Center Store

OLD TAPPAN, N.J. New Leaf introduced New York Giants wide receiver Steve Smith as its new spokesman, marking the company's first celebrity endorsement.

Smith inked the multiseason endorsement agreement with New Leaf, the maker of iced tea and lemonade beverages, on Nov. 1. He was introduced to New Leaf at a promotional signing appearance in 2009.

PURCHASE, N.Y., and PITTSBURGH One of the world's largest food and beverage businesses is teaming up with a specialty retailer of nutritional products to develop and sell fortified coconut water products.

PepsiCo and GNC said its Phenom brand will launch during second quarter 2011 and exclusively will be sold at GNC stores and GNC.com. The companies added that the line will address the growing demands of health-conscious consumers for natural products that help them with their daily regimen.

SEATTLE Amazon.com announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Quidsi, which operates Diapers.com, an online baby care specialty site, and Soap.com, an online site for everyday essentials.

Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, said, “This acquisition brings together two companies who are committed to providing great prices and fast delivery to parents, making one of the chores of being a parent a little easier and less expensive.”

BETHEL, Conn. Duracell has expanded its Smart Power portfolio with a new charger that keeps devices connected without the hassle of searching for an outlet.

Duracell's myGrid USB charger is compatible with virtually anything that can be connected with a USB cable. Its compact size makes it ideal for travel and convenient to have on hand as an everyday accessory for reliable extra power, Duracell said.

NEW YORK While many consumers claim to have adjusted their diets to include more healthy foods and beverages, new data suggested that there may be a disparity between what is considered "good" by consumers and by experts.

Anew poll by Harris Interactive, conducted between Sept. 14 and 20 among 2,620 adults, found that the majority of all adults claimed that they:

ATLANTA Coca-Cola is beefing up its noncarbonated beverage portfolio with four new varieties of Fuze and Gold Peak teas.

According to published reports, Fuze raspberry and unsweetened green tea should be available by December, with green tea and tropical versions of Gold Peak available early next year.

WILTON, Conn. Clear Conscience Pet has developed a new line of pet treats that include natural roasted bison liver and bison cartilage chews.

The treats are grain-free and gluten-free, with no chemical preservatives or additives, as well as no added growth hormones, steroids or antibiotics. The liver treats are made with a patent-pending process that combines organic vegetables with these healthy meats, the company said.

HERSHEY, Pa. One of Hershey's popular mint brands is adding a powerfully cool taste experience to its line.

Ice Breakers Frost sugar-free mints are coated with xylitol, cooling and flavor crystals and will be available in Wintercool and peppermint varieties.