Casdon’s marketing manager, Simone Inskip, and Ooni Pizza Oven’s senior project manager, Claire Grant, share insights into their latest partnership, how it came about and why retailers should consider stocking this new licensed role-play range.

Much like the De’Longhi barista coffee machine Casdon launched in 2023, the Ooni Koda Pizza Oven brings traditional role-play fun to kids in a new and modern way. Home pizza-making soared during Covid and has remained a popular (and delicious) family activity ever since, and children are keen to emulate what they see their parents doing at the life-size version. Simone says her own kids cite their recent experience of playing with the new toy as ‘one of the best days ever’. “We all wore aprons and the kids made pretend pizzas while my husband and I made real ones: it made for a lovely afternoon for all involved,” she enthuses.

The Ooni range took pride of place on Casdon’s stand at London Toy Fair. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive, with Simone saying the use of recycled plastics made a great conversation starter. Consumers are showing their appreciation: early sales from Casdon’s own D2C site indicate the Ooni range is going to be popular.

One of the biggest joys of the process, according to Simone, has been the marketing autonomy she’s enjoyed. Casdon is trying to reach its own customers as well as Ooni’s, meaning the collaboration could explore some imaginative, creative new areas: as Simone puts it, simply to ‘have a lot of fun’.

To read the full profile, which appeared in the July issue of Toy World, click here.