Pepsi buys Naked Juice Co.
By CHRISTINA OCCHIPINTI:: November 28, 2006

In an effort to add additional healthy products to their portfolio, PepsiCo has bought the Naked Juice Co., which is based is Azusa, Calif., from North Castle Partners, a leading private equity firm in Greenwich, Conn.

The terms of the agreement, which is pending government approval, were not disclosed. For the Naked Juice Co., the acquisition is a chance for the company to grow, said Monty Sharma, chief executive officer.

“We’re excited that Naked Juice will be joining PepsiCo, a quality organization with world-class marketing and sales teams that will catapult us to the next level. Becoming part of PepsiCo will allow us to expand our distribution and continue to demonstrate our commitment to bring the best all natural juice and juice smoothies to more consumers,” Sharma said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to PepsiCo growing this business and to extending the availability and awareness of Naked Juice's exceptional line up of beverages.”

Naked Juice products include more than 25 all-natural, 100-percent-refrigerated juices and juice smoothies made from the best fruits and nutritional boosts, with no added sugars or preservatives. Naked Juice is sold in supermarkets, club stores, health food stores and other specialty stores nationwide.

Nearly all 25 Naked Juice beverages would qualify for the PepsiCo Smart Spot label, which was created to help consumers identify the more than 250 PepsiCo products that contribute to a healthier lifestyle.

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Where'd you get that bag?
By CHRISTINA OCCHIPINTI:: November 28, 2006

Picture this: You’re reading People magazine or scrolling through PerezHilton.com. You see a photo of Reese Witherspoon wearing a pair of must-have red pumps, but you have no idea where to find them.

A new Web site called Like.com, www.like.com, is your gateway to finding Reese’s shoes, or watch, or handbag, or jewelry.

Like.com is a visual search engine, so you will be able to find hundreds of similar items from a wide variety of designers and brands, as well as a range of prices. Not only will the Web site find the accessory you’re looking for, but it also allows you to purchase it right then and there.

So next time you spot your favorite celebrity wearing a great necklace or sporting a clutch that compliments your little black dress, head to Like.com to see if they have what you’re looking for.

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In honor of holiday shopping...
By CHRISTINA OCCHIPINTI:: November 28, 2006

Did you know that Black Friday’s biggest fans are 18 to 28-year-olds? According to the retail group of Maritz Research, a marketing research firm headquartered in Fenton, Mo., 58 percent of Generation Y will be hitting the malls the day after Thanksgiving in search of deals and discounts. Only 40 percent of Generation X’s 29 to 41-year-olds will head out to battle the long lines that await them.

Black Friday is a bargain shoppers dream, but for people who choose to forego the mall for online shopping, the Monday after Thanksgiving is just as popular. Over the past few years, the number of online shopping purchases has grown so much that the Monday after Thanksgiving has been named Cyber Monday. According to a Shop.org survey conducted by BIGresearch, about 61 million people are expected to shop online during this year's Cyber Monday, up 18 percent from 51.7 million people last year.

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