CONSUMER-MARKETING | ENGAGEMENT

Frito-Lay has recruited personal chef Dave Lieberman for a supermarket tour touting sunflower oil.

Coca-Cola's new green-tea product, Enviga, marketed as a great tasting beverage that will burn calories, is set to begin a very active consumer sampling program in the New York metro and Philadelphia areas.

Kellogg Co. will put Xbox 360 games in 80 million cereal and snack boxes in its highest-value promotion ever.

Virgin Megastores is rolling out a new loyalty program that rewards customers—based on shopping habits—with points, discounts and entertainment incentives.

In a move to promote healthy eating among kids, Nickelodeon and the Walt Disney Co. are focusing more on linking their famous characters with nutritious products, including fruit.

Jim McCafferty's new-business pitch is unusual, even for the toy industry. He invites people to come and have lunch in his spaceship.

Best Western International is set to greatly expand it travel card program offering its gift card in a number of retail outlets, including discount giant Wal-Mart and The Kroger Co., just as consumers gear up for the start of the holiday shopping season.

Travelocity becomes the first major online travel agency to launch a loyalty program to give its most dedicated customers priority service, exclusive discounts and additional perks, the online travel company said yesterday. The VIP program adds an extra layer pampering to it existing customer loyalty program launched last November.

Consumers will spend nearly $800 on average this holiday season, up 7% from last year—with nearly $100 more earmarked for purchases for themselves.

(Direct Newsline)—Direct marketers must send relevant messages, be responsible, and respect the wishes of customers, donors and prospects, or they will risk becoming irrelevant themselves, said DMA president and CEO John Greco during his welcoming keynote address yesterday.