The Licensing Letter

Food and Beverages

Brand Central Signs Internationally Renowned Steakhouse Fogo De Chão

For licensees and retailers looking to provide restaurant-quality experiences to consumers at home, Brand Central has come up with a unique solution through a new partnership with famed Brazilian steakhouse chain Fogo de Chao. Fogo de Chão specializes in the centuries-old Southern Brazilian cooking technique of churrasco – the art of roasting high-quality cuts of meats over … [Read more...] about Brand Central Signs Internationally Renowned Steakhouse Fogo De Chão

Eatwith in Tasty Collaboration With MASTERCHEF

Pretty much every MasterChef fan in the world has likely wished they could learn to cook like the champion cooks they see on TV. And now, thanks to a delicious partnership between MASTERCHEF and Eatwith, they can. Eatwith is the world's largest community for authentic culinary experiences with locals. The company has now partnered with Endemol Shine North America, a Banijay … [Read more...] about Eatwith in Tasty Collaboration With MASTERCHEF

BrandGenuity Mixes Well With Kahlúa

Kahlúa, one of the world's most popular and best known liqueurs, has selected Brandgenuity as its exclusive licensing agency. The classic Mexican coffee liqueur got its start when Pedro Domecq, a sherry and brandy producer from Spain, began producing the coffee liqueur in Veracruz, Mexico. The company was partially acquired by Pernod Ricard in 2005, and now has its … [Read more...] about BrandGenuity Mixes Well With Kahlúa

Back to Basics: Specialty Food Gets Comfortable

Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com The specialty food and beverages market is settling in and getting comfortable, with sales slowing down to 4.3% growth in 2018 to reach $148.7 billion in the U.S., according to the Specialty Food Association's annual Specialty Food Industry report prepared by Mintel and SPINS/IRI. This last week, we attended the Summer Fancy … [Read more...] about Back to Basics: Specialty Food Gets Comfortable

Last Week’s 4/20 Sales Reached $182 Million; Licensed Sales Still Lagging Behind Potential

Retail sales of cannabis and related merchandise reached $182 million during the 4/20 holiday period (4/18–4/20), up 30% from the same period last year, according to MJ Freeway. The actual day (a Saturday) garnered $80 million in sales, of which 45.3% was for flowers, 39% for cartridges/pens, 12% for concentrates, and 10% for edibles. The largest share of dollar sales were by … [Read more...] about Last Week’s 4/20 Sales Reached $182 Million; Licensed Sales Still Lagging Behind Potential

Mars, Ferrero & Modelez Top Confectioners of 2018

Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com Mars Wrigley Confectionery, the Ferrero Group, and Mondelez Intl. are the top candy companies worldwide by retail sales, per Candy Industry Magazine. While only a small share of those total sales are licensed, branded offerings remain a hot spot for growth. Plus, many of the companies that made it on to the list this year … [Read more...] about Mars, Ferrero & Modelez Top Confectioners of 2018

Royal Weddings: Marvel/Epic & Nestle/Starbucks

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are not the only royals whose union we are celebrating this week. Nestle strikes a $7.5 billion cash deal with Starbucks for the exclusive right to sell the chain's packaged coffees and teas around the world—not including future revenues from product sales and royalties. Starbuck's current packaged business is worth approximately $2 billion; the … [Read more...] about Royal Weddings: Marvel/Epic & Nestle/Starbucks

Spending Up as Love Sets In

The NRF estimates that just over half of U.S. adults will celebrate Valentine's Day this year by buying a gift for a significant other, friends, or pets—reaching $19.6 billion in spending, up from $18.2 billion in 2017. Those 25–34 years-old will be the biggest spenders, with an average bill of $202.76. By product category, a total of $4.7 billion will be spent on jewelry … [Read more...] about Spending Up as Love Sets In

Spotlight: K-Food in America

By Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com While Korean food (K-food) is just a small part of the speciality foods industry, it's the touchpoint for many questions about branding, such as: What does it take to market an entire industry? A country? American retail sales of specialty foods reached $99 billion in 2016, and make up 15% of all retail food sales, according … [Read more...] about Spotlight: K-Food in America