Consumer Affairs & Relations

Beech-Nut Nutrition Corporation introduces Good Morning and Good Evening baby foods, a new line of products that offers key ingredients to infants already eating solid baby foods, based on the time of day that they are fed and the associated nutritional needs.

Kraft Foods Inc. announces that Jeri Finard, executive vice president and chief marketing officer (CMO), has decided to leave the company for personal reasons.

To reinforce its leadership in nutrition, Nestle agrees to acquire Gerber, the iconic U.S. baby food brand, from Novartis for $5.5 billion.

Whirlpool Corporation plans to bring Maytag brand appliances back to all U.S. Best Buy stores and online at www.bestbuy.com in May 2007.

VF Corporation completes the sale of its global intimate apparel business to Fruit of the Loom Inc., a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Proceeds of the sale will consist of the previously disclosed $350 million purchase price, plus adjustment for working capital changes.

Reebok International Ltd. files a lawsuit against Nike Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, claiming Nike infringed on a patent arising from Reebok's collapsible shoe technology.

I was fortunate to meet with, interview and even "hang out" with some excellent business leaders over past month.

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