Tag Archives: beanstalk

Baileys and chocolatier Lir launch the Chocolate Bombe and other festive treats

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Baileys, the Original Irish Cream liqueur, has partnered with master chocolatier Lir to deliver a line of festive chocolate treats in Ireland and the UK, in time for the holiday season. The partnership was brokered by Baileys’ brand extension licensing agency, Beanstalk.

The new range of Baileys x Lir chocolates includes two festive tins filled with Baileys Chocolate truffles. The tins are available from the Lir Chocolates website, retailing between £5-£15.

Due to hit shelves in early November is the Baileys Chocolate Bombe. Each pack contains three Chocolate Bombes filled with Baileys-flavoured milk chocolate and marshmallows ready for dunking. The Baileys Chocolate Bombe will be available in Morrisons, Asda, Matalan & B&M and online at lirchocolates.com for RRP £5.

Returning this holiday season are the Baileys signature Chocolate Collection Box and the Baileys gift-wrapped box. The box includes a range of Baileys flavoured chocolates, including gooey brownies and creamy caramel hearts, and is available at Asda for £8. The Baileys gift-wrapped box is filled with milk, dark and white truffles, including coffee, caramel, and almond flavours, and is packaged in Baileys gift-wrap. It’s available from the Lir Chocolates website, retailing at £10.

“The festive season wouldn’t be the same without the indulgence of some of your favourite chocolates. Baileys and Lir have created the perfect range of delicious adult treats to delight any Baileys lover, whether that is a friend, family member or yourself,” says Louise French, Senior Vice President, Business Development and Operations at Beanstalk.

Katie Byrne, Senior Brand Manager at Lir adds: “We’re thrilled with the reaction to our Baileys Chocolate Christmas NPD – everyone loves the mix of delicious chocolate in a fun, decorative format. This year more than ever, we’re all in need of some Christmas cheer and we’re delighted to be able to help spread a little joy during the festive season! The Lir Team, in conjunction with Beanstalk and Diageo, have worked tirelessly over the last year to bring these products to market and it’s wonderful to see them on shelf.”

The Metropolitan Museum of Art unveils new licensing partnerships

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced its new licensing partnerships across home décor, fashion accessories, gifting and educational games. Collectible clutch bags by Olympia Le Tan launched in September, while over the coming months, an exciting range of new products will be launched to consumers and the trade.

Inspired by the artworks and stories within its collection, the Met has worked closely with selected partners “who exhibit the highest level of creative development in their respective areas, from home textiles to social expressions”. Licensing partnerships include bedding and home accessories by Ann Gish (launching October 2021), giftable ceramic tabletop items by Ligne Blanche (winter 2021), case furniture by Abner Henry and Lingo educational games (both January 2020, Pura home fragrance, and paper goods and social expressions by Caspari (both spring 2022), and textiles, wallpaper and trim by Scalamandré (autumn 2022).

Six of the partnerships were sourced through the Met’s agency relationship with Beanstalk, the Met’s licensing agency for the US, Canada, EMEA and Japan. The remaining two – Olympia Le Tan and Ligne Blanche – were sourced by WildBrain CPLG.

Products will be available through partners’ distribution channels, and will be highlighted within the Met Store in New York. All proceeds from licensing revenues will support the Museum’s collection, study, conservation and presentation of over 5,000 years of art.

“We are thrilled and honoured to be working with these incredible companies, some of which, such as Scalamandré, have longstanding relations with the museum,” says Lisa Silverman Meyers, Global Head of Licensing and Partnerships for The Metropolitan Museum of Art. “We are so excited to see how they marry the heritage and the unique design sensibilities for which each company is known, to create offerings that are inspired by highlights from the Museum’s permanent collection.”

 

Tinderbox sparks new partnership with Ubisoft for Far Cry and Just Dance gaming franchises

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The French video game company, Ubisoft, is partnering with Tinderbox – the digital division of Beanstalk – to represent its top selling gaming franchises, Just Dance and Far Cry for licensing across Europe.

Under the new partnership, Tinderbox will support both franchises, Just Dance and Far Cry, by expanding the European
consumer products footprint into new categories and channels, pursuing opportunities across fashion, collectibles, home, gifting and novelty, consumer electronics and more.

Since its formulation in 1986, Ubisoft dedicated itself developing high quality games that resonate with all kinds of personalities. Its Far Cry franchise – now in its 17th year – features open-world, first-person shooter games known for their wilderness environments and survival thematics. Today there are over 60 million unique players in the franchise, and the next title, Far Cry 6, is to be released on October 7th, 2021.

Meanwhile, Just Dance is the number one Music Video Game franchise of all time,boasting 11 titles, 80 million games sold, and
more than 138 million registered players worldwide. The evergreen franchise invites players to have fun playing with their family and friends, or to keep fit, exercising at home to classic songs and the latest hits.

The next title, Just Dance 2022, will release on November 4th, 2021.

Dave Tovey, head of Tinderbox at Beanstalk, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Ubisoft in developing consumer product programmes for its top selling titles. Far Cry is one of the biggest gaming franchises, with a passionate fan base that is eager for more consumer touch points.

“Just Dance is the ultimate definition of a cross-generational gaming experience, delighting fans from Gen Z, Millennials and beyond. The team at Tinderbox is excited to get started and establish exciting and engaging brand extensions at retail on behalf of Ubisoft.”

Francois Tallec, senior director, consumer products and partnerships at Ubisoft, said: “At Ubisoft we strive to bring players the best gaming experiences, and ultimately, grow and engage strong communities with transmedia brands. We are enthusiastic to partner with Beanstalk/Tinderbox, experts in forging licensed product partnerships with leading video game franchises, to expand our Far Cry and Just Dance licensing programmes throughout Europe.”

Licensing International reveals its 2021 Rising Stars

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The six brand licensing professionals to receive the 2021 Rising Star Award from Licensing International this year have been named, marking the ninth annual celebration of the up and coming talent from across the global licensing community.

“We are thrilled to recognize these talented young professionals who will be the future leaders of our global brand licensing community,” said Maura Regan, president of Licensing International. “We would also like to thank the Rising Stars committee members, who have the difficult job in selecting among the best of the best.”

The 2021 Rising Stars Award recipients are:

JAMES CHOI – Senior Associate, Ellalan
Based in Hong Kong

James Choi actively advises on landmark, precedent-setting copyright licensing litigation in Hong Kong regarding recording and karaoke licensing issues as a senior associate with Ellalan since 2016. He holds law degrees from Kings College London and University of Hong Kong as well as a Master of Arts in Sociology from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

According to a nominator, James’ “ability to handle and advise clients, as well as to lead and nurture juniors to assist him in his licensing matters have made huge positive impact to the firm’s recent growth and expansion.”

ADDIE DORSEY GOOSSENS – Licensing Manager EMEA, Ubisoft
Based in France

Addie Dorsey Goossens began her licensing career with ZAG Entertainment in Los Angeles before joining Ubisoft in June 2019 in Paris. Addie manages the licensing out strategy for all Ubisoft brands across Europe, Middle East, and Africa including Ubisoft’s expansion into esports licensing categories.

One executive said: “She is a very strategic business executive who understands that licensing is a marketing tool to support the core businesses. She has always impressed me with her business savvy and licensing knowledge.”

Dorsey holds a Master’s in Strategy & Management in International Business from ESSEC Business School along with a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Earth & Atmospheric Sciences from UC Irvine.

RACHEL HAK – Category Manager, Apparel/Accessories/Health & Beauty, Crayola
Based in U.S.

Rachel Hak began her licensing career at Freeze with stops at The Walt Disney Company and Centric Brands before arriving at Crayola as a category manager for outbound licensing in 2019. She launched Crayola’s first-ever children’s apparel program with Haddad Brands at the Macy’s inaugural STORY event and elevated the Crayola brand through collaborations with Adidas, LeSportsac, Shinola, and Isaac Mizrahi.

According to one licensing executive, Hak “believes in the power of brand licensing and is always ideating new ways to partner with prospective companies. Her natural curiosity and creative and positive energy make her a great representative for our company and the industry overall.” She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

KEVIN RAMSEY – Founder and CEO, Warren James
Based in U.S.

Kevin Ramsey founded Warren James two years ago, following stints at Jazwares and Roblox, to develop custom merchandise, apparel, and e-commerce solutions for some of the largest content creators on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok including Aphmau, ItsFunneh, and Annoying Orange. Since its launch, the company has grown to 44 people with offices in Los Angeles, Guangzhou, and Manilla while helping to define standard DTC and DTR deals for content creators.

A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, Ramsey’s “entire career has been focused on leveraging gaming and content creator’s online audiences to drive engagement and product purchases in both retail stores and online. The passion and work Ramsey has put into the creator economy have increased the exposure and opportunities for this genre of content within the licensing industry,” according to one licensing executive.

JYOTI SARDANA – Manager of Licensing Strategy and Operations, OneTeam Partners
Based in U.S.

 Jyoti Sardana began her licensing career with the NFL Players Association before moving to OneTeam Partners as employee number four in 2020. She has developed the licensing program for Women’s National Basketball Players Association, U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team Players Association, and Major League Soccer Players Association as well as the NFL Players Association and Major League Baseball Players Association.

“Jyoti’s efforts have had an outsized influence in establishing a market for officially licensed products for professional women’s athletes. The momentum for these licensed products is now apparent and Jyoti’s work in this regard has been influential,” according to a nominator. Sardana holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Maryland.

CAROLINA VERDUGO – Director of Brand Management, Beanstalk
Based in U.S.

Carolina Verdugo joined Beanstalk in 2018 following stops at Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger. She leads the agency’s efforts in Mexico and Latin America for Diageo and expanded the Bailey’s food licensing program into LATAM markets with industry leaders in key categories. One of Verdugo’s nominators said, “Carolina’s excellent work on prospecting and client service played an integral part in Beanstalk expanding the Diageo business in Latin America. A major strength of Verdugo’s is her ability to see the bigger picture, think strategically, and take initiative.”

Verdugo holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Business/Trade/Commerce from San Diego State University.

The 2021 Rising Stars will be recognized during the 2021 Licensing International Excellence Awards on Tuesday, August 24 at 12:00pm EDT at Licensing Expo Virtual.

Tinderbox brings Tell Me Why video game soundtrack to vinyl in iam8bit deal

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Xbox Game Studios Publishing has partnered with iam8bit and DONTNOD Entertainment to bring the soundtrack of the episodic narrative adventure gaming title, Tell Me Why, to vinyl.

In a deal brokered by the video game licensing specialist and digital media division of Beanstalk, Tinderbox, the new LP will feature 17 songs from the composer and musician Ryan Scott and the ethereal soundtrack to the popular adventure game.

‘The score is as complex as the game’s themes, with sparse passages building into complicated and soaring melodies,’ read a description of the soundtrack.

Packaged inside is a sleeve that faithfully recreates the in-game Book of Goblins. Fiber artist, Theo Randall, was inspired by the game’s handcrafted piece which is seen as an emotional touchstone throughout Tell Me Why. iam8bit used quilting, linotype stamping and applique techniques to create a physical piece that embodies the game’s unique attributes.

“The quilted theme is further underscored by embossing and debossing, which creates the illusion that the soundtrack album has been pulled from the game into this world. It’s a remarkable piece of tactile art that draws inspiration from not only the Book of Goblins but also Tell Me Why’s deeper themes,” said the firm.

Tell Me Why is an episodic narrative that tells the story of twins, Tyler and Alyson Ronan, who return to their childhood home in Alaska to investigate their mother’s death. Their telepathic bond sets them apart and serves to provide the player with insight into DONTNOD’s story about childhood, identity and redemption.

Following its release last year, the game has won several awards, including “Games for Impact” at The Game Awards and “Best Microsoft Xbox Game” at the Best of Gamescom Awards.

DONTNOD’s work in exploring trans identity in mainstream gaming earned Tell Me Why a GLAAD Media Award for “Outstanding Video Game.” Tell Me Why is currently free on Xbox and PC throughout the month of June.

As part of Pride Month, customers can choose to donate a dollar or round up their total at checkout to the nearest dollar in support of Trans Lifeline and The Trevor Project. iam8bit will match those donations. iam8bit is also proudly participating in ohhey.gay, an online initiative designed to support LGBTQ communities The Tell Me Why vinyl soundtrack is available for pre-order on iam8bit today.

The $39.99 album also includes a digital download of the soundtrack. Orders are expected to ship Q1 2022.

WildBrain CPLG appoints Jasen Wright to lead North American expansion in newly created role

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WildBrain CPLG is growing its operations in North America with the appointment of the experienced licensing executive, Jasen Wright to the newly created position of vice president, North America. In this role, Wright will be responsible for driving WildBrain CPLG’s efforts in the region and expanding its portfolio of entertainment and lifestyle brands.

Wright will be based in New York and will report into WildBrain CPLG’s EVP and managing director, Maarten Weck.

The position will see Wright focus much attention on the ambitious plans for WildBrain’s proprietary brands this year and beyond, including Strawberry Shortcake, Caillou, Teletubbies, and Chip & Potato. He will also lead the local growth of WildBrain CPLG’s wider portfolio of entertainment brands and expand existing relationships with partners, including Square Enix and its arcade gaming IP, Space Invaders.

As well as this, Wright will also drive WildBrain CPLG’s lifestyle portfolio in North America by forging new partnerships and building on existing represented brands, such as Absolut, Malibu, and Harvard and Yale universities. Alyssa Gourlay, based in California, will report into Wright and will continue developing new local opportunities as WildBrain CPLG’s director of business development.

Maarten Weck, EVP and managing director at WildBrain CPLG, said: “As we continue extending our global reach and ensuring we have a robust presence in all corners of the world, the appointment of Jasen adds significant firepower to our global operations.

“We have big plans for the North American market and with Jasen’s remarkable track record in building top-class consumer products programs, we know he’s the ideal candidate to fuel the growth and success of both WildBrain’s brands and our wider portfolio across the region.”

Jasen Wright added: “WildBrain CPLG has an outstanding reputation for developing robust global licensing programs with best-in-class partners across its impressive and varied line-up of brands. I’m looking forward to working closely with Maarten, Alyssa and the wider team as we accelerate WildBrain CPLG’s capabilities and open up further opportunities for both new and existing partners worldwide.”

Jasen Wright has developed consumer product and licensing programmes for major brands across food and beverage, home improvement, automotive, art, sports, lifestyle and entertainment. Most recently Jasen was vice president of licensing and brand management at Beanstalk, and led the global brand licensing business for Diageo’s spirit brands.

While at Beanstalk, he also developed and executed the strategy for extending Stanley Black & Decker, U.S. Army, Ford Motor Company, Harley-Davidson, The Andy Warhol Foundation and Airheads into various categories including home, hardware, home improvement, auto accessories, toys, food and beverage and confectionary.

Prior to returning to Beanstalk in 2017, Jasen worked at vice president of licensing at Bravado/Universal Music Group, Authentic Brands Group and Warner Music Group. Working across music and sports to launch such brands as Paddington Bear, Rolling Stones, Prince, Wiz Khalifa, Grateful Dead and Tretorn, extending those personalities and properties while building their demand as lifestyle brands.

Kellogg’s taps Beanstalk for licensed food and beverage across US, Canada, Europe, Japan and South Korea

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Beanstalk has been tapped as the exclusive food licensing agency for Kellogg Company with the remit of growing the Kellogg’s brand’s licensed food and beverage categories in the US, Canada, Europe, Japan, and South Korea.

These categories will work to complement the brand’s core portfolio in cereal, snacks, and frozen foods.

‘Kellogg is committed to creating better days and a place at the table for everyone through our trusted food brands. Licensing Kellogg’s brands into strategic food and beverage categories will better enable us to meet our vision and purpose as an organization,’ read a statement from the firm.

Today, Kellogg boasts a number of existing licensing agencies supporting its global business in multiple regions, including Pink Key Licensing here in the UK who remains the brand’s key licensing agent for consumer products outside of the food aisles. 

With the exception of Latin America, Beanstalk will be focusing on food and beverage global licensing to complement Kellogg’s pre-existing, non-food brand extension partners in other regions. 

Beanstalk appoints Maurizio Distefano Licensing to grow Baileys and Guinness brands across Italy

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Beanstalk has appointed Maurizio Distefano Licensing to expand its slew of Diageo brands, including the likes of Baileys and Guinness across Italy.

The partnership has been established, based on a shared philosophy between MDL and Beanstalk that a successful licensing programme requires a “strategic approach consistent with a brand’s unique positioning.”

MDL will be leveraging its specific knowledge of the Italian market to grow the Diageo brands on behalf of Beanstalk.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Beanstalk and look forward to growing the licensing footprint for Baileys and Guinness in the Italian market,” said Maurizio Distefano, president of Maurizio Distefano Licensing.

“Strategic brand extension through licensed products is among the most authentic and credible forms of communication, opening up further opportunities for consumers to experience the brand in fresh and attractive ways.

“In particular, Baileys and Guinness offer multiple possibilities to create products suitable for the Italian market in categories such as food & beverage, apparel, and gift & novelties.”