Pepsi announced the program details of the 2011 Pepsi Refresh Project, a crowd-sourcing movement that supports bold, fun creative ideas that have the power to move communities forward. In 2010, the Pepsi Refresh Project, an award-winning program, directed millions of dollars to fund over 1,000 great ideas across the country, and now it wants to fund twice as many great ideas.

By Cheryl Swanson, Principal at Toniq LLC

With a new decade upon us, we thought this would be a great time to consider what socio-cultural shifts and resulting trends resonating today will gain strength moving forward. For CPG, HBA, any industry really, it is important to know what ideas will gain traction and what trends will fade away. Here, we have listed our favorite trends that we believe will continue to foster, from consumers to design.

To promote its new football boot, CTR360 Maestri II Elite, Nike launched a hilarious video featuring Barcelona midfield magician Andrés Iniesta, who is captured on the pitch during the game and training drills alongside his teammates Éric Abidal and Thiago Alcântara. The clip, which was presented on Nike Facebook and Nikefootball.com last Friday, includes footage clips filmed at both spots and glued together so skillfully so that viewers can’t even notice where they are linked—it’s like the footballer kicks the ball on the training field and receives the same ball at speed during the game to create new goal-scoring chances.

As fans gather to celebrate the biggest football game of the season, Coca-Cola is asking everyone to raise a Coke and give a virtual ‘Coke Cheers’ for the team they’re supporting in the big game. For each ‘Coke Cheers’ submitted, Coca-Cola will donate $1 (up to $250,000) to Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s (BGCA) Triple Play program. Fans who participate in the activity also will be treated to another uplifting outcome—a sneak peek at one of the ads that will air during the FOX Super Bowl XLV broadcast on February 6.

Ahead of the upcoming St Patrick’s Day (17 March), brands are busy launching new products and editions to celebrate the big holiday. The Guinness beer and the Jameson whisky are traditionally considered as the most Irish trademarks, and they just couldn’t miss the date. As part of the upcoming celebration, the brands have announced two products which are totally dedicated to the holiday—HP Guinness Sauce, designed by leading London brand consultancy Bulletproof, and limited edition Jameson bottle, created in collaboration with acclaimed designer Paul Daly.

UK-based Fairtrade Foundation announced it would be running Fairtrade Fortnight between 28 February and 13 March. Fairtrade Fortnight is the annual event organized by the Foundation in an effort to promote all kinds of assistance it provides to people in developing countries. This year’s event is dedicated to cotton industry and millions of cotton growers.

Today Starbucks introduced its latest offer—Starbucks VIA® Taste Promise— encouraging consumers to discover the taste of Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew. Starbucks VIA® is a natural roasted arabica coffee in an instant form that, according to the manufacturer «is rich and full-bodied just like a fresh-brewed cup of Starbucks coffee.»

Starbucks VIA® is manufactured based on U.S. patent-pending microgrind technology that preserves the coffee’s taste and quality.