Chefclub partners with Tefal to launch limited edition Roi de la Raclette

The leading French digital cooking brand, Chefclub has struck up a partnership with the kitchen brand, Tefal to launch the limited edition Roi de la Raclette, or to give it its English title, the Raclette King.

With the on-set of the winter months, those dark mornings and evenings usher in a whole new reason to get out of bed, the raclette season is now upon us, a time of year when food needs to be covered with thick, melted cheese, just to make the rest of the day seem worthwhile.

Now, through a union of culinary expertise, Chefclub and Tefal have joined forces to tap directly into the raclette market with the launch of Roi de la Raclette, a limited edition raclette and grill machine, along with a card game designed to liven up the evening and crown the Raclette King, to Chefclub’s digital audience.

Renowned for its videos of innovative recipes that continue to tantalize the tastebuds of some 90 millions food fans each month, Chefclub is helping its follows to rediscover the warmth of this ‘indulgent season’.

“Winter is approaching, families are together every night, and the world’s sporadic lockdowns continue,” read a statement from Chefclub. “So what could be more convivial than raclette? Well, raclette with a card game. Rediscover this warm and indulgent season, because fun with Le Roi de la Raclette is going to be so Gouda.”

Hasbro partners with PATH to launch Monopoly themed refillable water bottles

Hasbro is marking the 85th anniversary of the Monopoly brand with a special partnership with PATH to launch a series of limited edition refillable bottles featuring Rich Uncle Pennybags and other nostalgic Monopoly icons.

“It’s an honor to partner with Hasbro and bring Monopoly fans a commemorative refillable PATH collector’s bottle,2 said Shadi Bakour, CEO and co-founder of PATH. “Generationally, both Monopoly and sustainability has been a big part of my family, and I’m excited to give Water Works a new meaning with this partnership.”

Face to face gaming has been at the centre of a resurgence since the late 2000s, while the inter-generational

Since the late 2000s, there has been a drastic rise in face to face gaming, while inter-generational game Monopoly continues to gain popularity across the age groups. Likewise, environmental stewardship is on the rise, and youth are becoming more involved in taking sustainable actions.

“I love that we are merging sustainability and fun to create a deeper connection and engage with so many people of all ages through this partnership,” said Ali Orabi, chief marketing officer and co-founder at PATH. “It helps seal the deal for making a commitment to stewardship for this new generation and for generations to come.”

The bottles will be available online at drinkpath.com/themoneybottle and via select retail channels. Adhering to a playful vibe and sustainable choices, the bottles will inspire fun and “Free Parking” for your favorite water.

British & Irish Lions score new partnership with golfing brand Titleist

The British & Irish Lions has scored a new licensing partnership with the world-leading golf brand, Titleist.

The agreement is one of a number of new license deals secured by brand licensing specialist The Point.1888, who has partnered with the Lions to create a new range of products ahead of the Tour to South Africa in 2021 to face world champions, the Springboks.

Recognised as the game’s leading performance equipment brand, Titleist will offer a range of high-specification, Lions branded accessories including golf balls, golf bags and golf club head covers, as well as gloves and towels.

 Today’s announcement comes off the back of the enormous interest in next summer’s Tour, with record numbers of travel packages and tickets being sold to Lions and Springbok supporters, as well as a spate of commercial partnerships recently being announced including Vodafone, Castle Lager, Hackett, Canterbury and Famous Grouse.

“We are delighted to welcome Titleist to our growing family of licensees,” said Tom Halsey, British & Irish Lions Commercial Director. “Titleist products are top quality and, like the Lions, are known around the world for being a symbol of excellence.

“I am sure Lions supporters will be keen to take to the course with the number one ball in golf, featuring the famous Lions crest.”

 Titleist is the latest in a list of recent Lions’ license deals secured by The Point.1888, which include FOCO UK (face coverings, towels and garden gnomes), Vision Sports Publishing (The British & Irish Lions – The Official History), Danilo (Lions branded calendars and diaries for 2021), Zak (a range of British & Irish Lions homewares, gifting and mealtime and drinkware), Oddballs (men’s and women’s Lions underwear), Game on Glove (supporters’ merchandise and accessories), Brecrest (babywear, including bibs, sleep suits and baby grows), BDA (premium corporate products including pins and leather goods), and Zenith (collectible coins commemorating past Lions captains).

“We are absolutely delighted to bring two iconic brands in golf and rugby together to offer fans a unique collection of products to celebrate the Lions Tour,” said Hannah Stevens, head of retail at The Point 1888.

“As a retail-first brand extension company we are actively planning for a truly spectacular summer of rugby with our retail and new licensee partners.”

The RHS and Dexam ready to launch Home Grown Children’s Collection

The Royal Horticultural Society has given the specialist supplier of kitchen cookware, bakeware, and accessories, Dexam, license to produce a range of children’s backpacks and meal accessories using environmentally friendly or recycled material.

Called the Home Grown Children’s Collection, the range includes backpacks, lunch bags with matching drinks bottles, lunchboxes, children’s aprons, toddler messy play aprons and children’s eating gift sets.

The items in the range are all illustrated with engaging illustrations featuring bright and very colourful images of carrots and apples with captions like “I am growing every day”, “Home harvest” and “Locally grown”. 

The range has also been designed with the environment in mind. The lunch bags, backpacks and aprons are made from recycled plastic bottles via a process which turns the plastic into a durable and practical fabric. The bags are wipe clean and the aprons are 40°C machine washable.

Meanwhile, the lunch boxes and kids’ eating sets are made from bamboo fibre. Bamboo is renewable, biodegradable and grows quickly without fertilisers. It is also naturally antibacterial.

The range is expected to launch in spring 2021. It will be available at high street stores, garden centres, RHS shops and online, including the official RHS online store, shop.rhs.org.uk.

These are the first non-publishing-related products to use the children’s style guide, which will see its licensing debut in a range of books from Scholastic. The first Scholastic titles will launch in February 2021.

Dexam was founded in 1957 selling kitchen gadgets and cookware. Its range today has everything you need from peeling to chopping and mixing to baking. Ethical production is fundamental to the integrity of its products.

Cathy Snow, licensing manager, RHS, said: “Bringing our children’s style guide artwork to homeware for the first time requires a partner that understands our aims and that has a reputation for quality – and that is a perfect description of Dexam.

“These children’s backpacks and meal accessories are practical and stylish, as well as environmentally friendly. They’re also a lot of fun.”

Helen Boardman, product manager, Dexam, added: “The RHS children’s style guide and our own 60 years of experience in kitchenware and lunch accessories have combined to produce this very child and environmentally friendly range.

“We’ve greatly enjoyed partnering with the RHS on the Home Grown Children’s Collection, which we are sure will delight both children and parents.”

Poetic Brands teams with Sunny Side Up to launch Let’s Get Lyrical range based on famous song lyrics

Poetic Brands has partnered with the licensing agency, Sunny Side Up to launch the Let’s Get Lyrical range of day and night wear, a collection that will be based upon the lyrics of well-known songs.

The Let’s Get Lyrical range will include all baby layette fashion daywear and nightwear; children’s daywear, outerwear, nightwear and essentials, swimwear, towelling ponchos and beach towels; adult daywear, outerwear, nightwear and essentials, swimwear and beach towels; along with hard and soft shell suitcases, luggage and bags. 

Sunny Side Up Licensing represents licensing opportunities utilising some of the largest libraries of song lyrics both in the UK, and globally. The agency holds representation rights to the copyright of millions of songs with the world’s leading music publishers. In the new deal with Poetic Brands, lyrics will be applied to apparel and accessories for every age group. 

“Music is in our lives every day. Something will happen and more often than not, a memory will trigger a song or vice versa,” said Anne Bradford, director at Poetic Brands. “Having worked with Michael on a number of projects over the years, we quickly started to talk when I arrived at Poetic Brands and have been developing product to share at retail throughout lockdown. 

“What we love about this is being able to take it from conception (maternity wear) right the way through baby, kids and adults’ apparel. The opportunities here are endless.”

Michael Gottlieb, director, Sunny Side Up Licensing, added: “Lyrics are the poetry of our time and music has become the soundtrack to people’s lives. Sunny Side Up Licensing is delighted to be working with Poetic Brands to bring lyrics to life on apparel through what we expect to be a long partnership.”

Sesame Street tucks into the breakfast market with its own cereal launch

Sesame Workshop is tucking into the breakfast market with the launch of the first Sesame Street Cereal, a new range developed in partnership with cereal specialist, General Mills. The range will appear on shelves across the US from January 2021.

The cereal has been developed to support growing bodies with essential nutrients, while also engaging young minds with activities and stories. The cereal will arrive in two varieties: berry flavour with number-shaped pieces, and cinnamon flavour with letter-shaped pieces.

The back of each box will open like a book and will feature dual language (English and Spanish) short stories with the Sesame Street favourite, Elmo.

“We are thrilled to team up with Sesame Street, to launch cereals with key nutrients, delicious flavors, and playful learning opportunities to make breakfast that much more meaningful for parents and kids alike,” said Hillary Balma, senior brand manager, General Mills. “We know that breakfast can be challenging for parents who are struggling to find foods that offer both the nutrition and the fun flavors kids want.”

To create meaningful playful learning opportunities at breakfast, Sesame Street Cereal boxes offer games and six dual-language stories with everyone’s favorite 3½ -year-old monster, Elmo. Story themes include Elmo Visits the Farm, Elmo’s Day at School, On the Go with Elmo, and others. Each story follows Elmo and his friends as they play and learn on Sesame Street and prompts questions to help kids stretch their imaginations, engage in counting, recognize shapes and letters, and more.

“Sesame Workshop’s mission is to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder, and that means nourishing the mind and body,” said Gabriela Arenas, vice president of licensing, North America, Sesame Workshop. “Breakfast gives kids the boost they need to grow, play, and learn each day. We’re pleased to team up with General Mills to give families a nutritious meal choice and an opportunity to start the morning with their favorite Sesame Street friends.”

Sesame Street tucks into the breakfast market with its own cereal launch

Sesame Workshop is tucking into the breakfast market with the launch of the first Sesame Street Cereal, a new range developed in partnership with cereal specialist, General Mills. The range will appear on shelves across the US from January 2021.

The cereal has been developed to support growing bodies with essential nutrients, while also engaging young minds with activities and stories. The cereal will arrive in two varieties: berry flavour with number-shaped pieces, and cinnamon flavour with letter-shaped pieces.

The back of each box will open like a book and will feature dual language (English and Spanish) short stories with the Sesame Street favourite, Elmo.

“We are thrilled to team up with Sesame Street, to launch cereals with key nutrients, delicious flavors, and playful learning opportunities to make breakfast that much more meaningful for parents and kids alike,” said Hillary Balma, senior brand manager, General Mills. “We know that breakfast can be challenging for parents who are struggling to find foods that offer both the nutrition and the fun flavors kids want.”

To create meaningful playful learning opportunities at breakfast, Sesame Street Cereal boxes offer games and six dual-language stories with everyone’s favorite 3½ -year-old monster, Elmo. Story themes include Elmo Visits the Farm, Elmo’s Day at School, On the Go with Elmo, and others. Each story follows Elmo and his friends as they play and learn on Sesame Street and prompts questions to help kids stretch their imaginations, engage in counting, recognize shapes and letters, and more.

“Sesame Workshop’s mission is to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder, and that means nourishing the mind and body,” said Gabriela Arenas, vice president of licensing, North America, Sesame Workshop. “Breakfast gives kids the boost they need to grow, play, and learn each day. We’re pleased to team up with General Mills to give families a nutritious meal choice and an opportunity to start the morning with their favorite Sesame Street friends.”

Peaky Blinders masterminds wine deal with French vineyard Vignobles Bardet

The renowned French vineyard, Vignobles Bardet, has partnered with Banijay Brands and Caryn Mandabach Productions to launch the first, official, Peaky Blinders wine.

Inspired by the multi-award winning drama, Vignobles Bardet has created two red wines – a Saint-Emilion and a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru – which will initially be available in France before being made available for export via local distributors in key markets across Europe and Asia.

Born from the highly-regarded Bordeaux region following research in 1920s wine in partnership with the win historian Jean-Michel Chevet, the offerings are set to give the buyers the opportunity to ‘immerse themselves in the world of the international hit drama.’

Jane Smith, group director, brand licensing of Banijay Brands, said: “In Vignobles Bardet we have found an established and creative partner to create an authentic product, which is perfectly suited to the Peaky Blinders brand.

“This collaboration has created two fine reds that will give fans an authentic taste of the 1920s in the very style that would be shared at the Shelby table.”

Thibault Bardet, Vignobles Bardet, added: “It’s easy to imagine a character like Thomas Shelby importing his own wine from our great-great-grandfather Jean Roy on the prestigious Saint-Emilion region of Bordeaux and we believe these reds are exactly what he would have chosen. We are extremely proud to produce a product that captures the true essence of Peaky Blinders.”

Jamie Glazebrook, executive producer of Peaky Blinders for Caryn Mandabach Productions, said:Peaky Blinders continues to be a journey into the unexpected. In series five, Churchill outlines Tommy Shelby’s progress as ‘a tent, then a boat, then a house, now a mansion.’ To which we can now add a vineyard. We could not be more delighted with this collaboration, the results of which are truly delicious.”

This year Banijay Brands has developed an extensive licensing programme for the global hit in partnership with official Peaky Blinders brand owner, brand curator and producer Caryn Mandabach Productions. This includes a collaboration with Curve Digital for Peaky Blinders: Mastermind,  Hodder for The Official Peaky Blinders Quiz Book,  a card game with Steamforged, the first stationery products in Brazil with Tilibra, Thornbridge Brewery for the first endorsed “Shelby” beer, and various product ranges spanning apparel, gifting, men’s grooming and more. 

Peaky Blinders is distributed by Banijay Rights and has sold in more than 183 countries and is widely available internationally on Netflix i including the USA.

The Banijay Brands portfolio includes MasterChef, Temptation Island, Peaky Blinders, Survivor, Deal or No Deal, The Inbetweeners, Big Brother, Mister Maker, Operation Triunfo, Eat Well for Less, Simon’s Cat, Mr Bean, Don’t, Sunday Brunch, Tipping Point, The Biggest Loser, Ready Steady Cook, Black Mirror, Miss France, Maddie’s Do You Know?, Wipeout and Crystal Maze.

Luxury fashion firm MadaLuxe launches new licensing division in latest business expansion

The North American luxury fashion distributor, MadaLuxe Group, has launched a new licensing division with a primary focus on acquiring the worldwide exclusive licensing rights for all fashion categories from leading global luxury brands.

The new unit will be headed up by Steven Barbery, who has been promoted from SVP of Timepieces to the newly created role of president of licensing and timepieces.

“Steven Barbery has continually proven his skill and vision by building our timepieces business to its current position as the largest distributor of luxury fashion Swiss Made watches in North America,” said Adam Freede, CEO of MadaLuxe Group.

“He has been promoted to this new role to continue leading that growth and to oversee all operations of our MadaLuxe licensing arm in addition to MadaLuxeTime.com, our full-price e-commerce channel for timepieces, which will grow into a multicategory full-line business.

“We’re extremely confident in his ability to advance our business as we continue to expand into new categories and areas of operation.”

Barbery joined MadaLuxe in 2017 to establish a watch division when the company acquired the exclusive distribution rights for Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo and Versus Versace watches. He created a distribution strategy that paralleled the parent brands’ strategies and expanded distribution into Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom and other fine and luxury watch stores.

In 2019, MadaLuxe acquired the North America distribution rights for Fendi Timepieces.

The launch of the licensing arm is MadaLuxe’s most recent move to expand and evolve its business. In September, the company launched SLS Journey, an investment arm led by the group’s co-founder, Sandy Sholl. The investment division focuses on high-potential emerging companies that sit at the intersection of wellness, beauty, fashion and technology and that align with MadaLuxe’s vision in the luxury sector.

Popeye lands its first Australian sportswear partnership with The WOD Life

Merchantwise Licensing has brokered the first Australian Popeye sportswear collection withe the popular online sportswear label, The WOD Life. The deal was struck on behalf of King Features Syndicate.

Launching this month ahead of the Australian summer season, the limited-edition range of fashionably branded Popeye sportswear apparel for women and men includes a high-waisted booty short, fleet bra, motion shorts, slash crop, flex short and printed tank.

‘Popeye’s heart of gold, brave and compassionate personality shines across a number of branded sports and training accessories including a scrunchie, printed socks, an immerse headband as well as a quick dry towel and a face mask covering,’ said the company.

The branded range also extends to training support items including wrist wraps, strength wraps, a four-inch Velcro lifting belt as well as knee sleeves.

The WOD Life will be heavily supporting the range with a ‘Hype’ campaign pre-release followed by an early access marketing activity ahead of the launch at the end of this month. The WOD Life will also drive extensive marketing, digital, media and influencer outreach campaigns for the collaboration.

“For the past three years, The WOD Life has been releasing successful limited edition prints for our customers which can sell out in a matter of hours, said The WOD Life’s director, Ben Dineen.

“Popeye is a cartoon character which our customer base would be familiar with and may have grown up watching Popeye cartoons on TV or the movie during their childhood. We think our customers are going to really relate to the new Popeye x TWL range and will be excited to get into their training space to show off their new style.”

“We are so excited by this Popeye partnership with The WOD Life. Not only is it the first time we have launched an Australian Popeye branded sportswear collection, it is an incredibly comprehensive range featuring apparel, accessory and training support products that are sure to please both Popeye fans and The WOD Life’s extensive customer base,” said Merchantwise Licensing’s general manager, licensing, Kerryn McCormack.