Food Roundup: Pepsi Bottlers Bid, Domino's Damage Control, Dr Pepper Wedding, and More

(MoneyWatch)  PepsiCo offers $6 billion for Pepsi Bottling Group. and PepsiAmericas -- The soft drink giant currently has minority stake in both companies but wants to take sole control in order to "unlock significant cost synergies," according to CEO Indra Nooyi. "When you have a flat-to-shrinking profit pool, slicing it 20 ways to Sunday is not the answer," she said. The two companies have confirmed receiving the offer but have not given any public indication of how they will respond. [Sources: Just-Drinks, The Big Money]

Domino's does damage control over nose-picker -- Domino's shut down a store and filed criminal charges after prankster employees posted a YouTube video of one of them doing gross things to the food. Domino's also posted an apology on YouTube featuring Domino's USA President Patrick Doyle. Though the original video was seen by hundreds of thousands of viewers, undoubtedly damaging the brand, Domino's has been praised for its quick, firm response and for its decision to issue its apology in the same venue as the original video. [Sources: Seeking Alpha, The Big Money]

Dr Pepper Snapple pays for wedding and discounted ads -- Dr Pepper Snapple is getting clever with its promotional techniques. A Virginia couple married on Dr. Pepper's dime this weekend after the beverage company placed the winning eBay bid to sponsor the wedding. And the company has also been buying, at a discounted rate, advertising slots abandoned by failing banks and car dealerships. [Sources: Dallas Morning News, Daily Bread]

Does genetic engineering increase yields? -- According to a study by the Union of Concerned Scientists, the use of genetically modified crops has had no greater effect on yields than other more traditional methods. "Despite 20 years of research and 13 years of commercialization," the group said, "genetic engineering has failed to significantly increase U.S. crop yields." [Sources: Union of Concerned Scientists, via Food Politics]