Tag Archives: food and beverage

Famous kitchen brand Ginsu cooks up licensing deal with Brand Partners Group

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JRL Group has secured a licensing partnership with Brand Partners Group to develop a line of kitchen gadgets under the globally recognised, professional cooking name Ginsu brand.

Under the new deal, Brand Partners will design products around the Ginsu Kiso line’s core brand focus of ‘the uncomplicated kitchen,’ with ranges designed to support all home cooks’ efforts in the kitchen, as well as the desire to own easy to use, yet high-value kitchen tools.

“We are very excited about this brand extension. Brand Partners is a well-respected company delivering unique, high-quality, well-designed products,” said Andrew Lieb, president of JRL Group, the exclusive licensing agency for the Ginsu brand.

“This is truly an ideal partnership for the iconic Ginsu brand.”

Ginsu knife sets have been a mainstay in the cutlery industry since its launch in 1978. Ginsu transitioned to a household name when it became one of the very first brands to market directly to consumers. Ginsu remains one of the most well-known cutlery brands on the market today, with multiple lines of knives distributed through numerous online and retail channels.

“This is a great opportunity for us to add kitchen gadgets to our existing product  lines of kitchen knives and kitchen electrics,” said Jeremy Cantor, business unit manager.

“Of course, this is only the beginning. There are numerous natural brand extensions for Ginsu and we look forward to expanding into kitchen electrics and accessories, publishing, home accessories, food and more,” added Randal Moss, marketing director.

Middle Eastern restaurant The Halal Guys starts licensing journey with CAA-GBG

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The Halal Guys, the Middle Eastern restaurant made famous across the US, has struck up a long-term partnership with CAA-GBG to embark on a licensing journey into specialty grocery stores through new food and packaged goods products.

The Halal Guys has been credited with pioneering American halal food across the region. The partnership with the brand management team will now take the brand – and its tastes and experiences – from its food carts and restaurants and into the licensing world.

“The Halal Guys has built a worldwide following and grown from a single location into a global brand with nearly one hundred restaurants and millions of fans,” said Noah Gelbart, chief revenue officer of CAA-GBG. “We very much look forward to partnering with the brand to extend its reach to new consumers and strengthen its brand equity through strategic licensing and product extension focused on the specialty food and grocery space.”

Founded as a food cart on the corner of 53rd Street and 6th Avenue in New York City in 1990, The Halal Guys has grown to 94 locations worldwide, with hundreds more in development under its partnership with franchise developer Fransmart.

The brand focuses on traditional halal food and offers platters, sandwiches, hummus, baba ganouj, falafel and baklava.

“Offering our fans around the world the chance to buy our products at their local grocery store is a major step in our strategic global growth plan,” said Ahmed Abouelenein, CEO of The Halal Guys. “We chose to partner with CAA-GBG because it is well known worldwide for its ability to help brands successfully expand into new segments, categories and markets.

“We couldn’t be more excited to work with the company as we take this next step in our brand’s growth and international expansion.”

Peaky Blinders lands its first official beer with Thornbridge Brewery

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Endemol Shine Group has turned to Thornbridge Brewery to develop the first official beer brand for its hit TV series, Peaky Blinders.

Inspired by the hit series, and developed in partnership with the show’s creator, producer, and official brand owner Caryn Mandabach Productions, Thornbridge Brewery kicks off with the launch of the Shelby, A 5% India Pale Ale.

Thornbridge took its inspiration from the kind of beer styles that would have been around in 1919, at the time of the Peaky Blinders, and has created something it feels The Garrison would be proud to serve.

The official launch of Shelby will be at the new Thornbridge and Co. Pub – The Colmore, in the heart of Birmingham on February 20th. Thornbridge will also be bottling Shelby which will be available next month.

Steve Knight, creator and writer of Peaky Blinders commented: “Shelby beer is the first and only legitimate Peaky endorsed beer. It has been crafted to be the same brew the Peaky boys would have drunk in the pubs of Small Heath. It really is the authentic taste of the Peaky Blinders world. Cheers.”

Jane Smith, group director, brand licensing and gaming, Endemol Shine Group, added: “We have always wanted to find the right partner for a legitimate beer inspired by the Peaky Blinders series.

“Thornbridge is that partner as it is truly passionate about the product it is creating which is an authentic beer capturing the essence of the world of Peaky Blinders. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.”

Simon Webster, CEO of Thornbridge added: “We’re incredibly proud to be working alongside the creators ofPeaky Blinders, it’s an honour to have been asked to collaborate with such a legendary show.

“We wanted to ensure we created something that thePeaky Blinders would have found on the bar at The Garrison and we think we’ve done just that. We hope Shelby will bring pleasure to many.”

India Pale Ale was developed in England in the late 19th Century and became popular among the East India Trading Co. It was soon discovered that the sulphate rich water in Burton upon Trent created a cleaner, crisp and bitter beer which continued to grow in popularity in the local area.

Thornbridge has worked to create a version of the original India Pale Ale style that the Peaky Blinders would have indulged in. Shelby, named after the infamous brothers, is brewed with Fuggles and Bramling Cross hops. It pours golden amber in colour with a nose of stone fruit and red berries, a gentle maltiness on the palate and a wonderful citrus, lemon-pith bitterness.

The award-winning BBC One and Netflix series Peaky Blinders is produced by official brand owner Caryn Mandabach Productions and by Endemol Shine Group’s Tiger Aspect Productions.

Endemol Shine Group represent a range of global ancillary rights for Peaky Blinders which is distributed by Endemol Shine International across more than 180 countries.

Thornbridge’s beer is the latest in an extensive licensing programme developed by Endemol Shine Group for the BAFTA winning series over the last year, joining recent successes such as the inaugural Legitimate Peaky Blinders Festival; the sell-out officialPeaky Blinders book from publisher Michael O’Mara; and the A/W’19 tailored menswear capsule collection from David Beckham’s menswear label Kent & Curwen.

Five series have aired on BBC and the latest series launched in October on Netflix in the US and in international markets where Netflix hold premier rights.

The Laughing Cow partners with Olympia Le-Tan for exclusive new handbag design

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The iconic food brand-turned lifestyle IP, The Laughing Cow – or, La vache qui rit – has partnered with Olympia Le-Tan, for a new take on its famed handbags.

Owned by Bel Groupe, The Laughing Cow chuckled its way onto the lifestyle licensing scene last year, when it launched a new communication platform in 2019 under the tagline, it’s better to laugh, building on its almost 100 year history in the public space.

Under its new partnership with Olympia Le-Tan, The Laughing Cow’s globally recognised emblem will now adorn a exclusive new handbag design, called dizzie La vache qui rit.

The new launch combines the iconic round shape and design of The Laughing Cow round cheese box, with the unique Olympia le-Tan touch, in a blue canard hand-embroidered silk thread.

The exclusive design comes with a price tag of around €740.

Original Stormtroopers march upon UK retail with more food and drink partnerships

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Shepperton Design Studios has unleashed an army of galactic delicacies upon the nation’s biggest retailers this year, with the launch of a range of Original Stormtroopers licensed foods and drinks.

Complementing an already successful line of cakes and beer from BBF and The Sourceror, the company – through partnerships brokered by its licensing agent Golden Goose – has unveiled a swathe of new treats, including Original Stormtrooper Easter Eggs, pancakes, and hot sauces.

Modern Gourmet Foods will be helping sci-fi fans kick off lent with its stormtrooper-shaped pancakes, or spice things up a bit with its selection of hot sauces in Stormtrooper-shaped bottles.

The Original Stormtrooper Easter Egg can be found on the shelves of M&S, the Original Stormtrooper cake from BBF is in Asda, and the new Original Stormtrooper Lightspeed Pilsner is currently in Morrisons.

Modern Gourmet Foods will be launching its range on Amazon and selected stores later in the year.

Adam Bass of Golden Goose, said: “The Original Stormtrooper licensing programme continues to move forward at pace adapting to consumer demand and market innovation. Now that the Original Stormtrooper’s quirky, eccentric and unique personality is well established, we look forward to taking the licensing programme from strength to strength in 2020 and beyond.”

McDonald’s taps into growing appetite for licensing with Joester Loria Group

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The Joester Loria Group has partnered with McDonald’s Corporation to develop a portfolio of collaborations and collections of licensed products aimed of the McDonald’s brand lover across the globe.

The fast food restaurant brand has a long history of partnering with leading fashion brands and retailers which dates back to the 1980s. Last month, the corporation introduced its Golden Arches Unlimited online store, offering a selection of items and seasonal products.

“McDonald’s has been ingrained in the fabric of culture for years, and there’s a long history of fans wearing our brand with pride,” said Jen Landolt, senior director, global marketing at McDonald’s Corporation.

“We look forward to collaborating with great brands to deliver product that celebrates McDonald’s heritage and deep emotional connection with our customers.”

Joester Loria Group will work closely with the McDonald’s global marketing team to tap into the brand’s unique cache, popular characters, and iconic brand campaigns, with a focus on fashion, accessories and collectibles for adults. 

Look for episodic campaigns, pop up events, unexpected mash-ups and great product to launch in 2020.

Rolling Stone joins forces with Elysian Brewing Co to launch Elysian Rolling Stone Lager

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Rolling Stone, the famed music industry publisher has joined forces with Elysian Brewing Company, a brewery that is rooted in music and art, to produce Elysian Rolling Stone lager, a high-end beer that embraces the spirit of music.

The new lager will debut this Saturday, February 1, at the Rolling Stone Live: Miami Big Game Experience, and will roll out to beer-lovers across the US in April this year.

The Rolling Stone collaboration is a milestone in craft brewing, and the first time the music publisher has put its iconic name on a craft beer. Both companies are rooted in their respective histories and constantly push to change and reinvent with the times.

“This one’s for the rebels. Those with wandering souls who aren’t afraid to be their truest selves while pushing boundaries in search of authentic art and discovery,” said Elysian Brewing co-founder, Joe Bisacca. ​

“​The Elysian brand was built on music and that gritty, unapologetic form of expression which is in our blood. It fuels us to keep experimenting and spread love back to those that inspired us. And what better way to do that than with our friends over at Rolling Stone?”

The Seattle-based brewery built its brand on music and wanted a beer that ‘expressed the sensation that sparked fire in its soul.’

“The fact that Elysian has supported and been inspired by music and musicians since their beginnings makes this partnership a natural fit for Rolling Stone,” said Gus Wenner, president and COO, Rolling Stone. “We’re excited and proud to share our first venture into craft beer with our readers – we put a lot of passion into this project and we know they’re going to love it.”

Elysian’s approach to making beer is based on experimentation, collaboration and boundary-pushing, a brewing approach, the company has said, aligns with Rolling Stone’s editorial bent.

The brewery is proud of its culture of broad acceptance, and has long sponsored, supported, and actively participated in community events and celebrations that bring people together.

The Elysian Rolling Stone Lager will be the exclusive beer for the Rolling Stone Live: Miami event. It will be integrated throughout the event at all bars, displays and bottle service tables.