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Supplier News — PepsiCo and GNC are teaming up to develop and sell fortified coconut water products. The Phenom brand will launch during second quarter 2011 and will be sold exclusively at GNC stores and GNC.com. 



One of Hershey’s popular mint brands is adding a powerfully cool taste experience to its line. Ice Breakers Frost sugar-free mints are coated with xylitol, cooling and flavor crystals and will be available in Wintercool and peppermint varieties. The mints are now available in 1.2-oz. containers.


DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — Sara Lee announced on Monday that it has completed the sale of its global body care and European detergents businesses to Unilever for 1.21 billion euro ($1.6 billion).

The sale is part of Sara Lee's ongoing process of divesting its household and body care businesses.

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Kellogg's president, CEO and company director David Mackay announced that he will retire from his post, effective Jan. 1.

The announcement is part of Kellogg's succession plan, which named current COO and board member John Bryant — who joined Kellogg in 1998 — as the company's new president and CEO. Mackay will work closely with Bryant to ensure a smooth transition through March 31, 2011, the company said.

LA JOLLA, Calif. — Kashi is boosting its sustainability efforts by reducing the packages of its products by as much as 12.4%.

Among the foods that now feature less packaging are Kashi GoLean Crunch! honey almond flax and GoLean Crisp! toasted berry crumble cereals, all Kashi TLC crackers and the entire line of TLC chewy granola bars and TLC fruit and grain bars.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble announced that its Auburn, Maine, feminine care facility became the first manufacturing plant in North America to achieve zero waste to landfill.

P&G said its Global Asset Recovery Purchases team assisted the company in reusing or recycling its waste. P&G said these efforts delivered tens of millions of dollars in cost recovery to the company in the past year alone.

CLEVELAND — Customers looking to make the holiday season merry and bright can look no further than American Greetings.

The greeting card company has introduced a new collection of Christmas cards to its lineup, which includes special recordable music cards that allow senders to sing along to their favorite carols, while the new Kathy Davis cards feature watercolor art and heartfelt words.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Shortly after testing its PYNK system in CVS/pharmacy locations in the Westchester County, N.Y., area, Kodak officially is rolling out the photo kiosks at 5,000 CVS/pharmacy stores nationwide.

The Kodak PYNK photo kiosk gives photo enthusiasts the capability to create various projects with its "print-to-fit" system. New to the mix is a photo collage option, which takes out the time-consuming work of selecting, cropping and printing photos for a collage display, the company said.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble's Swiffer brand is helping dogs and cats find a loving home this holiday season.

As a sponsor for Macy's Union Square 24th Annual Holiday Pet Adoption Windows, Swiffer has tapped its spokesman Cesar Millan, a dog behavior specialist, to assist with the pet adoption and offer new pet owners tips on how to create a pet-friendly environment in their home this holiday season, Swiffer said.