The competition is open.

— The 5th edition of the Pentawards, the world’s major competition devoted exclusively to packaging design is open for entries from 4 April to 20 May 2011.

— Packaging designers, brand owners, packaging suppliers from the world over are invited to enter their best creations in more than 44 categories divided into 5 major sectors: Food – Beverages – Body — Other Markets – Luxury.

Carlsberg, a world-renowned beer manufacturer, announced April 5 that it was ready to start brand re-positioning aimed at doubling its profits by 2015. Appearantly, global expansion is not enough for the company. As Jørgen Buhl Rasmussen, Carlsberg’s CEO, has put it, though the brand is known all over the world, its sales simply do not measure up to its brand recognition.

To promote the new range of the retro styled Converse Padded Collar Loopback created exclusively for the sportswear retailer Foot Locker, SapientNitro developed a lovely campaign that will be rolling out for two weeks across Europe. The integrated promotion, which was kicked off on April 3, includes activity on Foot Locker’s Facebook page, an advert as well as outdoor element in Germany and in-store engagement in a number European cities.

On April 4, Pepsi launched the second year of its Pepsi Refresh Project, calling on people from across the United States to submit bold ideas that have the power to move communities forward, focusing on the categories that America cares about most: Education, Communities and Arts & Music. In addition to its standing grant categories, Pepsi will announce a new Pepsi Challenge each month in the form of a question that Pepsi will challenge the public to answer with creative ideas. This month, Pepsi is challenging fans to channel their love of music to drive social change with its first Pepsi Challenge by asking, “How would you rock the house for a good cause?” 

IKEA has launched a series of small joyful promotions both as part of its previous campaigns and as standalone mini projects. Kicked off in three different countries, the UK, Poland and France, these initiative are revolving around cats, chairs and carpool, and are united by one thing—the company’s strong dedication to delivering comfort by being eco-friendly (as well as simply friendly), loving and proving the durability of its furniture.

Kraft Foods is extending its partnerships with Paula Deen Enterprises, Digitas and EQAL to launch Season 2 of the Real Women of Philadelphia online community and cooking competition.  Building on the incredible success of the first season, home cooks nationwide are invited to upload videos showcasing their preparation of original recipes using Philadelphia Cream Cheese or the new Philadelphia Cooking Creme.

You are welcome to share your thoughts on this article written by Greg Taylor, Director of Brand Provocation at Elmwood, London

These are dark, dark times. It seems right now that not a week goes by without some form of man-made or natural disaster hitting the headlines . . . from New Zealand to Japan to Libya: earthquakes, tsunamis, nuclear fallout and revolution. From London to Paris to Tokyo to Athens: crippling deficits, rising unemployment, increasing taxes and growing inflation.

In November 2010, Bombay Sapphire, which made an awesome sea-life inspired 3D projection onto the Queen’s House at the Old Royal Naval College in London last fall, issued a call for new stunning ideas to be converted into a three-dimension visual picture on one of the most iconic buildings of the world. On April 1, the winner was selected—Facebook community, which voted for the most stunning work, chose the concept of the Cube of Rubic projection conceived by Erjola Veliaj from Albania to be the next Bombay Sapphire’s 3D installation.