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ST. LOUIS — Ralcorp Holdings announced that its board of directors has unanimously agreed in principle to separate Ralcorp and Post Foods in a tax-free spinoff to Ralcorp shareholders.

The company said it expects to complete the separation in approximately four to six months, following the receipt of an Internal Revenue Service tax ruling and/or satisfactory legal opinion as to the tax-free nature of the transaction, final approval by the Ralcorp board of directors and other customary conditions. The transaction does not require approval from Ralcorp shareholders. 

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is launching new flavors of its private-label Thrifty Ice Cream in California stores, the retail pharmacy chain said Wednesday.

The launch comes ahead of National Ice Cream Day on Sunday, which President Ronald Reagan launched in 1984.

SAN ANTONIO — H-E-B on Tuesday signed celebrity Jennette McCurdy, co-star of Nickelodeon’s iCarly, to star in its new Gear Up for Back-to-School ad campaign. The campaign launches July 13 and runs through Aug. 31.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — PepsiCo Beverages Canada has introduced the 7UP EcoGreen bottle, Canada's — and North America's — first soft drink bottle made from 100% recycled polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, plastic, the company reported Wednesday.

YAKIMA, Wash. — Seneca Farms announced that its entire line of healthier snack chips, including apple chips, sweet potato chips and crisp onions, are now gluten-free.

According to the company, these snacks are manufactured at Seneca Farms' Yakima, Wash., plant, which recently implemented a strict gluten-free processing environment. 

LOS ANGELES — Pepsi announced that it is bringing back its memorable Diet Pepsi and Ray Charles ads for "You Got the Right One Baby, Uh-Huh!" with a line of retro T-shirts.

The recent collaboration was brokered through The Joester Loria Group, Pepsi's exclusive licensing agency for North America, and Act III Licensing in conjunction with the Ray Charles Marketing Group, the licensing agency for The Ray Charles Foundation. The collection, designed by licensee Ripple Junction features imagery of the late music legend Ray Charles.

MINNEAPOLIS — Responding to customer feedback, Procter & Gamble announced that it has improved its Pampers Cruisers diaper line to include improved softness, a 20% longer absorbent patch and new "Sesame Street" designs.

"We are really excited to offer these new and improved diapers," said Tricia Higgins for Pampers external relations. "We have listened to what parents really like about our diapers and responded by adding those features, such as the softness from Swaddlers, to our Cruisers diapers, which are available in sizes 3 and 4."

MASON, Ohio — P&G has expanded its IAMS pet food line with the addition of Sensitive Naturals and Simple and Natural recipes to its IAMS Healthy Naturals collection. IAMS Healthy Naturals was launched in 2007 and includes four recipes for dogs and three for cats.