Consumer Affairs & Relations

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. — Unilever has donated nearly $850,000 and three million pounds of Unilever brand products to Feeding America, the nation's leading hunger-relief organization, in 2012.

The financial contribution comes from joint cause marketing programs and support from the Unilever United States Foundation.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Global work wear brand Dickies has signed a new licensing agreement with R & S Sales Company, a leading developer and marketer of slippers and flip-flops in the U.S.

BEAVERTON, Ore. — Nike has named Roger Wyett as its new VP of Action Sports. Wyett will oversee Nike brand’s skateboarding and snow businesses, as well as Hurley International LLC.

Sandy Bodecker, the current VP of Action Sports at Nike, will now work on special projects involving long-term product innovation. Additionally, Jim Calhoun, CEO of Converse, will report directly to Mark Parker, president and CEO of Nike.

Walmart’s ongoing investigation into bribery allegations was thrust into the spotlight again on Monday after the New York Times ran a lengthy piece detailing how an elaborate series of payments accelerated construction of a controversial store in Mexico City.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Former Kellogg Company executive Carlos Canals has joined Ciao Bella as CEO.

Ciao Bella is a gelato and sorbet brand that recently added Greek frozen yogurt to its dessert lineup.

The rapidly changing world of consumer product safety is increasingly fraught with pitfalls for both retailers and manufacturers. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) made several significant changes to the law by instituting more onerous reporting obligations, heavier fines for failing to report, and prohibiting the sale of a recalled product, just to name a few. But the news isn’t all bad.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Target is teaming up with the United Way for the 22nd consecutive year to bring families in need some holiday cheer.

Target stores across the country will donate more than $200,000 worth of holiday trees to the charitable organization, as part of the Target Share-a-Tree Program. The United Way and its volunteers will distribute the trees to families in need, shelters, community centers and childcare programs.

New York -- Wal-Mart Stores and Kroger are said to be among the bidders for assets being sold by Hostess Brands Inc., according to Bloomberg.

The report, which cited a person who asked not to be named because the process is confidential, said there are about two dozen bidders, with some interested in just the cakes or breads businesses, and others in individual Hostess plants or products.