Harrisburg University of Science and Technology and The Hershey Company are joining forces to develop a sensory science and consumer research program at the school’s campus located in downtown Harrisburg, Pa. The initiative includes creating a research laboratory where the University will conduct consumer taste tests on a range of confectionery products, including Hershey’s chocolate. Consumer insights obtained from the lab’s research will guide product development efforts.

Allied Bakeries’ brand Kingsmill is set to launch a new range of seeded loaves with designs created by 1HQ. Consumer analysis found that many mums want their family to eat seeded bread, but find it hard to choose a loaf with the texture they all like, especially as some kids don’t like bits. This has driven the creation of a new range of three loaves each with a different level of texture so they’re perfect for all the family.

Inspired by 500 years of vodka making expertise, Absolut has spent the last decade inventing a new vodka. Crafted from hand-selected estate wheat, and blended with soft and naturally filtered water, Absolut Elyx is a true expression of quality. It is a small-batch vodka, produced according to craft techniques, in an authentic 1929 copper rectification still. The result: a handcrafted super premium vodka with an elegant, silky texture.

Levi’s is very serious about making an ecological revolution under a denim banner. The brand, which has been known as the leader of jeanswear business since 1853 and one of the most active environmental game-changers among today’s companies, is offering solutions (both crowd-sourced and developed by the Levi’s team) to address the problem of extra water and energy consumption. The latest innovation of the brand, Water < Less denim, has been designed to address the issue—to help us (the industry and individuals) use less water on each stage of the jeans’ life. The brand has also released a hilarious video, which introduces the new cutting-edge solution (the offline presentation was held in November).

Using the cutting-edge 3d slow motion technology, MINI, the European elite car manufacturer, has produced a two-minute video ad that will debut in US movie theatres with the world rollout following soon.

The video is dubbed ‘MINI vs Monster’ and sees a huge monster truck jumping as long as 15.52 meters over the Mini car family standing motionless on the stadium: MINI Cooper Convertible, MINI Cooper Clubman, MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper S Countryman.

The famous Swedish fashion retailer H&M, which has stores all around the globe, can makes of fashion bloggers come true. To prove it, the company has collaborated with fashion blogger since 2007 Elin Kling, who previewed the autumn/winter 2010 collections on H&M’s website. This is the first-ever H&M’s partnership of this kind, and it gives hope to others who dream of stepping out of digital world of blogs and have his or her designs turned into real apparel ‘of cloth and buttons.’

Amway North America announced that it has signed world class distance runner Kara Goucher to represent NUTRILITE® exclusively from Amway. The brand is a sponsor of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon series—races held in cities around the country that incorporate miles with music. Goucher will represent the brand at several of these races, speaking at race events, and appearing at the mobile brand experience during race weekend. Her name and likeness also will appear online and in print in various NUTRILITE marketing collateral.

Nike loves innovation, both in technology and design fields, and is always here to engage its fans in creating something completely fresh. The brand, which has been allowing its consumers to customize their sportswear for quite a long time within its NikeID project, is about to continue to the new level by launching the iDNation, which is described as “a community for creative individuals to get inspired, customize, and make some fans.”