Dunkin' Donuts spreading out in China

If you're bound for Asia but concerned that you simply can't get your day going without your Dunkin' Donuts fix, relax.

The first DD, seen here, opened 12 months ago on Taiwan and 10 more shops were added in the ensuing 12 months. They're doing so well the company has decided to open 10 more on the island nation and 100 on mainland China.

In fact, the gang of 100 will be clustered in the sprawling city of Shanghai, population 20 million, and take 10 years or less to complete.

Franchise partner Mercuries & Associates of Taiwan has been given the franchise rights to Shanghai as well as two the mainland provinces of Jiangsu and Zhijiang, which abut Shanghai.

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WVa bans soft drinks in schools

The West Virginia Board of Education has voted 8-1 to ban the sale of caffeinated beverages in the public schools, part of a new nutrition policy.

The policy also sets limits on other items that are high in sugars, fat and sodium. The nutrition policy is similar to a bill recommended several days earlier by a legislative interim committee.

An implementation date has not yet been announced.

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Only if I can wipe the bottle first

Thirsty? How would you like a bottle of spring water from KISS member Gene Simmons?

The man known most for his ludicrously elongated tongue and misogynistic comments -- as well as inexplicably having snared the inimitable Shannon Tweed -- has filed to protect the trademark "Gene Simmons Wet" in relation to "bottled spring water, bottled drinking water and bottled flavored water drinks."

Eeewww!.

Simmons, for those who don't pay attention to such things, has had his own cable TV reality show ("Family Jewels") and is currently on "Celebrity Apprentice."

Thanks, as always, to our friends at Trademork.com who track such goings-on.

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Sustainable refreshment

There's more to being an environmentally sensitive beverage consumer than just using recyclable containers.

Take Adina World Beat Beverages. The San Francisco company has created a line of organic coffee and tea drinks using Fair Trade Certified ingredients such as cocoa, vanilla and coffee beans. Adina buys its ingredients from small-scale farmers and collectives in such countries as India, Guatemala, Indonesia and Ethiopia who support sustainable practices.

The drinks are available in such whimsically exotic flavors as Indian Iced Chai Latte, Ethiopian Iced Espresso, Mayan Iced Mocha and Sumatran Iced Vanilla Latte. Each is low in fat and held to 90 to 100 calories per bottle.

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Ice cream floats in a bottle

Some people decry business mergers as eventually the death knell for some businesses and jobs. One such partnership under the umbrella of Cadbury Schweppers has resulted in something that might please a lot of those people.

A&W Root Beer and Sunkist Soda, a pair of Cadbury subsidiaries, have teamed up to create the first "authentic" ice cream float in a bottle.

"For years, beverage makers have tried to crack the code and develop an indulgent drink that tastes like a homemade float," Andrew Springate, vice president of marketing, said in a statement. "The A&W and Sunkist Floats are indulgent treats like nothing consumers have experienced before; one pour and your taste buds will be amazed -- no work, no hassle."

The floats are being marketed in 11.5-ounce, vintage soda-shop-inspired glass bottles with twist-off tops at a suggested retail price of $1.79 for a single-serve bottle and $5.99 for a 4-pack.

Cadbury Schweppes also owns such other brands as Dr Pepper, 7UP, Snapple, RC Cola, Canada Dry, Hawaiian Punch, Schweppes, Diet Rite, Yoo-hoo and Nantucket Nectars.

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