Strange but true: According to research at the University of Rochester Medical Center, not only does the blue dye found in Gatorade and blue M&M's help rats with spinal-cord injuries, it turns the rats blue.

That's right, rats in custom colors! What science won't find next.Continue reading...

First, let's address the biggest question about the new Tim Tebow spot for FRS above: Who exactly said Tebow wouldn't be a first round draft pick?

Now that's out of way, let's look at the very interesting paring of rookie NFL quarterback and the rookie energy beverage brand that is FRS. We're certainly not the only ones intrigued by the superstar's decision to sign with an unknown brand, especially when the star won his Heisman and his NCAA national championship with the University of Florida — the birthplace of Gatorade. Continue reading...

Last year will be one both Tiger Woods and Brett Favre would just as soon forget.

The Woods debacle was voted top sports story of 2010 by the Associated Press and not for reasons any sports personality would be proud of. Tiger's troubles started but didn't end with the revelation of his marital infidelities.Continue reading...

Android is booming thanks to Asia.

Boeing boosts jet prices, drops short-range carrier.
 
Boston Scientific abandons sale of pain-management unit.  

Brett Favre sits out Vikings vs. Giants game, ends streak at 297 NFL games. 

Comcast tests combo web/TV service.

Costco rebuffed by U.S. Supreme Court in challenge against Swatch's Omega watch brand.Continue reading...

Trade shows that cater to product manufacturers and retailers are often good places to watch for trends in consumer marketing. The National Association of Convenience Stores annual trade show, which was held last week, is traditionally a venue for the introduction of new packaged goods products, because convenience stores depend on such items for their profits.

If this year's show is any indication, it looks like consumer products will continue to trend towards healthier and environmentally-sensitive offerings. For example, Powerade, which competes with Gatorade, is entering a new category next year with "Powerade Protein Milk," available in chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. This new low-fat milk beverage will "support rapid muscle recovery" and go head-to-head with Muscle Milk (which, curiously, doesn't contain milk).

Vitaminwater, meanwhile, is preparing to launch Vitaminwater stur-D, another in its ever-growing line of products, which now has over 10 different flavors, all related to one health benefit or another. Vitaminwater's new product, hitting the market late this year, will offer support for healthy bones and joints.Continue reading...

Gatorade’s recently-introduced premium tripartite G-series product line (above) aimed at pro athletes and serious competitors was an attempt to turn the brand's financial performance around from its recent sales slide. The jury's still out, but if the strategy succeeds, a good deal of the credit may go to Gatorade’s huge investment in social media  ... and specifically, social media monitoring.

At the company's so-called Mission Control inside Gatorade headquarters in Chicago, four full-time staffers track what is being said about the brand on social media — and intervene when it seems to make sense. Few if any other CPG brands have devoted such immense resources to monitoring their social-media presence, and this is raising lots of interesting issues for Gatorade.Continue reading...

* AIG talks with the U.S. government about ending taxpayer aid.

* AT&T connects local search to emotions in new marketing campaign.

* Bank of America relies more on cross-selling and less on acquisitions under new CEO Brian Moynihan.

* Dell shifts focus back to big business.

* Gatorade plunges into social media to help revive flagging brand.

* Google Instant challenges brands with more than one name.Continue reading...

Could this be the first wave of future business launches funded by big brands?

PepsiCo owns such mega-brands as Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Mountain Dew, Quaker and, of course, Pepsi. Today the company revealed its first class of 10 fledgling technology companies to participate in a unique incubator program that will fund and promote the start-ups while they prepare to produce pilot programs in support of PepsiCo brands.

The first group of startups forming the PepsiCo 10, as they're called, fall into four categories.Continue reading...