that we bake them on the premises is a unique piece," he said. "We actually bake them — they're not frozen," Lou Provenzano, a franchise owner who operates 13 McDonald's locations in Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, told the Boston Globe.Continue reading...

Apple sends invites to expected iPad 3 unveiling on March 7, as Proview trademark battle heats up.

Audi touts EV technology and sustainability at TED.

Bodog gambling site is shut by U.S. prosecutors.

Caesars posts big quarterly loss.

Domino's sees bigger slice of sales overseas.

Fiat and Chrysler looking for new automotive alliances.

Fidelity aims to provoke thought with digital campaign.

Fisker names former Chrysler chief as its CEO.Continue reading...

Apple tightens up on apps again, frustrating developers.

Blip.tv gets fresh funding, drops .tv from brand name.

Chrysler CMO personally approached Clint Eastwood about Super Bowl ad just as he did Eminem a year ago.

Corona supports cancer research with promo.

Google nears launch of cloud-storage service.

Groupon reports net loss in first quarterly filing after IPO.

Honda aims to reclaim its luster.

Mattel launches new global campaign for Barbie.Continue reading...

Airbus faces order by European regulators for checks of all A380 jets.

Anheuser-Busch demonstrates new emphasis on sophisticated consumers in its advertising as Bud Light enlists Weego, the Super Bowl dog, to continue buzz.

Apple's iPhone reportedly squeezing carriers.

Buffalo Wild Wings rejoices that NFL season came off.

Chrysler sees no let-up in criticism of Eastwood ad as plot thickens.

Coca-Cola boosts marketing and branding investment as word comes that its Super Bowl livestream exceeded expectations.

Disney sells out Oscars advertising on ABC.Continue reading...