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NEW YORK — Green laundry brand Seventh Generation has launched a contest whereby entrants can win a trip for two to France, Italy or Vermont.

The Nature Makes Perfect Scents sweepstakes underscores the source of the scents featured in Seventh Generation's cleaning products, particularly, its Natural Dish Liquid products:

• Seventh Generation uses French lavender used in its lavender and floral mint scent dish product;

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Reckitt Benckiser has launched a collection of online mini games to boost brand awareness.

Seasonal candy powers the category. Last year, chocolate and nonchocolate seasonal sales were strong for Valentine’s Day and Easter. Data from the National Confectioners Association showed that slight markdowns taken one week before the holiday can generate a significant spike in sales and leave retailers with less product to move at higher markdowns after the holiday.

Since licensed merchandise is a big part of the profitable seasonal category, retailers need a mix that appeals to both genders.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — PepsiCo has unveiled two digital platforms that focus on the company's partnership with Fox's reality competition show, "The X Factor."

Pepsi Pulse is shaped to be a real-time digital visualization of the conversations taking place on the social media surrounding such Pepsi partnerships as "The X Factor." The platform provides a visual storyline and gives consumers a forum to follow the "pulse" of a certain topic or individual in real-time, the company said.

CHICAGO — As many as 71% of consumers earning less than $100,000 per year are planning to trim back their spending this holiday season, according to new research, “Holiday Shopping 2011,” released Tuesday by SymphonyIRI Group.

WASHINGTON — A report released by the Institute of Medicine suggested that front-of-package labels don't give clear guidance about a product's healthfulness.

PLOVER, Wis. — Intevation Food Group has introduced a line of frozen crouton-coated vegetables.

Crunchtables includes sweet baby carrots, broccoli, green beans, zucchini, mushrooms and pickles, the company said.

"As Americans try to manage snacking and move toward improved nutritional choices, we must remember that food must deliver on taste — first and foremost," Intevation VP sales and marketing Dan Horan said. "We think of Crunchtables as a 'stealth health' product because it delivers great taste and better nutrition."

KIRKLAND, Wash. — Mobile retail websites have emerged as an indispensible in-store tool for consumers as they shop, according to a new survey conducted by Hipcricket, an Augme Technologies company, that was released Thursday.