Category Archives: Lifestyle

Barratt expands its Iceland ice cream range

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The popular sweet brand Barratt, owned by Valeo Confectionery, is adding a new selection of classic sweet flavours to its ice cream range, exclusive to Iceland. The range will be available instore from Monday 4 April.

Following on from the existing range of nostalgic sweet shop favourites, the new flavours arrive straight from the Pick n’ Mix aisle and include Dolly Mix, Cherry Cola Bottle, Giant Strawberries, Wham Rocket, Milk Teeth, Refreshers, and Mini Poppets Ice cream bites in mint and salted caramel flavours.

The new flavours are an expansion of the original range, created in 2020, and follow further growth to the range in 2021, where 8 SKUs were added to the ice cream range including Cola bottles, Foam Banana, Milk Bottles and Sherbet Fountain.

With over 3.4 million units of ice cream sold in 2021, the Barratt and Iceland range continues to perform, enabling the Barratt brand to expand into new categories including cheesecakes, with more to come. The success has also helped to showcase the brand and attract further licensees.

Bethan Garton, CCO at licensing agency The Point.1888, which represents the Barratt brand, says: “We’re absolutely thrilled to announce a further 8 SKUs to the Iceland’s Barratt range. The range has gone from strength to strength over the past two years as consumers demand more products that highlight the iconic and fun flavours of Barratt sweets. Iceland have been the perfect partner for Barratt by working collaboratively to deliver truly innovative product.”

Andrew Staniland, Trading Director at Iceland, adds: “We love to bring people together and create memories over good food, and what better way than sharing a delicious, cool treat with your family in time for April’s forecasted heatwave.”

Farshore to publish Squishmallows official collector’s guide

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Farshore has acquired publishing rights to the official collector’s guide for the award-winning plush property, Squishmallows. Emma Cairns-Smith, Global Licensing Acquisition Director for Brands and Licensing at Farshore, signed a worldwide rights deal with Jazwares along with its Kellytoy subsidiary for the Squishmallows Official Collector’s Guide.

 Since Squishmallows launched in 2017, over 100 million Squishmallows plush products have been sold globally. The phenomenon has spread to online spaces, with the brand achieving 6.1 billion impressions online and “Squish Hunting” – people posting videos and photos dedicated to collecting the 1,000+ ultra-collectable Squishmallows – becoming hugely popular.

Squishmallows Official Collector’s Guide is designed to be the perfect gift for all plush-loving superfans and the official guide to the world of Squishmallows. Scheduled to launch in July 2022, it will feature tips for finding rare and collectible Squishmallows, all the information you could want about Squishmallows Squad collections, a Squishmallows Super Fan quiz and more.

Emma Cairns-Smith, representing Brands and Licensing at Farshore, says: “Squishmallows is a gigantic toy brand with an army of TikTok fans and influencers behind it. We are so excited to create publishing which engages with those fans across the globe.”

Sam Ferguson, Vice President, Global Licensing, Jazwares, adds: “Collaborating with Farshore brings new opportunities for fans to explore the ever-growing world of Squishmallows with fun tips and tricks that bring a new level of fun to the hunt.”

 Squishmallows Official Collector’s Guide is scheduled to publish on 7 July 2022, for fans aged 9-18+

 

 

Asembl to represent Perfetti Van Melle across Australia and New Zealand

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Asembl is now representing Perfetti Van Melle’s licensing interests across Australia and New Zealand and will develop strategic licensing opportunities for the company’s Chupa Chups and Mentos brands in new food and non-food categories.  

Perfetti Van Melle is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of confectionery. Its products and brands are enjoyed in over 150 countries.

Kickstarting the many licensing interests for Chupa Chups is an ongoing partnership with one of Australia’s oldest family-owned and operated dairy companies, Bulla Dairy Foods.

First to launch in the partnership between the two brands is a Strawberry & Cream flavoured ice-cream cone – Bulla Dairy Foods’ homage to the global bestseller Chupa Chups lollipop. Brought to life in ice cream form for the first time in Australia, the Strawberry & Cream ice-cream cone features a strawberry and vanilla ice-cream flavour with crushed candy and a strawberry sauce drizzled throughout and on top.

“It is incredibly exciting to partner with a global brand synonymous with such fun and excitement. We believe our two brands fit together like the famous strawberry and cream flavour now brought to life in ice cream form,” says Bulla’s Head of Marketing, Andrew Noisette.

“We are excited to see our iconic Strawberry & Cream lollipop come to life in an ice cream format. It is sure to surprise and delight Australian Chupa Chups fans,” says Marta Ballesteros, Area Licensing Manager of Perfetti Van Melle.

Asembl Managing Director, Justin Watson, adds: “We are thrilled to be adding Perfetti Van Melle to our growing brand extension agency – and of course to be launching a Strawberry & Cream ice-cream with Bulla Dairy Foods that honours the global bestselling lollipop. For Australian fans of Chupa Chups and Bulla Dairy Foods, this licensing partnership is really an ice-cream dream come true.”

Chupa Chups Strawberry & Cream cone 4pk (RRP $8.50) is now available through Independent Grocers nationwide and Woolworths from 2 May with a vibrant point of sale activation as well as strong social media campaign.

 

 

Carhartt debuts The Batman workwear collection

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Carhartt, in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC, has announced the new, limited-edition Carhartt x The Batman collection. Inspired by Warner Bros. Pictures’ blockbuster new film The Batman, and built by Carhartt, the premium workwear collection is influenced by the Caped Crusader’s durable, crime-stopping gear.

The Carhartt x Batman collection will be exclusively available to the public on April 6 at https://www.carhartt.com/carhartt-x-thebatman. The collection features an assortment of hats, sweatshirts, a t-shirt, jacket and iron-on patches.

“While there aren’t many things tougher than Carhartt gear, Batman certainly rises to the top of the list,” says Alex Guerrero, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Global Product for Carhartt. “Bringing together one of the most recognisable Super Heroes on the planet with the most iconic brand in workwear seemed like a perfect fit for our consumers and Batman fans alike.”

The Batman Chore Coat
Inspired by the idea of a modular utility belt, this coat’s pocketing can house the tools for any task at hand. The coat also features a quilted lining, adjustable cuffs, extra stretch across the shoulders, and pleated elbows for increased flexibility. A reflective Carhartt patch is also featured on the left chest pocket. The highlight is the hidden message “I am the shadows” under the collar. Finally, there is an interior label that assigns each jacket a production number, making it truly limited edition. Available in limited quantities.

The Batman Midweight Sweatshirt
With a reflective Bat emblem on the chest and Carhartt patch on the pocket, this loose fit sweatshirt is guaranteed for comfort. It features an attached three-piece hood with drawcord closure, front handwarmer pocket, a reinforced waistband and rib-knit cuffs.

The Batman Midweight Logo Sleeve Sweatshirt
This midweight cotton blend offers everyday versatility and features our signature logo on one sleeve while the opposite sleeve has the Bat emblem for a perfect pairing. The logos are both reflective, giving the wearer extra protection in the shadows or in the light.

The Batman Relaxed Fit T-Shirt
The Carhartt iconic durable workwear pocket t-shirt features a reflective Carhartt X The Batman logo with bats flying off of it into the darkness. It’s side-seamed construction minimizes twisting and has a tagless neck label for added comfort. It’s made with heavy-weight cotton and a relaxed fit to provide room to move, whether wearing when battling villains or just handling a tough day on the job.

The Selina Kyle Beanie
This black, stretchable, rib-knit beanie was designed for fans’ inner Catwoman and features a reflective Carhartt logo patch on one side and embroidered Bat emblem on the back in dark grey, with a hint of cat ears built into the silhouette.

The Batman Reflective Patch Beanie
Based off the iconic Carhartt beanie, this red, stretchable rib-knit beanie features a fold-up cuff, Carhartt logo patch and reflective black Bat emblem.

The Batman Carhartt Beanie
This black stretchable acrylic rib-knit beanie features a fold-up cuff with the Bat emblem and Carhartt logo embroidered in red, inspired by the film art.

Full details on the upcoming Carhartt X The Batman collection can be found at https://www.carhartt.com/carhartt-x-thebatman.

Bulldog signs new duo for Care Bears

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The licensing programme for much-loved brand Care Bears, managed by Bulldog Licensing in the UK, continues to welcome new partners for exclusive collaborations and limited-edition partnerships.

The most recent of these is with fashion-forward brand Daisy Street, which is working with Care Bears to create a unique apparel collection consisting of 15 garments including daywear, nightwear, footwear, and accessories, with the RRP ranging from £10 to £60.

The designs will feature the colourful, instantly recognisable Care Bears and magical scenes from Care-a-Lot across a wide range of apparel for adults and children.

Also new to the Care Bears line-up is gift supplier Fizz Creations, who will be developing a wide range of gifting products inspired by characters such as Cheer Bear, Funshine Bear and Share Bear, in their magical world. Fizz Creations is a specialist in licensed gift ranges, with a wide range of top brands already in its offering.

As the Care Bears brand celebrates its 40th year, the property continues to captivate fans of all ages with its Care Bears: Unlock the Magic animated television series, a firm favourite on Pop and Tiny Pop. Meanwhile the original series of 45 episodes of Care Bears: Unlock the Music can now be enjoyed on the official Care Bears YouTube channel, which has amassed an incredible 142 million views.

Sophie Yates, Licensing Executive at Bulldog, says: “I truly believe Care Bears will be around forever. The content resonates as much with young children today as it did when it launched in the 1980s, and new fans join daily. Collaborations and partnerships such as those with Daisy Street and Fizz Creations help to keep the brand relevant and on-trend for consumers of all ages, and make the property accessible to all.”

Unlimited Footwear Group and Gap announce licensing agreement

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Unlimited Footwear Group (UFG) has announced a strategic licensing partnership with Gap Inc. to design, produce, and distribute Gap branded footwear throughout the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Scandinavia, in a deal brokered by IMG.

The upcoming footwear collections will reflect Gap’s values of producing elevated, well-made and responsibly produced products through iconic casual styles that are clean, confident and accessible. The first Gap footwear collection by UFG for men, women and kids is scheduled to launch in spring/summer 2023.

“We are thrilled to add Gap to our licensing portfolio and we look forward to working closely with the Gap team on many footwear collections to come. We are committed to leveraging our 30-plus years of experience in the footwear industry to continue to grow the Gap brand awareness and international reach,” says Bart van Helvoirt, CEO Unlimited Footwear Group.

“Partnering with licensees such as Unlimited Footwear Group gives us the opportunity to amplify our strong, globally relevant brand and extend its reach to customers around the world,” says Adrienne Gernand, Managing Director of International, Global Licensing and Wholesale at Gap Inc. “Through these licensing partnerships, we are able to grow our non-apparel categories and establish Gap as a lifestyle brand that delivers style for all stages in our customers’ lives.”

In partnership with Gap, UFG’s The Heritage Footwear Company division in Utrecht, part of Unlimited Footwear Group, will manage the Gap Footwear collections. The Heritage Footwear Company plans to launch two collections a year at a mid-price level and will distribute through its international sales network of both multi-brand fashion and sports retail and through wholesale and various online platforms.

UFG’s dedicated Gap team will operate from Utrecht, the Netherlands, through UFG´s The Heritage Footwear Company division.

 

General Mills and SEGA of America team up for Sonic’s birthday

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General Mills and SEGA of America have teamed up to celebrate Sonic the Hedgehog and the release of his new film – Sonic the Hedgehog 2 – on April 8, 2022, with a special-edition line of cereal and fruit snacks.

Fans can collect gold rings just like the Blue Blur with a new honey-flavoured, ring-shaped cereal, complete with Chaos Emerald and Spin Dash marshmallows, as well as a fun back-of-the-box activity for a speedy way to start the day. The partnership also includes new Sonic the Hedgehog fruit snacks, which come in a variety of shapes and flavours for speedsters on the go.

“Our goal is to create holistic brand experiences for our consumers, and we’re so excited to be able to join SEGA to extend the ways that families can engage with the beloved Sonic the Hedgehog this spring,” says Katie Wong, Head of Ideas & Partnerships for General Mills. “By bringing Sonic into the cereal and fruit snacks aisles, we’re able to bring together favourites of both kids and parents alike.”

“General Mills is one of the foremost brands in the food industry, especially when it comes to youth-focused products, so we’re thrilled to partner up with them,” says Michael Cisneros, Senior Manager of Licensing at SEGA of America. “This partnership is a really fun and creative way to integrate some iconic aspects of the Sonic games into a whole new product line, and we’re excited to introduce it to Sonic fans.”

Intimissimi Uomo launches Popeye collection

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Intimissimi Uomo, a leading menswear brand focused on underwear, easywear, nightwear and beachwear within the Italian fashion collective Calzedonia Group, has created a complete Spring/Summer 2022 collection inspired by King Features’ iconic characters, Popeye the Sailor Man and Olive Oyl.

The collection incorporates Popeye’s trademark nautical style across a full range of apparel: underwear, cropped pajamas, t-shirts, matching socks and swimwear.

The designs feature retro-inspired prints and stylings influenced by the iconic Popeye and his girlfriend Olive Oyl. Premium Licensing, King Features’ Italian agent, brokered the deal.

“Popeye has always been appreciated by men who relate to his masculine persona yet also enjoy his playfulness,” says Grazia Bussandri of Premium Licensing. “This particular collection by Intimissimi Uomo has been very well conceived, with refined retro graphics that will surely be appreciated by his fans. We are proud of this collaboration with Calzedonia Group. They are an important Group in International fashion, with strategically placed stores and great-quality products.”

“The line is engaging and fresh,” adds Carla Silva, VP/GM, global head of licensing, King Features, “and the sophisticated designs starring Popeye and Olive Oyl enrich the garments’ appeal among the style-savvy.

“We’re pleased to have Intimissimi Uomo on board to develop apparel that captures the brand’s essence and aligns with the long-term vision of the franchise. This impressive collection, supported by a strong marketing campaign and retail activations across multiple touchpoints, will surely give this collaboration great international attention and visibility.”

The Popeye products by Intimissimi Uomo are now available at Intimissimi/Intimissimi Uomo stores and e-commerce sites around the world. The launch line will be supported across social media with photos and videos, and the Intimissimi Uomo flagship stores will create window displays dedicated to the Popeye collection.

 

The Point.1888 and EMEA sub-agents sign 48 new deals for CoComelon, Blippi and Morphle

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Brand Licensing specialist The Point.1888 and its sub agents across EMEA have signed a raft of new licensee deals for Moonbug Entertainment’s hit brands Blippi, CoComelon and Morphle.

The new deals come on the back of recent news that Blippi is now available on demand via streaming giants Netflix and HBO Max, with Blippi Wonders joining both platforms this spring, Blippi’s Treehouse launch on Amazon Kids+ last December and the launch of Blippi’s best friend Meekah on YouTube last fall.

Morphle launched on Tiny Pop and has seen huge success with the recent launch of clothing on Character.com and following the Character Options toy release before Christmas.

CoComelon has continued to go from strength to strength, picking up awards for its consumer products programme, having won Pre-School Toy of the Year at the 2021 Toy Industry Awards. CoComelon is also the number-one most-watched kids’ brand on YouTube globally.

Since coming on board, The Point.1888 has sought to leverage Blippi, CoComelon and Morphle’s popularity and develop a successful consumer products programme that enables the brands to become accessible and fun. In partnership with its sub agents, Brand Energy, CLM, El Ocho, ELC, Evolution of Licensing, Ferly, LDI, Lisans, Partner Plus and Spacetoons, the licensing programme is now strongly established across EMEA.

New partners across EMEA include:

  • 8th Wonder for CoComelon chair and heatable warmer
  • Ackermans for CoComelon apparel
  • Albatros for CoComelon publishing and activity books
  • Alligator for Morphle publishing
  • Amscan for Blippi dress up
  • Aykroyds/ TDP for Blippi nightwear
  • Big Balloon for CoComelon publishing
  • Centum for Blippi & CoComelon publishing
  • Character Options for CoComelon & Blippi toy extensions
  • Cijep Jemini for CoComelon furniture & home
  • Clementoni for CoComelon puzzles & games
  • Diakakis for CoComelon BTS
  • Diamant for CoComelon toy extension
  • Eurofun for CoComelon events & character appearances
  • Famosa for CoComelon plush backpack, 3D cushions, and PJ holder
  • Fashion UK for CoComelon, Blippi & Morphle apparel
  • First Kid for CoComelon inflatables
  • GSS- Amendment for CoComelon toy extension for novelties & inflatables
  • Happiness Is Us for CoComelon chocolate eggs
  • Hunter Price for CoComelon fidget toys
  • Igloo Books for CoComelon publishing
  • Immediate for CoComelon publishing
  • Intersource for CoComelon toys
  • Laceys for CoComelon hardlines, softlines, and FMCG
  • Panini for CoComelon publishing
  • Party Centre for CoComelon
  • Phidal for Blippi & CoComelon publishing
  • Prima Toys for CoComelon toys
  • Rainbow Max for CoComelon & Blippi back to school, stationery, and arts & crafts
  • Rainbow Productions for CoComelon character appearances
  • Relkon for CoComelon confectionery
  • RJ Bags for Blippi & Morphle bags
  • Roy Lowe for CoComelon, Blippi, Morphle & Little Baby Bum hosiery
  • Rubies for CoComelon dress up
  • Showagent for CoComelon events and character appearances
  • Signature for Blippi publishing
  • Sinecast for CoComelon events and character appearances
  • Sodico for CoComelon personal care
  • Soluna for CoComelon live events
  • Spactoon event for Blippi events
  • Suncity for CoComelon apparel
  • TeamTex for CoComelon car seats
  • Toy Pro amendment for CoComelon outdoor & home
  • United Essentials for CoComelon apparel
  • Upcoming Minds for CoComelon board games & hardlines – scooters
  • Visage Textiles for CoComelon crafting textiles
  • Whitehouse Leisure for Morphle amusement plush
  • William Lamb for Blippi bags & footwear

Bethan Garton, Chief Commercial Officer at The Point.1888, says: “We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with so many licensees for Blippi, CoComelon and Morphle. With the consistent growth and popularity that the brands have experienced over the past year, this is the perfect time for new products to launch in the market. We’ve worked extremely hard to ensure the brands have the right partners to deliver product that provides as much fun as the brands do.”

Adam Steel, Director Global Agency, Consumer Products at Moonbug Entertainment, adds: “The rapid growth of our licensee portfolio is a reflection of the strength of our great brands and the great work of the team at The Point.1888. We are looking forward to welcoming new high calibre partners to the Moonbug family and continuing the great work in expanding our current product lines and categories.”

WWE and Fanatics announce sports and entertainment partnership

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WWE and Fanatics have announced a comprehensive, long-term sports and entertainment partnership that will see Fanatics utilise its expanded digital sports platform to create a new, enhanced experience for WWE fans globally across several businesses, including e-commerce and licensed merchandise, as well as physical, digital, and non-fungible token (NFT) trading cards.

Through the ground-breaking deal, WWE will benefit from many capabilities across the Fanatics platform to create more opportunities for its global fanbase to showcase their pride and passion for WWE, its marquee events, and star-studded roster.

The businesses that will work together to create an elevated fan experience include Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles and Candy Digital.

“Fanatics is the industry leader and Michael Rubin is a visionary,” says Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman & CEO. “We believe this multi-platform partnership will set a new standard for WWE e-commerce, apparel and merchandise, while providing our fans globally with more ways than ever to engage with WWE and our Superstars.”

As part of the agreement, this summer Fanatics will exclusively re-introduce a new, rapid e-commerce and mobile destination, WWE Shop, giving fans around the world access to a leading assortment of WWE merchandise across all categories, including apparel, hard goods such as title belts, headwear, accessories and more.

Fanatics will work closely and collaboratively with the teams at WWE who have significantly grown this business in-house for decades, and the company will also add rights to design, manufacture and distribute real-time, on-demand merchandise collections to celebrate unpredictable WWE moments and new and emerging Superstars.

“WWE is one of the most widely admired sports and entertainment properties worldwide, and it made perfect sense to activate many parts of our Fanatics global platform to create a first-of-its-kind, all-in fan experience,” says Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin. “From e-commerce and licensed merchandise to trading cards and more, we’re going to offer up an incredible set of capabilities to help WWE’s passionate fans worldwide celebrate their favorite Superstars, marquee events and the WWE brand overall.”

Fanatics Collectibles, the company’s trading cards and collectibles division, will also become the exclusive provider of licensed WWE physical and digital trading cards, which will once again bear the nostalgic Topps logo. Fanatics acquired the legendary 70-year-old Topps brand earlier this year, which previously held a long-term relationship with WWE. That deal will commence when WWE’s existing trading cards rights expire over the next few years.

Also under the pact, later this year Fanatics’ next generation digital collectibles company, Candy Digital, will become one of WWE’s primary NFT partners. Candy’s team of world-class digital artists, designers, and technologists will curate and build a full range of high-quality trading card NFTs featuring WWE’s biggest moments and stars.