From Muppets to puppies, Super Bowl ads get cute

NEW YORK (AP) — Call it Cute Bowl.

Adorable is the name of the game this year as Super Bowl advertisers try to grab your attention. That means lots of "cute" story lines, including a family that's expecting a new baby and a horse that forms a long-lasting bond with a puppy.

The saccharine spots are partly a result of more family-friendly brands like Cheerios and Heinz advertising this year. At the same time, fewer startups that tend to have more provocative commercials are in the advertising game this year.

The trend also is a sign of the times. After widespread criticism of more racy or gross-out ads in recent years, companies are being more careful not to offend the more than 108 million viewers who are expected to tune in on Sunday. That's increasingly important given their large investment A 30-second Super Bowl spot goes an estimated $4 million.

"People want nostalgia and fun and escape," said Barbara Lippert, a columnist at Mediapost, trade publication for the media industry.

Here are five "cute" commercials to watch for:

(1) Anheuser Busch's "Puppy Love" ad shows its iconic Clydesdales bonding with a cute Labrador puppy. The two try desperately to reconnect with each other after their first meeting.

(2) Cheerios is showcasing the same biracial little girl and her parents that were in another ad that debuted last year. The company faced racist comments online when last year's ad was rolled out, but says the overwhelming response was positive.

So Cheerios is bringing the family back in its first Super Bowl ad. In the spot, the father tells his daughter that they're going to have an addition to the family, a baby boy. Then, the little girl strongly suggests they also get a puppy.

"We just fell in love with this family and the big game provided another opportunity to tell a story about family love," says Camille Gibson, vice president of marketing for Cheerios.

(3) CarMax's "Slow Clap" Super Bowl ad shows denizens of a small town congratulating a car buyer with a slow clap. The company also re-enacted the ad for an online video using only puppies that's called "Slow Bark."

(4) Toyota enlists a carful of Muppets singing a "We Ain't Got No Room for Boring" to promote its Highlander SUV.

(5) One of Coca-Cola's two Super Bowl ads features a boy who makes a surprise play in a little league football game and runs to make a touchdown. He then keeps running until he gets to Lambeau Field, where the Green Bay Packers play. A groundskeeper offers him a Coke.

"We go with the story that feels the best for Coke at the right time," says Katie Bayne, Coke's president, North America Brands.

Travel Retail in Australia

Jan 30, 2014 (Menafn - M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) --Travel retail in Australia increased in current value by 9% in 2010, a continuation of the strong growth trend which began in 2009. Nevertheless, growth slowed down slightly in 2012 from the 11% current value growth recorded in travel retail in 2011. The boom in travel retail in Australia towards the end of the review period was largely due to the rise recorded in outbound departures over the same period as Australian people remain very keen on using travel agents, both online and offline...

Travel Retail in Australia report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest market size data 2008-2012, allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market - be they new legislative, technology or pricing issues. Background information on disposable income, annual leave and holiday taking habits is also included. Forecasts to 2017 illustrate how the market is set to change.

Product coverage: Travel Retail Sales by Category, Travel Retail Sales by Channel, Travel Retail Sales by Corporate Business vs Leisure.

Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data.

Why buy this report?

* Get a detailed picture of the Travel Retail market;

* Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change;

* Understand the competitive environment, the market's major players and leading brands;

* Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop.

For more information kindly visit : http://www.bharatbook.com/travel-and-tourism-market-research-reports/travel-retail-in-australia1.html

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St.Tropez dips its toes into the world of travel retail with appointment of Scorpio Worldwide

 

Global market leading tanning brand St.Tropez is taking to the skies and the seas with a first foray into the travel retail market in partnership with Scorpio Worldwide. Scorpio is distributing the brand worldwide for inflight, cruiseships and ferries. Launched in 1996, St.Tropez offers a natural looking tan which is expert approved, celebrity endorsed and has attracted strong press acclaim. St.Tropez champions safe, sunless tanning resulting in radiant, flawless and beautifully golden skin. The results certainly speak for themselves – with one St.Tropez Self Tan product sold every minute globally and three spray tans sold every minute in the UK.

In May 2013, the next chapter in the St.Tropez story continued with the appointment of global icon Kate Moss, as Face and Body of the brand. Kate has a credible history with the brand and now the ultimate tanning brand has the ultimate model as the first global ambassador.

St.Tropez is continuing to grow at a rapid pace, offering an entire wardrobe of tanning products and is now stocked in 22 countries worldwide. In October 2013, St.Tropez attended TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes with Scorpio Worldwide for the first time to present its exciting exclusive travel kits to key airlines and distributers. St.Tropez will be showing at the exhibition again in 2014 with Scorpio Worldwide to continue its growth within the travel retail sector.

St.Tropez is launching four exclusive kits with the new tag ‘Tan Voyage’ each offering fantastic savings over UK high street prices enabling travellers to board in London looking a little lacklustre, and wake up in New York gorgeous and glowing courtesy of St.Tropez.

Jessica Finch, St.Tropez Global Executive Director explains, ‘We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Scorpio Worldwide, as we enter into the travel retail market. As St.Tropez is a global market leader in the tanning industry and is now stocked in 22 countries, it was the next apparent move for the brand. We have chosen to work with Scorpio Worldwide, as they are true experts in the travel retail field and understand our vision. This will be an exciting chapter for St.Tropez.’

Adds Scorpio Sales & Marketing Director Richard Kennedy, ‘At Scorpio we are continually looking for new brands which offer real added interest and value to the travel retail sales portfolio – whether in the air or on the ground. St. Tropez is a fantastic brand and by developing travel retail exclusive kits we are, once again, offering the market a product range which is attractive, unique and superbly priced.’

The Ultimate Holiday Tan

This kit includes 2 X St.Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse, 50ml each, an applicator mitt, St.Tropez Tan Enhancing Polish, 75ml and St.Tropez Tan Enhancing Moisturiser, 75ml.

Total Value: £34.50. Travel Retail RRP £26 Saving £8.50

Destination: A two-week getaway in the Med.

This regime kit includes all that is needed to achieve and maintain a natural streak-free tan for longer. Passengers can apply on board, ensuring they land with a golden glow.

The Radiant Holiday Glow

This kit includes St.Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Lotion for Face, 50ml and the St.Tropez Bronzing Powder.

Total Value: £47.43. Travel Retail RRP £25 Saving £22.43

Destination: A long weekend in St.Tropez.

The perfect duo for creating a sun-kissed tan for the face, leaving the user looking radiant and glowing.

The Gradual Golden Glow

This kit includes a St.Tropez Gradual Tan Everyday Body in Medium/Dark, 200ml and a St.Tropez Gradual Tan Everyday Face in Medium/Dark, 50ml.

Total Value: £28.60. Travel Retail RRP £20 Saving £8.60

Destination: A sightseeing city break in Barcelona.

Great for first time tanners, this set can extend a natural holiday tan for longer.

Instant Getaway Glamour

This kit includes a St.Tropez Instant Tan Wash Off Face & Body Lotion in Light/Medium, 100ml and the St.Tropez Powder Bronzer.

Total Value: £35.43. Travel Retail RRP £20 Saving £15.43

Destination: A last-minute holiday in Ibiza.

Perfect for topping up or evening out a natural tan, as well as short city breaks. With innovative Water-Resistant Technology, even if the weather is bad a tan will still look fab.

The St.Tropez Travel Retail Kits will be available from March 2014.

Enquiries: Richard Kennedy, Scorpio Worldwide. Tel: (44) (0) 1293 411733. Fax: (44) (0) 1293 414544. Email: info@scorpioworldwide.com

Press enquiries: Rowena Holland, Essential Communications. Tel: (44) (0) 208 405 8109. Email: row@essentialcommunications.org

St.Tropez Press office: Emma Krause – Emma.Krause@pzcussonsbeauty.com , 0207 257 2454 (please contact for more information, samples, further visuals)

Join the conversation:

Facebook: /StTropezTan

Twitter: @Sttropeztan

January 2014

Lotte, Nestle set up 50:50 joint venture targeting Korean Coffee Market

Korean conglomerate Lotte Groupe and Nestle, the world's largest food company, forged a partnership to target the Korean instant coffee market valued at 1.2 trillion won (US $1.1 billion).

Lotte is seeking to improve quality using the Swiss-based firm's plants in the country and to increase profits through exports of Nestle products. Nestle, on the other hand, intends to restore its pride in the local market. As a result, the success or failure of Nestle regaining the runner-up position is receiving a lot of attention in the industry. In 2012, NamYang Dair Products Co. unseated Nestle to become the second-largest producer of instant mixed coffee in the nation.

Lotte Food announced on January 27 that it decided to participate in Nestle Korea's paid-in capital increase with an investment of 50 billion won (US $46.4 million) and buy a 50 percent stake in the Korean unit of Nestle.

The reason for the two firms' partnership lies in the fact that their interests to make a breakthrough in the market fit together well. In 1987, the Swiss-based food giant worth 150 trillion won (US $139 billion) entered the local market with Taster's Choice, but lagged far behind Dongsuh Food, Korea's largest instant coffee manufacturer. Last year, Nestle tried to turn the tables on competitors with the amalgamation of its brands into Nescafe. However, its sales in 2013 amounted to just 370 billion won (US $343 million), comprising merely 3.7% of the total Korean market, which led to rumors that Nestle Korea might pull out of the local market entirely.

Nestle is not alone in experiencing poor sales performance. Even though Lotte is involved in the instant mixed coffee business through Lotte Chilsung Beverage with the brand, Cantata, it only makes up 1%, an extremely minimal market presence. Nevertheless, the company believes that the combination of its distribution capability and Nestle's production skills can create synergy. Furthermore, the Korean food and beverage firm is planning to maximize profits by exporting locally-made products.

HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL SEES THE UNVEILING OF GLENFIDDICH VINTAGE CASK TO COMPLETE THE TRAVEL RETAIL EXCLUSIVE ‘CASK COLLECTION’

 Throughout January there has been a buzz in the air in DFS stores in Hong Kong International airport as Glenfiddich unveiled the third expression of the new Cask Collection range, Glenfiddich Vintage Cask. Vintage Cask is the excelsior expression of Cask Collection and alongside Select Cask and Reserve Cask completes the new Travel Retail exclusive core range of the world’s most awarded Single Malt whisky.

“I am absolutely delighted by the way that the team at DFS Hong Kong have embraced the new Glenfiddich Cask Collection” says Scott Hamilton, Regional Director, Global Travel Retail Asia Pacific at William Grant & Sons. “We have been able to create a whole brand world for Glenfiddich in store” he continues. “We have one of the largest high profile spaces that we have ever secured for Glenfiddich, the widest possible range of outstanding whiskies all beautifully displayed on bespoke furniture that brings alive the story of Glenfiddich and of course Cask Collection. This is then magnified by the quality and passion of the shop floor team who are doing an outstanding job, explaining the range and the whiskies, letting shoppers sample and then guiding them to the most suitable variant. Our timing has been good, we started this activation at the start of December and the new Vintage Cask was unveiled here in early January, in advance of Chinese New Year, but I have to say I have been simply delighted by the level of interest in the new range, and the sales figures have been outstanding.”

Brooke Supernaw, Senior Vice President - Spirits, Wine & Tobacco, DFS Group says: “Across the Asia Pacific region there is a growing demand from travellers both for premium single malts and exclusive gifts which are not available domestically. The Glenfiddich Cask Collection meets both these needs whilst additionally providing a compelling offer for the whisky enthusiast looking to broaden his or her experience and enjoyment of a totally new and very different range of single malts. This is part of our commitment to inspire travellers everywhere to enhance their journey with the world’s finest, expertly curated selection of exceptional products and unparalleled service.”

Glenfiddich Vintage Cask is in many ways a homage to the original taste profile of Glenfiddich. It is inspired by the first Glenfiddich spirit that flowed from the stills in 1887, when barley was traditionally malted in kilns at the distillery over furnaces fuelled with dried local peat, infusing the whisky with a unique smokiness. The new Cask Collection Vintage Cask liquid reflects this legacy by balancing a delicate but discernible peaty note with the characteristic fruity, sweet Glenfiddich spirit. Glenfiddich Vintage Cask is matured in European Oak and American Bourbon casks to impart a smoky, peaty taste that lingers intriguingly with intermingled leafy, floral undertones.

Glenfiddich Vintage Cask is available in a 70cl bottle, packaged in a striking gold presentation box and retails at HK$ 850

Notes to editors: Exclusive to travel retail, the Glenfiddich Cask Collection has been crafted to offer three distinct flavour profiles, achieved by maturation in a variety of oak casks and finished in specially created Solera vats. Each is designed to appeal to the varied preferences of single malt drinkers. Glenfiddich Select Cask is an elegant whisky with layers of sweetness, spice and hints of citrus, matured in hand-selected aged Bourbon, European oak and red wine casks to impart a beautifully soft taste. Glenfiddich Reserve Cask is matured in distinctive Spanish sherry casks used for their mellow and rich flavour characteristics. Deliciously smooth and silky, the whisky is sweet and spicy, with a complex flavour that evolves in the glass. Glenfiddich Vintage Cask is matured in European Oak and American Bourbon casks to impart a smoky, peaty taste that lingers intriguingly with intermingled leafy, floral undertones. It is inspired by the first Glenfiddich spirit that flowed from the stills in 1887, when barley was traditionally malted in kilns at the distillery over furnaces fuelled with dried local peat, infusing the whisky with a unique smokiness.

Each Cask Collection single malt Scotch whisky has an ABV of 40%. Glenfiddich Select Cask and Glenfiddich Reserve Cask are presented in Glenfiddich’s iconic 1 litre triangular bottle. Glenfiddich Vintage Cask is available in a 70cl bottle, packaged in a striking gold presentation box.

ENDS

About William Grant & Sons and Glenfiddich

William Grant & Sons, Ltd. is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1886. Today, the luxury spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distils some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world’s favourite single malt Glenfiddich®, The Balvenie® range of handcrafted single malts and the world’s third largest blended Scotch Grant’s® as well as other iconic spirits brands such as Hendrick’s® Gin, Sailor Jerry®, Milagro® Tequila and, most recently, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey

About DFS Group

DFS Group is the world’s leading luxury travel retailer. Established in Hong Kong in 1960, DFS Group continues to be a pioneer in global luxury travel retail, offering its travelling customers a carefully curated selection of exceptional products from over 700 of the most desired brands through 420 locations on three continents. Its network consists of duty free stores located in 18 major global airports, 14 downtown Galleria stores, as well as affiliate and resort locations. The Group is privately held and majority owned by the world’s largest luxury conglomerate Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), alongside DFS co-founder and shareholder Robert Miller. DFS Group employs over 9,000 people focused on creating inspiring retail experiences for its customers. In 2012, over 200 million travellers visited DFS stores. DFS is headquartered in Hong Kong and has offices in Hawaii, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo.

For more information, visit www.dfsgroup.com

Recent Awards:

International Spirits Challenge 2013

• Gold : Glenfiddich 12 Year Old
• Gold: Glenfiddich 18 Year Old
• Gold: Glenfiddich 30 Year Old
• Gold: Glenfiddich 40 Year Old
• Gold: Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Madeira Cask Finish
• Gold: Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Bourbon Cask Reserve
• Gold: Glenfiddich 125th Anniversary Edition
• Gold: Glenfiddich Ultimate 38 Year Old

Scotch Whisky Masters Awards 2013

• Master: Glenfiddich 15 Year Old
• Master: Glenfiddich Ultimate 38 Year Old
• Master: Glenfiddich 125^th Anniversary Edition
• Gold: Glenfiddich Rich Oak
• Gold: Glenfiddich 18 Year Old
• Gold: Glenfiddich Distillery Edition 15 Year Old
• Gold: Glenfiddich 12 Year Old
• Gold: Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Madeira Cask Finish
• Gold: Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Bourbon Cask Reserve
• Gold: Glenfiddich Malt Master’s Edition
• Gold: Glenfiddich 40 Year Old

International Wine and Spirit Competition 2013

• Trophy for Single Malt Cask Strength: Glenfiddich 40 Year Old
• Gold Outstanding: Glenfiddich 40 Year Old
• Gold: Glenfiddich Malt Master’s Edition
• Gold: Glenfiddich 30 Year Old
• Gold: Glenfiddich 21 Year Old
• Gold: Glenfiddich 15 Year Old
• Gold: Glenfiddich Rich oak
• Gold: Glenfiddich 12 Year Old

Click on www.williamgrant.com for more information on the Company and its brands

From Left:

Jonathan Loh, DFS HK Product Sales Manager

Rebecca Tse, DFS HK Promotions Manager

Fion Chow, DFS HK Product Sales Manager

James Chan, WGS Brand Ambassador (Taiwan)

Keira Cheng, WGS Travel Retail Promotions Executive

Winnie, Sharon and Angela WGS Promoters

Scott Hamilton, WGS Travel Retail APAC Director

Karl Sutcliffe, DFS HK Assistant General Manager

More luxury fashion is coming to Copley Place

Copley Place, a tony shopping complex in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, said that L.K. Bennett and Furla, both retailers new to Boston, will open this year, adding two more fashion options to Copley’s retail mix of about 75 stores.

L.K. Bennett, which just opened, is a “luxury fashion brand defined by its unmistakable British heritage and offers beautiful, well-made, accessibly priced designer threads,” Copley Place said in a press release.

Meanwhile, Furla, a retailer known for its luxurious handbags, wallets, and shoes, is planning to open a store at Copley Place in the summer.

Neiman Marcus, Barneys New York, Tiffany & Co., David Yurman, Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, and Tory Burch are among the existing stores at Copley Place, which is managed by mall operator Simon Property Group.

“As the premier, high-end shopping destination in Boston, these new additions (of L.K. Bennett and Furla) will offer fashion-forward shoppers even more options,” Barney Quinn, executive vice president of leasing at Simon Property, said in a statement.

WORLD FIRST - HENDRICK’S MARVELLOUS MINATURE CIRCUS PITCHES TENT AT CHANGI AIRPORT CHANGI AIRPORT TERMINAL 2 DEPARTURES CENTRAL MIX BAR

Roll up! Roll up! Hendrick’s Marvellous Miniature Circus has arrived at Changi Airport, Singapore, where travellers are invited to see things............... a little upside down! 

William Grant & Sons has embarked on a mission to restore equilibrium in this world by rejuvenating the idea of the ‘travelling circus’ for Hendrick’s Gin. Throughout January and February, the world premiere takes place of the Hendrick’s Marvellous Miniature Circus in Changi Airport Terminal 2 Departures Central Mix Bar. 

Here, invisible trapeze artists, illusionist zoetropes, flying cucumber-knifes and contortionists of all sizes, help travellers leave more curious than when they arrived. 

‘It would not be the Hendrick’s Marvellous Miniature Circus if it was just any humdrum brand circus. Our ringmaster interviewed 399 sword swallowers, tested 201 knife throwers personally before forming a troupe of great eccentricity and individuality. Rather than cracking the discount whip, an interactive circus would have far more travellers making a beeline for the marquee to seek a daily dose of curiosity and peculiar refinement,’ says WGS Asia-Pacific Travel Retail Director Scott Hamilton, speaking in jest.

All passengers are invited to step into the marquee and take a peek into the amazing Hendrick’s Zoetrope. As they witness the fascinating story of gin and cucumber unfold, cucumber cannonballs and cucumber knife throwing acts leave them intrigued. The interaction continues as the ringmaster pours everyone a bespoke Hendrick’s Gin circus cocktail. 

Says Parker Gundersen, General Manager of DFS Singapore: ‘Our Mix-It Experiences are one of DFS’ key strategies for engaging customers at Changi Airport. To remain relevant to travellers, we need to constantly elevate the experience and surprise them with something they’ve never seen before. The Hendrick’s Marvelous Miniature Circus is an excellent example of the creativity we like to showcase at Changi, and we truly appreciate the energy and passion that the team from William Grant & Sons has put into making this promotion a reality. The playful theme and décor, professionally-trained bartenders, and incredible menu of cocktails, gives our customers an entertaining experience they will surely remember and share with their friends. Importantly, it also gives us an opportunity to build a stronger relationship with customers and provide greater education about Hendrick’s Gin and the art of cocktail-making, one of the fastest growing trends in Asia.” 

Notes to editors:
HENDRICK’S is available in a 100cl bottle (ABV 44%),retailing at all major airport duty free stores and all good bars and restaurants across our green and pleasant land.
HENDRICK’S is a deliciously super premium gin, made with a number of unusual twists to deliver a most curious arrangement. Unlike ordinary gins, HENDRICK’S is distilled in Scotland, in miniscule batches of only 450 litres at a time. Only HENDRICK’S is made with infusions of Cucumber and Rose petals, producing a wonderfully refreshing gin with a delightfully floral aroma. HENDRICK’S is the only gin made in a combination of a Carter-Head and copper pot still, creating a divinely smooth gin with both character and balance of subtle flavours.
Hendrick’s is made by William Grant & Sons - an award-winning, independent, family-owned distiller founded by William Grant in 1886 and still controlled by the fifth generation of his family. The Company distils some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world’s favourite single malt Glenfiddich, the handcrafted range of The Balvenie single malts and the world’s fourth largest blended Scotch Grant’s, as well as selected other spirits, including Tullamore Dew and Sailor Jerry. www.williamgrant.com

Nestlé signs research agreement with Singapore

22 January 2014

Nestlé has entered into a strategic partnership with the Singapore government’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research, A*STAR, with the goal of setting up global research programmes in food science and technology. The agreement will focus on areas such as nutrition, packaging, data analytics and also biotransformation - the use of natural processes, such as fermentation, to transform raw materials into ingredients with nutritional or functional benefits. “We are delighted to sign this research agreement with A*STAR. It provides the framework for future collaboration that will help to strengthen our food science and technology capabilities in Singapore and beyond,” said Nestlé’s Chief Technology Officer, Stefan Catsicas. “Our goal is that closer collaboration with A*STAR will enable our team of food technologists, food engineers, chemists and microbiologists to share their knowledge and understanding in multiple areas of food science and to strengthen Nestlé’s position as a global leader in food science, nutrition and technology.” Fermentation On behalf of Nestlé, the three-year framework agreement was signed by Johannes Baensch, Nestlé’s head of Global Research and Development and Frank Lehmann, head of Intellectual Asset Management and Licensing. Dr Raj Thampuran, Managing Director of A*STAR, and Suresh Sachi, Deputy Managing Director (Corporate and Legal) signed on behalf of the Agency. The agreement will allow Nestlé to further expand its extensive expertise in areas of biotransformation including fermentation, enzyme technology and probiotics and to develop superior technology solutions to meet consumer expectations. Though used in hundreds of food products across the world, many Asian products in particular are based on biotransformation processes such as fermentation including, for example, tempe – made from fermented soy beans - and kimchi, fermented vegetables with chilli particularly popular in Korea. Natural processes Biotransformation, which can take the form of fermentation and the use of enzymes and probiotics, can make products more digestible, improve their bioavailabiliy and extend their shelf-life. Nestlé products made using the natural fermentation process include MAGGI Liquid Seasoning based on wheat gluten fermentation, and MAGGI bouillon cubes in West Africa, based on soya fermentation. Nestlé uses its expertise in biotransformation in several of its 34 Research & Development and Product Technology Centres around the world. The company’s Research & Development Centre in Singapore, set up in 1980, was its first in Asia, set up to meet the region’s burgeoning economic growth. R&D Singapore now employs approximately 120 people from 18 different nations, working in disciplines including engineering, packaging and design, analytical chemistry, microbiology, food and nutritional science.

Celebrate the Year of the Horse, There's a Godiva Chocolate for That!

Celebrate the Year of the Horse, There’s a Godiva Chocolate For That! And you thought you were safe until Valentine’s day! Ha! - See more at: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/celebrate-year-horse-theres-godiva-chocolate/#sthash.6QOvgtjm.dpuf

Celebrate Lunar New Year on January 31st with a gorgeous box of Godiva chocolates.

Celebrate the Year of the Horse, There’s a Godiva Chocolate For That! And you thought you were safe until Valentine’s day! Ha! - See more at: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/celebrate-year-horse-theres-godiva-chocolate/#sthash.6QOvgtjm.dpuf

January 31st marks the start of the Year of the Horse, which gives hope for a new year of happiness, prosperity and health. This year, be the first to give and receive good luck with delicious chocolate from Godiva Chocolatier.

To celebrate, Godiva has launched luxurious Limited Edition Lunar New Year Gift Boxes, showcasing the iconic NEW Lady Godiva pieces.

But did you know what the Year of the Horse means exactly?  The Year of the Horse gives hope for a new year of happiness, prosperity and health. Be the first to give and receive good luck – and delicious chocolate!

We did a little research and discovered the ‘lucky’ and ‘unlucky’ signs in Year of the Horse courtesy of ABS-CBNnews.com

A Hong Kong-based feng shui expert has revealed his predictions for various animal zodiac signs as Chinese New Year nears.

The Year of the Wooden Horse will commence at 12:01 a.m. on January 31, although Joseph Chau Kam Shing told ABS-CBN that the formal duration of the year will be from February 4 at 6:03 a.m. to February 3, 2015.

While not all signs are “lucky” this 2014, Chau said these can be reversed or enhanced through the use of charms.

Some of them include treasure buckets for wealth, a jade dragonhead fish for career, a jade master protection pendant for safety, longevity coins for health, and a Mandarin duck for romance and relationships.

For overall luck, one may try the benefactor jade, he said to ABS-CBN News.

In a press conference at the Mandarin Oriental Manila on Monday, Chau shared his 2014 forecast for each animal sign.

Here are his predictions for those born in a Horse year (all the signs are found at the ABS-CBN site):
Horse (1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014)

The Horse’s nature: Cheerful, charming loyal, friendly, hardworking, independent, energetic, subjective and self-centered.

General forecast: More or less, they will be quite emotional and under stress at work. It is important that they know how to relax more and stay quiet for self-protection. On the other hand, they have to keep a low profile and be patient to avoid unnecessary rumors and jealousy.

On money: It is neither too good nor too bad. Horses will have a stable and satisfactory income, but they should still cut down their unnecessary expenditures.

On relationships: Lovers should be patient with each other. Married Horses should keep away from temptation or they will face separation. They must be careful with the way they handle their relationship to avoid any conflict especially in the lunar months of February, March, May, September and December.

On health and safety: Horses should pay attention to road safety, stay away from sharp objects and beware of problems with the eyes, heart, high blood pressure, stroke and cardiovascular system. It is important that they do not go to funerals or wakes during the whole year. To enhance their luck, they should have a blood test or oral prophylaxis in the beginning of the year.

Okay-back to lucky for all of us Godiva chocolate! Did you know that chocolate may prevent diabetes type 2?

Start the Year of the Horse off lucky by giving these fabulous chocolates to celebrate Lunar New Year. It is said that those born the year of the horse are always the life of the party and so are the gorgeous limited edition Godiva Lunar New Year assortments –  with six new Lady Godiva pieces in unique flavors, including White Chocolate Pineapple Macadamia, Milk Chocolate Cherry Almond, and Dark Chocolate Caramel Pear, plus 14 signature Gold Ballotin pieces. Godiva’s elegant red box features Lady Godiva and her galloping horse, the perfect pair to celebrate this special year. 20 pcs./$50

For a limited time only, customers will receive a package of 8 gorgeous keepsake Godiva lucky red envelopes with their purchase of a limited edition Lunar New Year gift box.

Available exclusively at Godiva boutiques and www.Godiva.com. Lunar New Year is January 31st.
- See more at: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/celebrate-year-horse-theres-godiva-chocolate/#sthash.6QOvgtjm.dpuf