Center Store

CLEVELAND American Greetings is bringing laughs on the go with its latest line.

Pocket Talkers offer a whole new take on funny sound cards. The cards feature detachable talking characters that are sure to entertain, American Greetings said. Each "talker" is mounted to the front of the greeting card and is ready to serve up a series of funny audio clips at the push of a button.

Pocket Talkers are available for purchase wherever American Greetings products are sold.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — A former Wyeth executive has been named PepsiCo's EVP global corporate affairs.

Tim Cost, who will report to PepsiCo chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi, officially will join the company Dec. 1. In the newly created position, Cost will be responsible for strengthening and protecting PepsiCo's corporate reputation and strategically aligning its communications, public policy, foundation, investor relations, global health and agricultural policy, and regulatory agendas.

Continued consumer price consciousness and the growing influence of the dollar store channel have made snacks priced at $1 popular with consumers.

PRINCETON, N.J. —Arm & Hammer’s new Double Duty clumping cat litter’s breakthrough formula allows cat owners to address feces and urine odors in the litter box. More than 90% of cat owners said eliminating odor from feces and urine is important to them in a litter product, but most products on the market concentrate only on the pungent ammonia smell of cat urine.

Today, American consumers are more focused on the foods they eat. They read labels. They understand the importance of fiber and whole grains. They know the difference between good and bad fats.

PLANO, Texas Tostitos has launched its new Tostitos Artisan Recipes tortilla chips in time for the holiday season.

The chips are available in two flavors -- roasted garlic and black bean, and fire-roasted chipotle -- and are made with 100% natural ingredients, including real black beans, garlic and chipotle peppers that are added right into the chips, as well as a unique blend of nine flavorful grains to deliver an authentic and delicious taste experience you can see and taste, according to the company.

Consumers may be cutting their budgets, but when it comes to toys, there’s always room for a little splurge. Parents are more likely to cave when the toy offers educational value or is a classic.

Traditional toys are a mainstay of the category—particularly in the drug channel, where price points in the toy aisle rarely top $10. “Evergreen, classic games continue to be popular,” said Adrienne Appell, a spokeswoman for the Toy Industry Association. “They are affordable and have appeal across generations, particularly around the holidays.”

You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Studies have proven that eating breakfast is closely linked to healthy body weights, improved mental alertness and physical performance. Plus, people who skip breakfast don’t make up for the missed nutrients later in the day.

Skipping breakfast not only deprives a person of needed nutrients, but the first meal of the day also helps refuel the body and brain with energy, and kick-starts the metabolism.