Burger King releases meat-scented cologne - Telegraph: ""
Friday, December 19, 2008
McDonald's first restaurant chain to surpass ¥500 billion in sales
McDonald's first restaurant chain to surpass ¥500 billion in sales: "McDonald's Holdings Co. (Japan) said Thursday that sales at its network of shops are likely to top ¥500 billion in the 2008 business year, making it the first restaurant chain in Japan to surpass half a trillion yen in annual sales.
The U.S. fast food chain opened its first shop in Japan in Tokyo's posh Ginza district in July 1971.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
McDonald's Hedges Bets With Dual Burger Strategy
McDonald's Hedges Bets With Dual Burger Strategy
by Karlene Lukovitz, Monday, December 1, 2008, 3:30 PM
Media Post News
McDonald's decision to pull a dual-burger maneuver in the face of rising cheese costs that have been eating into the profitability of its phenomenally successful 99-cent Double Cheeseburger is an inspired compromise, say restaurant industry analysts.
The strategy, announced just before the Thanksgiving holiday, consists of raising the price of the famed Double Cheeseburger--which features two cheese slices--from 99 cents to $1.19 and simultaneously replacing it on the Dollar Menu with a new "McDouble" that's identical save for its single slice of cheese.
The changes went into effect as of Monday in corporate-owned stores, and McDonald's will begin national advertising around its revised Dollar Menu on Jan. 5, according to Bloomberg News. While pricing at the franchise stores that account for about 80% of McDonald's nearly 13,900 U.S. locations is up to the operators, U.S. franchisees endorsed the changes during November, Bloomberg reported.
Diehard fans of the Double Cheeseburger, McDonald's franchisees and the chain's competitors alike had been left to speculate about the item's fate since The Wall Street Journal outed the possibility of changes being afoot back in early August. Faced with dwindling margins on the Double Cheeseburger as commodities hikes forced up cheese prices, some franchises had taken to cutting their losses via strategies that ranged from upping the price of the traditional double-slice burger, to keeping the $1 price but reducing the cheese from two slices to one, to offering the burger sans cheese.
Wendy's quickly moved to gain some leverage during the period of uncertainty by replacing its 99-cent Stack Attack with a slightly different--although already existing--99-cent burger, the Double Stack Cheeseburger, and launching a marketing push for two existing 99-cent sandwiches on its Value Menu.
McDonald's, however, was not about to make a precipitous move, given that the Double Cheeseburger has been the anchor of its eight-item Dollar Menu since the menu's inception in 2003. The Dollar Menu is not only a powerful traffic driver, but has been estimated to account for about 14% of the chain's sales.
The Dollar Menu has also been key in enabling McDonald's to draw in cash-strapped consumers during this trying economic year and continue showing increases in same-store sales in most recent months. QSR magazine reported an increase of 3.4% in U.S. same-store sales for the second quarter and a 5.3% U.S. same-store increase for the month of October (globally, same-store sales rose by 6.1% and 8.2% for those two respective periods).
"McDonald's had to simultaneously accomplish two very important objectives: Make sure that the value proposition continued to be strong enough to compete effectively with all of the other value menu options out there, and ensure that the margin was sufficient for its franchisees to make a fair profit," sums up Dennis Lombardi, EVP, foodservice strategies for WD Partners, a design and development firm for restaurants and retail chains. "Their solution was a compromise that achieves both requirements."
While Lombardi notes that some franchisees and some consumers are bound to find fault with the strategy, he points out that McDonald's undoubtedly tested the move and was very confident that there would be minimal, if any, impact on sales. "If they had raised the Double Cheeseburger's price by a dollar, maybe there might have been a negative affect on traffic and sales. But as it is, people will just try out the new burger with the single cheese slice and decide for themselves whether it's worth spending the extra 20 cents for the Double Cheeseburger," he says.
Various financial analysts were also quoted in the press as predicting that the menu changes will improve profits while having no discernible affect on sales--although some have also expressed the opinion that even McDonald's is unlikely to be able to sustain comparable-store gains if the economy remains in the dumps well into 2009, as is generally expected.
by Karlene Lukovitz, Monday, December 1, 2008, 3:30 PM
Media Post News
McDonald's decision to pull a dual-burger maneuver in the face of rising cheese costs that have been eating into the profitability of its phenomenally successful 99-cent Double Cheeseburger is an inspired compromise, say restaurant industry analysts.
The strategy, announced just before the Thanksgiving holiday, consists of raising the price of the famed Double Cheeseburger--which features two cheese slices--from 99 cents to $1.19 and simultaneously replacing it on the Dollar Menu with a new "McDouble" that's identical save for its single slice of cheese.
The changes went into effect as of Monday in corporate-owned stores, and McDonald's will begin national advertising around its revised Dollar Menu on Jan. 5, according to Bloomberg News. While pricing at the franchise stores that account for about 80% of McDonald's nearly 13,900 U.S. locations is up to the operators, U.S. franchisees endorsed the changes during November, Bloomberg reported.
Diehard fans of the Double Cheeseburger, McDonald's franchisees and the chain's competitors alike had been left to speculate about the item's fate since The Wall Street Journal outed the possibility of changes being afoot back in early August. Faced with dwindling margins on the Double Cheeseburger as commodities hikes forced up cheese prices, some franchises had taken to cutting their losses via strategies that ranged from upping the price of the traditional double-slice burger, to keeping the $1 price but reducing the cheese from two slices to one, to offering the burger sans cheese.
Wendy's quickly moved to gain some leverage during the period of uncertainty by replacing its 99-cent Stack Attack with a slightly different--although already existing--99-cent burger, the Double Stack Cheeseburger, and launching a marketing push for two existing 99-cent sandwiches on its Value Menu.
McDonald's, however, was not about to make a precipitous move, given that the Double Cheeseburger has been the anchor of its eight-item Dollar Menu since the menu's inception in 2003. The Dollar Menu is not only a powerful traffic driver, but has been estimated to account for about 14% of the chain's sales.
The Dollar Menu has also been key in enabling McDonald's to draw in cash-strapped consumers during this trying economic year and continue showing increases in same-store sales in most recent months. QSR magazine reported an increase of 3.4% in U.S. same-store sales for the second quarter and a 5.3% U.S. same-store increase for the month of October (globally, same-store sales rose by 6.1% and 8.2% for those two respective periods).
"McDonald's had to simultaneously accomplish two very important objectives: Make sure that the value proposition continued to be strong enough to compete effectively with all of the other value menu options out there, and ensure that the margin was sufficient for its franchisees to make a fair profit," sums up Dennis Lombardi, EVP, foodservice strategies for WD Partners, a design and development firm for restaurants and retail chains. "Their solution was a compromise that achieves both requirements."
While Lombardi notes that some franchisees and some consumers are bound to find fault with the strategy, he points out that McDonald's undoubtedly tested the move and was very confident that there would be minimal, if any, impact on sales. "If they had raised the Double Cheeseburger's price by a dollar, maybe there might have been a negative affect on traffic and sales. But as it is, people will just try out the new burger with the single cheese slice and decide for themselves whether it's worth spending the extra 20 cents for the Double Cheeseburger," he says.
Various financial analysts were also quoted in the press as predicting that the menu changes will improve profits while having no discernible affect on sales--although some have also expressed the opinion that even McDonald's is unlikely to be able to sustain comparable-store gains if the economy remains in the dumps well into 2009, as is generally expected.
Monday, December 1, 2008
MTV HD and Nickelodeon/Kid's shows
LatAm pick-up strong for MTVNI kids/music HD service
by: Emily Claire Afan Dec 1, 2008 Share email this article
Viacom-owned MTV Networks International's first HD service featuring kids and music programming will be available in 10 new countries by 2009.
With feeds into 17 countries already established, the 24-hour English-language channel will soon be open for business in the UK (Sky), Israel (HOT), Uruguay (DirecTV Panamericana), Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador and the Caribbean Islands.
MTVNHD's programming lineup consists of original and acquired music-based and kids shows from MTVNI's library, along with Nickelodeon weekend blocks that include SpongeBob SquarePants, Avatar: The Legend of Aang and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.
by: Emily Claire Afan Dec 1, 2008 Share email this article
Viacom-owned MTV Networks International's first HD service featuring kids and music programming will be available in 10 new countries by 2009.
With feeds into 17 countries already established, the 24-hour English-language channel will soon be open for business in the UK (Sky), Israel (HOT), Uruguay (DirecTV Panamericana), Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador and the Caribbean Islands.
MTVNHD's programming lineup consists of original and acquired music-based and kids shows from MTVNI's library, along with Nickelodeon weekend blocks that include SpongeBob SquarePants, Avatar: The Legend of Aang and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
The New York Times Magazine - Features - Columns - Style - The New York Times
The New York Times Magazine - Features - Columns - Style - The New York Times: ""
The Screens Issue
What We Watch and How We Watch It
Every fall the magazine publishes a special issue about Hollywood, a celebration and investigation of that unique experience called moviegoing: sitting in a dark theater for two hours with a few hundred strangers and being entertained by flickering lights and amplified sound. This year, we’ve stretched the issue to reflect a new reality: when you watch moving pictures these days, a theater is the last place you are likely to be. Cable, YouTube, DVDs, DVR, news briefs in the elevator and cartoons on your cellphone — through a variety of media, we now consume fragmented narratives on multiple screens. From a 16-second panda-sneeze video to 60 straight hours of “The Wire,” this is the way we watch now.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Get moving: Guidelines set healthy activity levels
Get moving: Guidelines set healthy activity levels
Lauran Neergaard, Associated Press, Oct 7, 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) ? Get moving: The nation's new
exercise guidelines set a minimum sweat allotment
for good health. For most adults, that's 2 1/2 hours a week.
How much physical activity you need depends
largely on age and level of fitness.
Moderate exercise adds up for sluggish adults.
Rake leaves, take a quick walk around the block
or suit up for the neighborhood softball game.
More fit adults could pack in their week's
requirement in 75 minutes with vigorous exercise,
such as jogging, hiking uphill, a bike race or speedy laps in the pool.
Children and teens need more ? pretty brisk
activities for at least an hour a day, say the
government guidelines being released Tuesday.
Consider it the exercise version of the food
pyramid. The guidelines, from the Health and
Human Services Department, aim to end years of
confusion about how much physical activity is
enough, while making clear that there are lots of ways to achieve it.
"The easy message is get active, whatever your
way is. Get active your way," HHS Secretary
Michael Leavitt told The Associated Press.
It's OK to start slowly. Someone who's done no
exercising will start seeing benefits with as
little as 10 minutes of moderately intense
exercise a day, which is an incentive to work up
to the recommended amounts, said Rear Adm.
Penelope Royall, deputy assistant secretary for disease prevention.
"Some is better than nothing, and more is better," she said.
The guidelines come as scientists are trying to
spread the word to a nation of couch potatoes
that how active you are may be the most important
indicator of good health. Yet a quarter of U.S.
adults aren't active at all in their leisure
time, government research concludes. More than
half don't get enough of the kind of physical
activity that actually helps health ? walking
fast enough to raise your heart rate, not just
meandering, for instance. More than 60 million adults are obese.
Worse, the nation is raising a generation of
children who may be less healthy than their
parents. About a third are overweight and 16
percent are obese. And while young children are
naturally active given the chance, schools are
decreasing the amount of recess and gym time. By
high school, a recent study found, fewer than a
third of teens are getting an hour of activity a day.
To put science behind the how-much-is-enough
debate, HHS gathered an expert panel to review
all the data. The panel found that regular
physical activity can cut the risk of heart
attacks and stroke by at least 20 percent, reduce
chances of early death, and help people avoid
high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, colon and
breast cancer, fractures from age-weakening bones and depression.
The government used that scientific report to set the minimum activity levels.
The kind of exercise matters a lot, said Dr.
William Kraus, a Duke University cardiologist who
co-authored the scientific report. Runners like
Kraus can achieve the same health benefit in a
fraction of the time of a walker.
"If you do it more intense, you can do less
time," explained Kraus, who praised the
guidelines for offering that flexibility. "This
brings it back down to earth for a lot of people."
What's the right kind of exercise? The guidelines advise:
_You don't have get all the activity at once. A
walk for an hour three days a week works as well
as, say, a 30-minute exercise class on weekdays
or saving most of the activity for a two-hour Saturday bike ride.
_For aerobic activities, go at least 10 minutes
at a time to build heart rate enough to count.
_You should be able to talk while doing moderate
activities but not catch enough breath to sing.
With vigorous activities, you can say only a few
words without stopping to catch a breath.
_Children's daily hour should consist of mostly
moderate or vigorous aerobic activity, such as
skateboarding, bike riding, soccer, simple running.
_Three times a week, children and teens need to
include muscle-strengthening activities ?
sit-ups, tug-of-war ? and bone-strengthening
activities, such as jumping rope or skipping.
_Adults should do muscle-strengthening activities
? push-ups, weight training, carrying heavy loads
or heavy gardening ? at least two days a week.
_Older adults who are still physically able to
follow the guidelines should do so, with an
emphasis on activities that maintain or improve balance.
These are minimum goals, the guidelines note.
People who do more will see greater benefits.
===
HHS Announces Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
HHS News Release, Oct 7, 2008
Adults gain substantial health benefits from two
and a half hours a week of moderate aerobic
physical activity, and children benefit from an
hour or more of physical activity a day,
according to the new Physical Activity Guidelines
for Americans. The comprehensive set of
recommendations for people of all ages and
physical conditions was released today by the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The guidelines are designed so people can easily
fit physical activity into their daily plan and
incorporate activities they enjoy.
Physical activity benefits children and
adolescents, young and middle-aged adults, older
adults, and those in every studied racial and ethnic group, the report said.
?It?s important for all Americans to be active,
and the guidelines are a roadmap to include
physical activity in their daily routine,? HHS
Secretary Mike Leavitt said. ?The evidence is
clear -- regular physical activity over months
and years produces long-term health benefits and
reduces the risk of many diseases. The more
physically active you are, the more health benefits you gain.?
Regular physical activity reduces the risk in
adults of early death; coronary heart disease,
stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes,
colon and breast cancer, and depression. It can
improve thinking ability in older adults and the
ability to engage in activities needed for daily
living. The recommended amount of physical
activity in children and adolescents improves
cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness as well as
bone health, and contributes to favorable body composition.
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
are the most comprehensive of their kind. They
are based on the first thorough review of
scientific research about physical activity and
health in more than a decade. A 13-member
advisory committee appointed in April 2007 by
Secretary Leavitt reviewed research and produced an extensive report.
Key guidelines by group are:
Children and Adolescents -- One hour or more of
moderate or vigorous aerobic physical activity a
day, including vigorous intensity physical
activity at least three days a week. Examples of
moderate intensity aerobic activities include
hiking, skateboarding, bicycle riding and brisk
walking. Vigorous intensity aerobic activities
include bicycle riding, jumping rope, running and
sports such as soccer, basketball and ice or
field hockey. Children and adolescents should
incorporate muscle-strengthening activities, such
as rope climbing, sit-ups, and tug-of war, three
days a week. Bone-strengthening activities, such
as jumping rope, running and skipping, are recommended three days a week.
Adults -- Adults gain substantial health benefits
from two and one half hours a week of moderate
intensity aerobic physical activity, or one hour
and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity.
Walking briskly, water aerobics, ballroom dancing
and general gardening are examples of moderate
intensity aerobic activities. Vigorous intensity
aerobic activities include racewalking, jogging
or running, swimming laps, jumping rope and
hiking uphill or with a heavy backpack. Aerobic
activity should be performed in episodes of at
least 10 minutes. For more extensive health
benefits, adults should increase their aerobic
physical activity to five hours a week
moderate-intensity or two and one half hours a
week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical
activity. Adults should incorporate muscle
strengthening activities, such as weight
training, push-ups, sit-ups and carrying heavy
loads or heavy gardening, at least two days a week.
Older adults -- Older adults should follow the
guidelines for other adults when it is within
their physical capacity. If a chronic condition
prohibits their ability to follow those
guidelines, they should be as physically active
as their abilities and conditions allow. If they
are at risk of falling, they should also do
exercises that maintain or improve balance.
Women during pregnancy -- Healthy women should
get at least two and one half hours of
moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week during
pregnancy and the time after delivery, preferably
spread through the week. Pregnant women who
habitually engage in vigorous aerobic activity or
who are highly active can continue during
pregnancy and the time after delivery, provided
they remain healthy and discuss with their health
care provider how and when activity should be adjusted over time.
Adults with disabilities -- Those who are able
should get at least two and one half hours of
moderate aerobic activity a week, or one hour and
15 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week.
They should incorporate muscle-strengthening
activities involving all major muscle groups two
or more days a week. When they are not able to
meet the guidelines, they should engage in
regular physical activity according to their
abilities and should avoid inactivity.
People with chronic medical conditions -- Adults
with chronic conditions get important health
benefits from regular physical activity. They
should do so with the guidance of a health care provider.
For more information about the ?Physical Activity
Guidelines for Americans,? visit
www.health.gov/paguidelines.
Lauran Neergaard, Associated Press, Oct 7, 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) ? Get moving: The nation's new
exercise guidelines set a minimum sweat allotment
for good health. For most adults, that's 2 1/2 hours a week.
How much physical activity you need depends
largely on age and level of fitness.
Moderate exercise adds up for sluggish adults.
Rake leaves, take a quick walk around the block
or suit up for the neighborhood softball game.
More fit adults could pack in their week's
requirement in 75 minutes with vigorous exercise,
such as jogging, hiking uphill, a bike race or speedy laps in the pool.
Children and teens need more ? pretty brisk
activities for at least an hour a day, say the
government guidelines being released Tuesday.
Consider it the exercise version of the food
pyramid. The guidelines, from the Health and
Human Services Department, aim to end years of
confusion about how much physical activity is
enough, while making clear that there are lots of ways to achieve it.
"The easy message is get active, whatever your
way is. Get active your way," HHS Secretary
Michael Leavitt told The Associated Press.
It's OK to start slowly. Someone who's done no
exercising will start seeing benefits with as
little as 10 minutes of moderately intense
exercise a day, which is an incentive to work up
to the recommended amounts, said Rear Adm.
Penelope Royall, deputy assistant secretary for disease prevention.
"Some is better than nothing, and more is better," she said.
The guidelines come as scientists are trying to
spread the word to a nation of couch potatoes
that how active you are may be the most important
indicator of good health. Yet a quarter of U.S.
adults aren't active at all in their leisure
time, government research concludes. More than
half don't get enough of the kind of physical
activity that actually helps health ? walking
fast enough to raise your heart rate, not just
meandering, for instance. More than 60 million adults are obese.
Worse, the nation is raising a generation of
children who may be less healthy than their
parents. About a third are overweight and 16
percent are obese. And while young children are
naturally active given the chance, schools are
decreasing the amount of recess and gym time. By
high school, a recent study found, fewer than a
third of teens are getting an hour of activity a day.
To put science behind the how-much-is-enough
debate, HHS gathered an expert panel to review
all the data. The panel found that regular
physical activity can cut the risk of heart
attacks and stroke by at least 20 percent, reduce
chances of early death, and help people avoid
high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, colon and
breast cancer, fractures from age-weakening bones and depression.
The government used that scientific report to set the minimum activity levels.
The kind of exercise matters a lot, said Dr.
William Kraus, a Duke University cardiologist who
co-authored the scientific report. Runners like
Kraus can achieve the same health benefit in a
fraction of the time of a walker.
"If you do it more intense, you can do less
time," explained Kraus, who praised the
guidelines for offering that flexibility. "This
brings it back down to earth for a lot of people."
What's the right kind of exercise? The guidelines advise:
_You don't have get all the activity at once. A
walk for an hour three days a week works as well
as, say, a 30-minute exercise class on weekdays
or saving most of the activity for a two-hour Saturday bike ride.
_For aerobic activities, go at least 10 minutes
at a time to build heart rate enough to count.
_You should be able to talk while doing moderate
activities but not catch enough breath to sing.
With vigorous activities, you can say only a few
words without stopping to catch a breath.
_Children's daily hour should consist of mostly
moderate or vigorous aerobic activity, such as
skateboarding, bike riding, soccer, simple running.
_Three times a week, children and teens need to
include muscle-strengthening activities ?
sit-ups, tug-of-war ? and bone-strengthening
activities, such as jumping rope or skipping.
_Adults should do muscle-strengthening activities
? push-ups, weight training, carrying heavy loads
or heavy gardening ? at least two days a week.
_Older adults who are still physically able to
follow the guidelines should do so, with an
emphasis on activities that maintain or improve balance.
These are minimum goals, the guidelines note.
People who do more will see greater benefits.
===
HHS Announces Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
HHS News Release, Oct 7, 2008
Adults gain substantial health benefits from two
and a half hours a week of moderate aerobic
physical activity, and children benefit from an
hour or more of physical activity a day,
according to the new Physical Activity Guidelines
for Americans. The comprehensive set of
recommendations for people of all ages and
physical conditions was released today by the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The guidelines are designed so people can easily
fit physical activity into their daily plan and
incorporate activities they enjoy.
Physical activity benefits children and
adolescents, young and middle-aged adults, older
adults, and those in every studied racial and ethnic group, the report said.
?It?s important for all Americans to be active,
and the guidelines are a roadmap to include
physical activity in their daily routine,? HHS
Secretary Mike Leavitt said. ?The evidence is
clear -- regular physical activity over months
and years produces long-term health benefits and
reduces the risk of many diseases. The more
physically active you are, the more health benefits you gain.?
Regular physical activity reduces the risk in
adults of early death; coronary heart disease,
stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes,
colon and breast cancer, and depression. It can
improve thinking ability in older adults and the
ability to engage in activities needed for daily
living. The recommended amount of physical
activity in children and adolescents improves
cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness as well as
bone health, and contributes to favorable body composition.
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
are the most comprehensive of their kind. They
are based on the first thorough review of
scientific research about physical activity and
health in more than a decade. A 13-member
advisory committee appointed in April 2007 by
Secretary Leavitt reviewed research and produced an extensive report.
Key guidelines by group are:
Children and Adolescents -- One hour or more of
moderate or vigorous aerobic physical activity a
day, including vigorous intensity physical
activity at least three days a week. Examples of
moderate intensity aerobic activities include
hiking, skateboarding, bicycle riding and brisk
walking. Vigorous intensity aerobic activities
include bicycle riding, jumping rope, running and
sports such as soccer, basketball and ice or
field hockey. Children and adolescents should
incorporate muscle-strengthening activities, such
as rope climbing, sit-ups, and tug-of war, three
days a week. Bone-strengthening activities, such
as jumping rope, running and skipping, are recommended three days a week.
Adults -- Adults gain substantial health benefits
from two and one half hours a week of moderate
intensity aerobic physical activity, or one hour
and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity.
Walking briskly, water aerobics, ballroom dancing
and general gardening are examples of moderate
intensity aerobic activities. Vigorous intensity
aerobic activities include racewalking, jogging
or running, swimming laps, jumping rope and
hiking uphill or with a heavy backpack. Aerobic
activity should be performed in episodes of at
least 10 minutes. For more extensive health
benefits, adults should increase their aerobic
physical activity to five hours a week
moderate-intensity or two and one half hours a
week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical
activity. Adults should incorporate muscle
strengthening activities, such as weight
training, push-ups, sit-ups and carrying heavy
loads or heavy gardening, at least two days a week.
Older adults -- Older adults should follow the
guidelines for other adults when it is within
their physical capacity. If a chronic condition
prohibits their ability to follow those
guidelines, they should be as physically active
as their abilities and conditions allow. If they
are at risk of falling, they should also do
exercises that maintain or improve balance.
Women during pregnancy -- Healthy women should
get at least two and one half hours of
moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week during
pregnancy and the time after delivery, preferably
spread through the week. Pregnant women who
habitually engage in vigorous aerobic activity or
who are highly active can continue during
pregnancy and the time after delivery, provided
they remain healthy and discuss with their health
care provider how and when activity should be adjusted over time.
Adults with disabilities -- Those who are able
should get at least two and one half hours of
moderate aerobic activity a week, or one hour and
15 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week.
They should incorporate muscle-strengthening
activities involving all major muscle groups two
or more days a week. When they are not able to
meet the guidelines, they should engage in
regular physical activity according to their
abilities and should avoid inactivity.
People with chronic medical conditions -- Adults
with chronic conditions get important health
benefits from regular physical activity. They
should do so with the guidance of a health care provider.
For more information about the ?Physical Activity
Guidelines for Americans,? visit
Kids' Cereals: Some Are 50% Sugar
Kids' Cereals: Some Are 50% Sugar
Consumer Reports Rates Nutritional Winners and Losers
Salynn Boyles, WebMD Health News, Oct. 1, 2008
Cereal can be a great choice for a quick and nutritious breakfast,
but some choices represent the nutritional equivalent of a doughnut
in a bowl, according to a new investigation from Consumer Reports.
The group evaluated 27 of the breakfast cereals that are most heavily
marketed to children, considering not just their sugar content, but
also the amount of sodium, fiber, calories, and nutrients in a
recommended serving.
Two of the worst-rated cereals -- Post's Golden Crisps and Kellogg's
Honey Smacks -- were more than 50% sugar with very little fiber.
A serving of Honey Smacks has 15 grams of sugar -- 3 more grams than
is found in a Dunkin' Donuts glazed doughnut. Golden Crisps has 14
grams of sugar in a 3/4 cup serving and less than 1 gram of fiber.
In all, 11 of the tested cereals had 12 or more grams of sugar per
serving, or as much as the glazed doughnut, Gayle Williams of
Consumer Reports Health tells WebMD.
"Parents who would never give their children doughnuts for breakfast
may be choosing these cereals without knowing that from a nutritional
standpoint they really aren't much better," she says.
The Nutritional Winners
Four of the tested cereals were judged "Very Good" breakfast choices
because they were relatively low in sugar and sodium, had some fiber,
were high in iron, and were good sources of calcium.
None had more than 9 grams of sugar, less than 2 grams of fiber, or
more than 210 milligrams of sodium per serving. They are:
* Cheerios (General Mills), with just 1 gram of sugar, 3 grams of
fiber, and 190 milligrams of sodium.
* Kix (General Mills), with 3 grams of sugar, 3 grams of fiber,
and 210 milligrams of sodium.
* Life (Quaker Oats), with 6 grams of sugar, 2 grams of fiber,
and 160 milligrams of sodium.
* Honey Nut Cheerios (General Mills), with 9 grams of sugar, 2
grams of fiber, and 190 milligrams of sodium.
Consumer Reports Medical Advisor Orly Avitzur, MD, tells WebMD that
any of these cereals, served with milk and a piece of fruit,
represents a good breakfast choice.
"These cereals offer fiber and nutrients and they are not full of
sugar, which is just empty calories," she says.
"Americans are consuming about 15% more added sugars than they did 25
years ago, and over that time the percentage of overweight or obese
adults has grown from 47% to 66%. During roughly the same time the
number of overweight children in the U.S. has doubled."
The Worst-Rated Cereals
Eight of the 27 rated cereals were scored as "Fair" choices -- the
lowest rating given by Consumer Reports. All were low in fiber and
most, but not all, were high in sugar.
Case in point: Kellogg's Rice Krispies had just 4 grams of sugar per
serving, less than most of the other tested cereals. But it still
rated poorly because it was high in sodium and had no fiber.
Post's Golden Crisp and Kellogg's Honey Smacks made the list because
they had the most sugar of any of the cereals tested.
Adults might remember these cereals from their childhoods as "Super
Sugar Crisp" and "Sugar Smacks." Although the names have been
changed, the report notes that "the levels of sugar in the cereals
have remained about he same."
The five other lowest-rated cereals included:
* Cap'n Crunch's Peanut Butter Crunch (Quaker Oats), with 9 grams
of sugar, 1 gram of fiber, and 200 milligrams of sodium in a 3/4 cup serving.
* Cap'n Crunch (Quaker Oats), with 12 grams of sugar, 1 gram of
fiber, and 200 milligrams of sodium in a 3/4 cup serving.
* Apple Jacks (Kellogg), with 12 grams of sugar, less than 1 gram
of fiber, and 135 milligrams of sodium in a 1 cup serving.
* Froot Loops (Kellogg), with 12 grams of sugar, less than 1 gram
of fiber, and 135 milligrams of sodium in a 1 cup serving.
* Corn Pops (Kellogg), with 12 grams of sugar, no fiber, and 110
milligrams of sodium in a 1 cup serving.
The Middle of the Pack
Fifteen of the tested cereals were rated as "Good" choices, but the
investigators noted that there was room for improvement in sugar
and/or fiber content for most.
Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats Bite Size scored highest of the cereals
that got the rating, with 12 grams of sugar, 6 grams of fiber, and
just 5 milligrams of sodium.
Kellogg's Frosted Flakes Reduced Sugar scored lower than regular
Frosted Flakes. Although it had 8 grams of sugar per serving instead
of 11 grams, the reduced-sugar version also had more calories and
sodium than the original.
Cereals rated as "Good" included:
* General Mills: Cookie Crisp, Golden Grahams Honey Graham, Lucky
Charms, Cocoa Puffs, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Trix, Reese's Puffs.
* Kellogg: Frosted Mini-Wheats Bite Size, Frosted Flakes Gold,
Frosted Flakes, Cocoa Krispies, and Frosted Flakes Reduced Sugar.
* Post: Fruity Pebbles, Honey-Comb, Cocoa Pebbles.
Cereal Company Responds
In response to the report, a spokeswoman from Kellogg noted that the
company has recently reformulated five of its cereals included in the
Consumer Reports investigation to make them healthier choices.
These reformulated versions began to appear on grocery store shelves
in June, but Honey Smacks has not been reformulated.
The Consumer Reports article noted that even with the reformulation,
the five cereals -- Froot Loops, Corn Pops, Rice Krispies, Cocoa
Krispies, and Apple Jacks -- would still score poorly in a nutrition
rating compared to other choices.
In a statement, Susanne Norwitz of Kellogg notes that the company
continues to work to improve the nutritional content of its products.
"Kellogg is committed to investing and innovation and looking to
improve our products' nutritional profiles wherever possible," she
says in the statement. "Our ready-to-eat cereals, including the
pre-sweetened varieties, are nutrient dense, low in fat, and many are
excellent sources of dietary fiber. Additionally, according to the
government data, breakfast cereal consumption has been associated
with lower (weight) in kids."
She added that the company supports portion control as a "central
tenet of achieving weight management and a healthy lifestyle."
A spokesman for Ralcorp Holdings, which manufacturers Post cereals,
had no comment on the report.
SOURCES:
Consumer Reports, November 2008.
Gayle Williams, deputy editor, Consumer Reports Health.
Orly Avitzur, MD, medical advisor, Consumer Reports.
Susanne Norwitz, spokeswoman, Kellogg Company.
Coke helps Hispanic retailers stand out
Coke helps Hispanic retailers stand out
The Tienda program offers small Hispanic businesses the opportunity to redesign their stores to attract more clients -- and soft-drink buyers.
BY ELENA KENNY
El Nuevo Herald
COCA-COLA'S TIENDA PROGRAM
Little Havana is a far different place than it was 40 years ago when Frank Veloso's grandfather opened a gas station to serve a mostly Cuban clientele. Today diversity is the hallmark of the area, and Veloso has had to devise ways to make the family business stand out.
For that reason, he joined the Coca Cola Co.'s Tienda Program nearly a year ago. The program offers small Hispanic businesses the opportunity to redesign their stores to attract more clients. The soft-drink giant also hopes the program will help fuel its sales in the U.S. Hispanic market.
''Hispanic consumers are very important for Coca-Cola. Out of every four soft drinks sold in the United States, we calculate that one is purchased by a Hispanic,'' said Jorge Espinoza, director for Multicultural Commercialization and Customer Programming of the beverage company.
Coca-Cola is trying to recover from the losses it suffered in the U.S. market, while it continues doing well in emerging markets like Asia and Latin America, according to analysts quoted by Bloomberg.
IN 15 MARKETS
Since the Tienda Program began four years ago, more than 5,000 small businesses have joined from 15 markets with a strong Latin presence, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and New York.
With the program, Coca-Cola provides marketing and sales support, as well as promotional materials. Businesses can get more information through their local Coca-Cola agents, according to the company.
''For me this program has been an excellent opportunity,'' said Veloso, general manager of the Citgo station at the corner of Calle Ocho and 22nd Ave. ''With the support of Coca-Cola, I have put into practice some of my marketing ideas to improve the presentation of their products in English and Spanish,'' added the entrepreneur, a marketing graduate of Florida International University.
Besides fuel, Veloso seeks to offer a mix of products in his store that his customers of Cuban, Mexican, Salvadoran and Nicaraguan origin prefer.
But in redesigning his store to attract more customers, he chose to put the emphasis on Coca-Cola because ``it is such a well-known brand to all Hispanics.''
Veloso's store offers a full range of Coke products, including coffee beverages, Fanta and vitamin water.
So, he decided to install two large posters of classic bottles at the entrance and place a painting of the famous beverage on an exterior wall. The painting was created by a high-school student who participated in a contest promoted by Coca Cola.
According to Espinoza, many participating small businesses owned by Hispanics like Veloso have improved their stores -- and sales.
Espinoza expects to present results of the initiative on Tuesday at the Hispanic Retail 360 Summit at the Intercontinental Hotel Miami.
Also at the summit Monday through Wednesday, other large corporations expected to showcase their strategies for attracting Hispanic consumers are Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Publix, Winn-Dixie, Family Dollar, SuperValu, Navarro Discount Pharmacies, CVS, Advance Auto Parts, Hy-Vee Supermarkets and Kroger.
AOL's Bebo Partners With Paramount For Movie Promo
AOL's Bebo Partners With Paramount For Movie Promo
by Gavin O'Malley, Monday, Jul 28, 2008 7:00 AM ET
Bebo, the AOL-owned social network, and Paramount Pictures have partnered to promote Paramount's new teen movie, "Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging."
The movie--based on Louise Rennison's bestselling novels for young adults about a precocious 14-year-old heroine named Georgia Nicolson--will be featured in Bebo's popular interactive Web drama, "Sofia's Diary." The collaboration was brokered by ad agency MeC Interaction.
The integration attempted to go beyond traditional product placement by incorporating Georgia into the plotline of "Sofia's Diary" through her own personal Bebo profile.
"We recognize that social networking is an important new form of self-expression," said Heath Tyldesley, director of interactive marketing at Paramount Pictures. "Sofia and Georgia presented us with a very natural partnership as the characters have a lot in common."
In the episode, Sofia is briefed by her editor at Wicked about a new online phenomenon, Georgia, whose daily video blogs on Bebo have proven to be hugely popular. Sofia is then assigned to interview Georgia to find out why an entire generation of teens has become obsessed with learning the minutiae of her world.
The profile was created in advance of the integration to allow Bebo's community to familiarize themselves with Georgia and the movie.
So far, the profile has attracted 8,990 friends and over 120,000 profile views, and delivered over 1 million video views overall for the blogs.
"Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging" is expected to make its U.S. debut in October.
by Gavin O'Malley, Monday, Jul 28, 2008 7:00 AM ET
Bebo, the AOL-owned social network, and Paramount Pictures have partnered to promote Paramount's new teen movie, "Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging."
The movie--based on Louise Rennison's bestselling novels for young adults about a precocious 14-year-old heroine named Georgia Nicolson--will be featured in Bebo's popular interactive Web drama, "Sofia's Diary." The collaboration was brokered by ad agency MeC Interaction.
The integration attempted to go beyond traditional product placement by incorporating Georgia into the plotline of "Sofia's Diary" through her own personal Bebo profile.
"We recognize that social networking is an important new form of self-expression," said Heath Tyldesley, director of interactive marketing at Paramount Pictures. "Sofia and Georgia presented us with a very natural partnership as the characters have a lot in common."
In the episode, Sofia is briefed by her editor at Wicked about a new online phenomenon, Georgia, whose daily video blogs on Bebo have proven to be hugely popular. Sofia is then assigned to interview Georgia to find out why an entire generation of teens has become obsessed with learning the minutiae of her world.
The profile was created in advance of the integration to allow Bebo's community to familiarize themselves with Georgia and the movie.
So far, the profile has attracted 8,990 friends and over 120,000 profile views, and delivered over 1 million video views overall for the blogs.
"Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging" is expected to make its U.S. debut in October.
Mars Direct and Nascar
New M&M's Blend Features Nascar Driver
by Karlene Lukovitz, Monday, Jul 28, 2008 5:00 AM ET
No one can say that Mars Snackfood isn't making the most of M&M's sponsorship of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing team and driver Kyle Busch in the Nascar Sprint Cup Series.
Capitalizing on Busch's winning streak this season (seven wins and 10 top-five finishes), Mars Direct Inc. is launching a new blend of personalized "My M&M's" candies featuring Busch. The blend includes yellow, brown, red and white candies (M&M Racing's signature colors) printed with Busch's face, autograph, car number and the message "Go Kyle!"
Fans can buy the candies online at mymms.com/racing or by calling a toll-free number. Price: $12.99 per seven-ounce bag, with a minimum of three bags. (Throw in a "classic red candy dispenser," and the price of the three bags jumps to $59.99.) Big Nascar families can economize with the five-pound bulk box, at $140.
My M&M's will donate $5,000 (128 standard orders' worth) to the Kyle Busch Foundation, which supports children's homes that provide safe, supportive environments.
In May, to tie in with Busch's birthday, Mars "presented" the driver with his own "Inner M" print ad. The Inner M ad series features celebrities demonstrating "how those who have found the M&M's inside themselves embrace the fun side of life."
The 2008 season marks Mars U.S.'s 15th year as a primary sponsor in Nascar's premiere division. Mars joined the series in 1990, running its first three seasons under the Snickers brand. After serving as an associate sponsor for four seasons, the company returned with the Skittles colors in 1997 and transitioned to M&M's in 1999. The Gibbs sponsorship will run for three years.
by Karlene Lukovitz, Monday, Jul 28, 2008 5:00 AM ET
No one can say that Mars Snackfood isn't making the most of M&M's sponsorship of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing team and driver Kyle Busch in the Nascar Sprint Cup Series.
Capitalizing on Busch's winning streak this season (seven wins and 10 top-five finishes), Mars Direct Inc. is launching a new blend of personalized "My M&M's" candies featuring Busch. The blend includes yellow, brown, red and white candies (M&M Racing's signature colors) printed with Busch's face, autograph, car number and the message "Go Kyle!"
Fans can buy the candies online at mymms.com/racing or by calling a toll-free number. Price: $12.99 per seven-ounce bag, with a minimum of three bags. (Throw in a "classic red candy dispenser," and the price of the three bags jumps to $59.99.) Big Nascar families can economize with the five-pound bulk box, at $140.
My M&M's will donate $5,000 (128 standard orders' worth) to the Kyle Busch Foundation, which supports children's homes that provide safe, supportive environments.
In May, to tie in with Busch's birthday, Mars "presented" the driver with his own "Inner M" print ad. The Inner M ad series features celebrities demonstrating "how those who have found the M&M's inside themselves embrace the fun side of life."
The 2008 season marks Mars U.S.'s 15th year as a primary sponsor in Nascar's premiere division. Mars joined the series in 1990, running its first three seasons under the Snickers brand. After serving as an associate sponsor for four seasons, the company returned with the Skittles colors in 1997 and transitioned to M&M's in 1999. The Gibbs sponsorship will run for three years.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
First Posting
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