Personalization

Safeway-owned card-based financial solutions provider Blackhawk Network yesterday launched a virtual gift card program that enables consumers to buy gift cards online for delivery via e-mail.

Budweiser American Ale has enlisted Olympian and four-time world freestyle kayaking champion Eric Jackson as an ambassador for the brand. Beginning next year, Jackson will appear in Budweiser American Ale print and point-of-sale marketing, and the brand will have a presence at professional kayaking events throughout 2010. Budweiser American Ale will also host private training sessions with Jackson, offering both experienced and novice kayakers alike the chance to learn from the most successful competitive kayaker in history.

Sam’s Club has added wine, spirits and beer to its online order-ahead program, “Click n’ Pull.” There are now over 1,000 alcohol items to choose from on the samsclub.com Web site, including wines from around the globe.

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., Inc. yesterday launched an online coupon gallery available via its banner Web sites through a partnership with Mountain view, Calif.-based electronic coupon solutions vendor Coupons.com, Inc.

The Kroger Co. and Procter & Gamble are ending the online coupon program launched two years ago by the two Cincinnati-based companies.

To help remind Beantown moms that its seasoned coating mix can perk up a mundane chicken dinner any night of the week, this month Kraft Foods’ Shake ‘N Bake is rolling out playful interactive advertisements in 17 Boston-area shopping malls during the fashion-aware holiday shopping season.

Nine-store, Kowalski’s Markets today is rolling out Akaushi Beef, which it boasts is the “world’s best-tasting beef,” on an exclusive, limited-time basis.

What consumer trends are heating up the H&W marketing world in 2010?