Tag Archives: Food And Drink

IMG to develop licensing portfolio for Jim Beam brands as the iconic bourbon celebrates 225 years

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IMG has signed with Beam Suntory to help extend the James B. Beam Distilling Company’s portfolio of brands through a raft of new strategic licensing partnerships.

The company is widely known for its Jim Beam Bourbon, a global brand of bourbon that is celebrating its 225th anniversary this year. The James B. Beam Distilling Company’s American Whiskey portfolio also includes Knob Creek, Basil Hayden’s, Booker’s, Baker’s, Legent and Little Book.

Under the partnership, IMG will be tasked with developing products that celebrate the company’s rich history, its good-natured and convivial style and its bold flavor profile. Targeted categories will include experiential, fashion, home, gift, memorabilia, grilling and bourbon-flavored foods.

Tom Bufalino, director at James B. Beam Distilling Company, said: “As we celebrate our 225th year, this is the perfect time to extend our iconic brands to products and experiences that create new platforms and occasions to welcome consumers, old and new, to our product and personality. With its deep experience and resources, there is no better partner than IMG to accompany us on that journey.”

Bruno Maglione, president of licensing at IMG, added: “It’s an honour for us to join the First Family of bourbon. This is a beloved quintessentially American brand and a time-venerated quality product that is all about family values, shared experiences and accessibility. Through the Jim Beam licensing program, we will develop products that place an accent on each of those attributes.”

IMG will develop strategies and pursue licensing opportunities for many of the other distinctive brands in the James B. Beam Distilling Company’s portfolio including Knob Creek, Basil Hayden’s, Booker’s, Legent and Little Book.

The Point. 1888 brings Barratt’s iconic sweet brands to the frozen aisle

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The Point. 1888 has struck up a sweet new partnership between Barratt and Icefresh Foods to launch a new range of ice creams exclusively for the supermarket chain, Iceland.

The new range will draw on Barratt’s portfolio of iconic confectionery, including Black Jack, Fruit Salad, and Wham, to bring it all to the frozen aisle for the first time in the company’s history. The range will launch exclusively in Iceland stores across the UK from April 20th.

The line-up will be completed with Flump Ice Cream Lollies, and Dip Dab Ice Lollies with a Sachet of Sherbet.

All items in the range – apart from the Wham share size tub – will be sold as multipacks of four or six and the Dip Dab range will include a sachet of sherbet for dipping.

“We always knew that the Barratt brands would be hugely popular among manufacturers and retailers alike but this partnership between Barratt, Icefresh Foods and Iceland is a match made in heaven,” said Bethan Garton, commercial director, The Point.1888.

“We’ve worked with Icefresh for years and have enjoyed great success on every program but the work its team has put into the product development and flavour profile matching for Barratt has been like nothing else we have seen before. It’s also throwing its full support behind the brand with the product launch and we’re so excited that the range is now ready for the nation to enjoy.”

Downton Abbey gin and whiskey to go nationwide as Harrogate Tipple signs with Boutique Bar Brands

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It’s good news for gin and whiskey drinkers and Downton Abbey fans alike this week as Harrogate Tipple signs off an agreement with Boutique Bar Brands to act as its exclusive distributor for the UK.

Under the new deal, the North Yorkshire company’s range of spirits – including its licensed Downton Abbey gin and whiskey collection – will be able to extend its reach in on-trade, off-trade, and online as well as in premium outlets, as a part of Boutique Bar Brands’ portfolio of drinks.

Until now, the range had been available within Booths, Fenwicks, and in a number of independent outlets. BBB works with over 45 wholesalers across the UK, and currently represents three distilleries – The London Distillery Company, Greensand Ridge, and Gleann Morr.

Established four years ago by Steven and Sally Green, supported by internationally renowned distiller Tom Nichol, Harrogate Tipple has already established a loyal following. Housed in a converted barn close to the Ripley Castle Estate near Harrogate, it has an ethos of local provenance with many of its botanicals grown in the estate’s kitchen gardens and Victorian hothouse as well as using the spa town’s famous spring water.

Co-founder of Harrogate Tipple, Steven Green, said: “This partnership is our first distribution deal and marks another important step in our development. BBB has a fantastic reputation in the industry; it only represents the very best brands that have a story to tell.

“We will be able to benefit from this leading drinks agency’s extensive knowledge and contacts, particularly in on-trade premium outlets, enabling us to extend our reach.”

Philip Harding, co-founder of BBB, added: “BBB has more recently been moving into providing a distribution service to drinks brands which have already built a certain level of business within the UK, as opposed to our traditional agency retainer model. When Harrogate Tipple approached us, they impressed the team with their growth over the past few years and their ambition to push onto the next level.

“We believe that the match of Harrogate Tipple’s unique offering, supported by BBB’s network, sales team and reach, will be a great combination, enabling it to become a nationally recognised brand. The Downton Abbey range of spirits is also a very interesting addition to our portfolio, and we are excited to see how far we can take this.”

Harrogate Tipple’s current range includes Premium Harrogate Gin, Gooseberry Harrogate Gin and Blueberry Harrogate Gin; Premium Harrogate Rum; Downton Abbey Premium Gin and Downton Abbey Finest Blended Whisky.

Asembl pairs Diageo’s Bundaberg Rum with Harry’s Ice Cream for frozen desserts across Australia

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The Australian fashion, lifestyle, and FMCG licensing agency, Asembl has brokered a new partnership between Diageo’s Bundaberg Rum and Harry’s Ice Cream for a range of summer frozen desserts.

Bundaberg Rum Ice Cream Rum and Raisin and Bundaberg Rum Ice Cream Pineapple Coconut Rum have already proven to be a retail success, having been stocked on shelves throughout the past summer across IGA Queensland stores in Australia.

Bundaberg Rum marketing manager, Karl Roche, said: “The growth of our local licensing program into new retail categories continues to strengthen our consumer offering and Bundaberg Rum’s popularity in the market. We’re always looking for ways to innovate that stay true to our brand and this latest collaboration with Harry’s Ice Cream gave our Bundy Rum consumers a new way to enjoy the flavour of their favourite Australian rum.”

Asembl managing director, Justin Watson, added: “We are pleased to see this partnership has been a resounding success in retail across Queensland.  This latest collaboration is one of many strategic partnerships we have in our domestic licensing program for Bundaberg Rum as we concentrate on extending the brand in retail and delivering new taste sensations for fans of the iconic Australian rum brand.”

Harry & Larry’s owner, Lawrence Harris, said: “Consumers are always looking for innovative and new ice cream products and with the popularity of Bundaberg Rum, we knew that this would be the perfect frozen dessert for summer. Bundaberg Rum has successfully continued to extend their brand into other products, and we’re delighted that consumers have had the opportunity to enjoy these rum flavoured Australian dairy ice cream varieties from Harry’s Ice Cream Co.”

The range was crafted for adults who like to indulge – the Bundaberg Rum Ice Cream Rum and Raisin flavour is complex and smooth with plump raisins and the Bundaberg Rum Ice Cream Pineapple Coconut Rum serves up a delicious tropical pineapple ripple.

Diageo is a recognised global drinks producer with a portfolio of world-famous brands including Bundaberg Rum, Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Lagavulin, Talisker, and The Singleton whiskies.

Its products are currently sold in more than 180 countries around the world.

Kellogg’s launches pop-up cereal café to celebrate new W.K. Kellogg by Kids

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Kellogg’s has launched an official Kellogg’s cereal café for kids, run by kids, as part of a launch campaign around the breakfast brand’s first new cereal launch in over 20 years.

To celebrate the launch of its new W.K. Kellogg by Kids, the first children’s product to include fruit and vegetables with no added sugar, the brand has enlisted the creative talents of Taylor Herring for the PR campaign, including the opening of its pop-up cereal café.

The launch of the new cereal follows research that has highlighted the ‘evolving palate of Britain’s children’, revealing that over two-thirds of kids – 66 per cent – have a more varied diet than their parents had. Healthy choices lead the way as apple – 52 per cent – topped lists of snacks kids are most likely to request from their parents.

In light of the research, a pop-up cereal café with a twist has launched– designed for and run by kids themselves; complete with mix-your-own cereal dispensers, colouring-in tables and a full-sized doodle wall.

To launch the café, celebrity mum Myleene Klass was invited to be one of the first to try a bowl of W.K. Kellogg by Kids at the café.

“I think children are definitely having a re-education around their food – I remember just wanting burger and chips but the girls are more likely to go for the likes of apples, blueberries, avocado or even sushi,” said Klass.

“Mornings can be mad in our house so it’s amazing to know that breakfast is easy. A cereal with fruit, veg, no added sugar, plus the whole family think it tastes great – what more could you want?”

A Kellogg’s spokesperson added: “It’s amazing to see the changing tastes of the UK, especially coming from the younger generation. Our kid’s panel of experts knew exactly what they wanted when it came to creating this brand new breakfast cereal and it’s everything you’d expect kids to love – delicious and fun.”

W.K Kellogg by Kids is the first children’s cereal to include fruit and vegetables and comes in two tasty flavour variants that the whole family will love: Strawberry, Apple and Carrot and Blueberry, Apple and Beetroot.

The Point. 1888 delivers sumptuous line up for food and events brand River Cottage

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In a somewhat sumptuous start to the year, the brand licensing agency, The Point. 1888 has secured four new licensees for its client, River Cottage.

The successful food and events business brought on The Point.1888 last year to help it generate further brand awareness, and encourage the nation to eat seasonal, local, organic and wild food through the introduction of a broader range of consumer products.

 A task The Point. 1888 was keen to sink its teeth into, the UK licensing agency has since secured a raft of deals with Percol/Lofbergs – a company that specialises in organic, sustainably made and packaged ground coffee, Stroud Brewery – a sustainable and ethical brewery in the Cotswolds, The Beeswax Wrap Company – a company that provides planet-friendly alternatives to cling film and tin foil, and Newton Court Cider who ferments award-winning cider from English fruit.

As part of the deal with River Cottage, Stroud Brewery is collaborating on unique organic beer recipes, Newton Court Cider will be hand picking the apples from the River Cottage Estate for fermentation at their cidery, while The Beeswax Wrap Company will be making its shelf debut in the partnership.

 Louise Williamson, head of FMCG, The Point.1888, said: “Our brand licensing programme has been developed in close collaboration with River Cottage to make us think about the way we buy and consume products, and to inspire change at every stage.

“Thanks to this new wave of ethical licensees, coffee lovers, craft beer and cider drinkers and households across the country will be able to enjoy these products guilt-free, guided by principles that are ethical, sustainable and respectful.”

Stewart Dodd, chief executive from River Cottage, said: “We are thrilled with the licensees secured so far and cannot wait to see the products develop. The Point.1888 team is so thorough in their processes and has successfully identified new River Cottage products that are in line with our values and ethos.”

 Established in 2014, The Point.1888 delivers retail focused brand extension programmes through partnership licensing agreements.

The company has seen exponential growth in the last 24 months, building strategic licensing programmes for Yvonne Ellen, Team GB, Battersea, and more recently the Metropolitan Police Service.

 The first products are expected to be in stores by SS2020.