Black Angus appoints Evolution USA for global licensing and brand management

Black Angus Steakhouse, the original American steakhouse since 1964, has appointed Evolution USA as its global licensing and brand management agency in key categories. Evolution is tapped with developing and managing a retail, direct to consumer and online licensed consumer products programme for the Black Angus Steakhouse brand.

Heritage is a key component of the Black Angus’ licensing initiative, which maps it and other core values including family, quality, value, consistency, loyalty, and trust as essential parts of the company’s brand messaging. The core brand DNA will carry forward into all licensed products. Natural category extensions that preserve the integrity and quality of the Black Angus brand will include: Home Delivery Box Services, Tableware, Cutlery, Skillets, Branding Irons, BBQ Grills and Smokers, Smoking Chips, Grilling Planks, Charcoal, BBQ Tools, Sets and Accessories, Timers and Meat Thermometers, Drinkware, Barware, Camping Products, Tail Gating Products, Aprons, Chefs Shirts and Accessories, Cookbooks, Headwear and Apparel.

Several of the new licensed categories will also be adopted and utilised in the 32 restaurant locations across California, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, and Hawaii and sold via the company’s online e-commerce store, as well as being distributed via national big box, specialty and grocery retailers.

“As we come close to celebrating our 60th anniversary in 2024, we felt it was now time to take the brand into new product categories that can extend the core dining experience,” says VP of Growth, Deborah Shapiro. “Our signature steak sauce has already proven that the consumer is hungry for additional products to use and consume at home.

“We chose Evolution because of their shared passion for our brand’s DNA and their entrepreneurial team. They have a vast history of building brand extensions on both the retail and wholesale sides of the industry.”

“The Black Angus brand is the original American steakhouse and one of the most revered and trusted brands in the U.S food and beverage business,” says Travis J. Rutherford, founder and chief revenue officer of Evolution. “Serving over four million guests annually and having over 450,000 monthly website visits, we see incredible market opportunity for high-quality branded licensed products. The entire team at Evolution is excited to work with the Black Angus team to extend the brand across these new channels.”

 

TCG Entertainment to bring Ella Fitzgerald to the stage again with symphony orchestra live touring event

The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation has partnered with the touring live productions specialist, TCG Entertainment on a project to bring the music of the iconic jazz singer to audiences around the world with a live symphony orchestra.

In a deal brokered by the Foundation’s global licensing and brand management agency, Evolution USA, the official licensed production will allow audiences to experience the greatest hits of Ella Fitzgerald with the arrangements of an orchestra, as well as multi-media elements, including never before seen assets from the Foundation’s archive.

Shows are scheduled to launch in 2022.

The partnership with the Foundation and Evolution is part of TCG’s overall strategy to grow its portfolio of official live events and immersive experiences for music fans around the world. 

Ella Fitzgerald in Concert will include arrangements of her greatest songs performed by a live symphony orchestra. The show will also include multiple singers and a full band. A multimedia version of the show will  also be produced and include video, photography, spoken word, writings, and other never before seen items provided directly by the Foundation’s archivists.  

These concerts are scheduled to start touring during the 2022 season and will perform throughout the United States and in international markets around the world.  

Stephen Cook, president of TCG Entertainment, said: “We are humbled and excited to be working with the Foundation and Evolution on bringing this iconic artist’s music to the concert hall in an official and entirely new way. These shows will perform in symphony halls, theaters and performing arts centers around the world.”  

Stanley Lerman, chief operating officer of Evolution, added: “We were seeking a best in class production partner to bring Ella’s phenomenal body of work to new audiences in a very unique way that would create lasting memories and share her lifelong legacy. We are excited to partner with the talented TCG team to create and tour this highly immersive symphony show on behalf of the Foundation.” 

Evolution USA named American, Australian and New Zealand agency for the LIFE brand

Meredith Corporation has named Evolution USA as its North America, Australia and New Zealand licensing and brand management agency for the LIFE brand and The LIFE Picture Collection, effective immediately.

In its role, Evolution will actively seek new licensing and brand expansion opportunities for LIFE and its photo archive in a variety of product classifications and consumer experiences, including apparel, accessories, home furnishings, housewares, gifts and collectibles, food and beverage, stationery and paper goods.

Alongside it will also look to roll-out licensing partnerships across brand and artist collaborations, hospitality, location-based entertainment experiences, gaming, and promotions.

“We’re excited to partner with Evolution to bring our iconic brand to new audiences. There’s enormous potential in these images and we can’t wait to share them with the public in creative and innovative ways,” said Jill Golden, director, The LIFE Picture Collection.

 Tom Rowland, vice president of partnerships, licensing and syndication and business affairs, Meredith Corporation, commented: “We are thrilled to be working with the talented and accomplished team at Evolution.

“Their operational expertise, proven relationships, entrepreneurial spirit and passion make them the perfect partner to facilitate unique and highly commercial expansion opportunities for these properties. With their guidance, we look forward to crafting and effectively managing a robust consumer products program for the beloved LIFE brand.”

“The LIFE Picture Collection contains so many stunning visuals, relevant themes and genres. We realized that nothing captures the zeitgeist of the 20th century like LIFE, and as such we see huge potential for consumer products at multiple levels of the market. The entire team at Evolution is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the very talented executives at Meredith to deliver upon their corporate brand expansion vision,” said Travis J. Rutherford, co-founder and chief revenue officer of Evolution.

Themed collections include topics spanning Americana, History, Hollywood, Innovations in Photography, Sports, Science and Tech, Fashion and Music.