Taco Bell has become a hot bed of food licensing and co-branding featuring Snapple Lemonade Freeze (Dr Pepper Snapple Group), Starburst Strawberry Freeze (Wm. Wrigley Jr.), in addition to Doritos Locos Tacos and the Cap’n Crunch Delights, basically a doughnut hole covered with Quaker Oats Co.’s Cap’n Crunch Berries cereal and filled with “milk” icing (PepsiCo). Nation’s … [Read more...] about Taco Bell Licensing Crunch
Food and Beverages
Avengers Campaign Targets Fashion, Health
Disney Consumer Products announced what it’s calling one of “its biggest ever licensing programs” around the new Avengers: Age of Ultron film and offshoot programming; and given Disney’s track record, that’s no idle boast. The licensing program includes a push into what the studio considers high-potential categories, including female fashion and items intended to foster active … [Read more...] about Avengers Campaign Targets Fashion, Health
Sega Expands Sonic Boom
Sega of America unveiled a host of new licensing and promotional deals involving its Sonic Boom game property, including: World Tech Toys for remote- controlled helicopters; Bulls I Toy for erasers, stickers, trading cards and other novelties; teNeues Publishing Group for wall calendars; Rubie’s Costume for costumes; Bakery Crafts/Jack Guttman for cake decoration kits. … [Read more...] about Sega Expands Sonic Boom
Single-Serving Products Make Coffee Rich Ground for Licensing
Two decades ago, Keurig Green Mountain introduced the world to its patented K-cup single brewing system. Coffee consumption would never be the same. Soon "K-cup" had become a generic term, and the communal pot of coffee for office or home consumption became an endangered species—at least in wealthy parts of the world like North America and Europe where consumers could afford … [Read more...] about Single-Serving Products Make Coffee Rich Ground for Licensing
Classic Character Capers
Classic entertainment characters just keep chugging along. Some recent deals involving retro TV and other classic entertainment brands: Sony Pictures Consumer Products is conjuring up a licensing campaign tied to the 50th anniversary of classic Barbara Eden-Larry Hagman sitcom, "I Dream of Jeannie.” Products reportedly include a video slot machine from IGT; a commemorative … [Read more...] about Classic Character Capers
QSRs Embrace Licensing
“There was a time when chains feared that offering their food in supermarkets would keep consumers away from the restaurants,” notes QSR Magazine. “But that archaic notion has gone by the wayside as quick-service brands are increasingly finding a great deal of success offering some of their products at retail.” The article goes on to cite examples including Marie Callender’s … [Read more...] about QSRs Embrace Licensing
Fighting Obesity In the Produce Aisle
With an increasing societal focus on health and wellness and a desire to combat childhood obesity, entertainment/character licensors are interested in associating their properties with the produce category, and vice versa. Some examples within the last year or so: Sesame Workshop, the Produce Marketing Association, and the Partnership for a Healthier America forged a deal … [Read more...] about Fighting Obesity In the Produce Aisle
Keurig’s Supervalu(e)
Licensing agreements don’t usually get credited for triggering new stock highs (even on a day when the overall market hits an all-time high), but grocery chain Supervalu has licensed Keurig Green Mountain to market Supervalu’s Java delight brand of coffee in its K-Cups for hot brewing systems, an announcement that sent Keurig’s stock to its own new high. The stock is up more … [Read more...] about Keurig’s Supervalu(e)
Blow ’Em’ Out
yum-wick, a Brooklyn, New York company that makes edible chocolate candles with edible almond wicks, is seeking manufacturers to which to license its patents. Trade publication Candy Industry notes that “the candles are available in a variety of shapes and designs, including the option to personalize,” so presumably they can be molded in the shapes of popular characters, … [Read more...] about Blow ’Em’ Out