News Briefs

PEPSI: will be the title sponsor of the 2005 United Hockey League All-Star Classic, which will be played January 24 in Glens Falls, NY. The game will pit Team Pepsi vs. Team Mountain Dew, marking the first time in pro hockey history that the teams are named after the title sponsor's brands.

SIMMONS: New York, has launched a consumer research service that lets marketers better target Hispanic consumers by household characteristics. The Hispanic Cohorts service identifies 19 different segments among U.S. Hispanics, based on demographics, lifestyles, attitudes and behavior.

YOUNG AMERICA CORP. AND GLOBAL FULFILLMENT SERVICES, INC.: have completed their merger, announced last month. The companies provide rebate, premium and sweepstakes fulfilment services.

PACKAGED GOODS BROKER KKM: Lincoln, RI, hired National Retail Services to handle merchandising programs for KKM clients. Danbury, CT-based National Retail Services—part of Euro RSCG—will provide expanded in-store data analysis and add other analytics, including a link between point-of-sale data and retail store data, over the next several months. KKM brokers HBC, general merchandise, stationery, confectionery and specialty foods in six New England states.