Symphony Consulting, a business unit of Chicago-based SymphonyIRI Group Inc., has completed an initial analysis of shopper behavior since Jan. 1 when the payroll tax increased. The analysis focuses on the impact of the payroll tax increase on food and beverage consumption, including its impact on key dimensions, such as the type of stores shopped, type of brands bought (store brands versus national brands), and the effect on various segments and categories.

Mountain Dew, a brand of Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo, introduced Kickstart sparkling juice drinks for the morning consumption occasion.

Diet Coke, a brand of Atlanta-based The Coca-Cola Co., has partnered with actress Minka Kelly to support the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s The Heart Truth campaign to raise awareness about heart health.

Lipton, a brand of Unilever USA, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is celebrating the feel-good moments of its tea fans with the launch of Liptagram, its first global photo contest allowing Lipton fans around the world to share and connect.

Budweiser’s minute-long Clydesdale ad titled “Brotherhood” earned the ranking of most effective ad of Super Bowl XLVII, according to Ace Metrix, a Mountain View, Calif.-based TV and video analytics authority.

Wat-aah! Founder and Chief Executive Officer Rose Cameron wants kids to think of drinking water and living a healthy lifestyle as cool, fun and exciting.

On Jan. 31, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Washington, D.C., filed a civil antitrust lawsuit challenging Leuven, Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch InBev’s (AB InBev) proposed acquisition of total ownership and control of Grupo Modelo, Mexico City. 

Anthem Worldwide, the brand development practice of Schawk Inc., Des Plaines, Ill., announced the results of its latest study in the white paper, “What Women Really Want From Health And Wellness.”

In honor of Groundhog Day, Seattle’s Best Coffee, a wholly owned subsidiary of Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee Co., plans to ease the chill of six more weeks of winter with free beverages if the groundhog sees his shadow Feb. 2.

Budweiser, a brand of Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis, launched its new Twitter account, @Budweiser, with a tweet featuring the first photo of the newest member of the Anheuser-Busch Clydesdale family.