McDonald’s (MCD) has launched “Who’s Got the Mighty Wings?” storyline across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Adweek 9/20/13
Starbucks (SBUX) has launched a new campaign focused on the sourcing of its coffee beans. Advertising Age 9/20/13
Sales at Darden Restaurants’ (DRI)Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurant chains saw a drop in same restaurant sales versus a year ago, due to fewer customers in July than in the same month last year. Bloomberg BusinessWeek 9/20/13
Blackberry is laying off 4,500 employees and planning a $930 million or higher write-off due to poor sales of its new line of phones. Adage 9/20/13
Coca-Cola (KO) has apologized for a Vitaminwater bottle cap that read “You Retard,” resulting from an error in viewing the words from the perspective of French speakers for whom “retard” means late. Adweek 9/20/13
Sears (SHLD) has updated to a new Web platform to spur sales of its Lands’ End apparel in 170 countries. Bloomberg BusinessWeek 9/20/13
Starbucks (SBUX) CEO Howard Schultz has published an online letterasking customers no longer bring firearms into Starbucks stores unless they are authorized law enforcement personnel, emphasizing that it is a request not a ban. The letter recognizes the “deep passion for and against the ‘open carry’ laws” in many states, but does not want stores used as a “political stage” for the open carry debate. Via Adweek 9/18/13
Internet celebrity, Grumpy Cat ™, is the new ‘spokescat’ for Friskies. Adweek 9/18/13
Kleenex plans to roll out ‘Achoo’, an app that predicts areas with the highest risk for cold and flu outbreaks, to prompt consumers to stock up on Kleenex products before they get sick. Advertising Age 9/17/13
Outback Steakhouse has relaunched its original tagline, “No rules, just right,” and primarily advertises limited time promotions in a strategy to “think like a brand but act like a retailer.” Advertising Age 9/17/13
Rhapsody, a digital music service, has laid off its president and 15% of its staff, following the arrival of a new investor, Columbus Nova Technology Partners. The New York Times 9/16/13
