Hello Kitty and Pusheen pounce on limited edition collaboration for plush, fashion, and more

Sanrio has entered into a new collaboration with the Pusheen brand to launch a limited edition collection of Hello Kitty x Pusheen consumer products, spanning apparel, accessories, collectables, stationery, housewares, health and beauty products, and plush. The collection unites Hello Kitty and Pusheen for the first time in the consumer space.

The deal brings with a swathe of premium licensing partners already on board to launch a selection of Hello Kitty x Pusheen products, including Hybrid for apparel, Loungefly for bags and small accessories, Taste Beauty for health and beauty care products, GUND for plush and slippers, and Hamee for squishy toys and phone accessories.

They are joined by further licensing partners, Monogram for pins, bag clips, and lanyards, Stitch & Story for crochet kits and craft accessories, Blueprint for stationery, and Thumbs Up for housewares and figurines.

“Hello Kitty has always believed ‘You can never have too many friends’ and we couldn’t be more excited for Pusheen to join her side,” said Craig Takiguchi, chief operating officer at Sanrio, Inc. “With both of our avid fanbases and the wide range of products designed for every occasion, these pop culture icons will encourage friends to come together and make even more everyday memories.”

Claire Belton, creator of Pusheen, said: “It’s a dream come true to collaborate with Hello Kitty. It’s been so much fun to work together and see everything come to life. I grew up loving Hello Kitty, so it feels like coming full circle.”

Similar to Pusheen, whose animated comics and GIFs have spread smiles and laughter worldwide, Hello Kitty also stands for friendship, kindness, and inclusivity. These values have brought the two together to help spread positivity and acceptance to friends and fans everywhere.

The Hello Kitty x Pusheen collection will be available on September 3, 2021 at Sanrio.com, select Sanrio boutique stores, and Pusheen.com while supplies last. The collection will also be available at select specialty retailers such as Hot Topic, Claire’s, FYE, Barnes & Noble, and IT’SUGAR later this autumn.

Freedom Confectionery teams with Pusheen the Cat to launch the first chocolate vegan gummy bar

Freedom Confectionery, the UK-based allergen-free, vegan mallow specialist, is to launch the first chocolate coated vegan gummy bar to the market as part of a brand licensing partnership with Pusheen The Cat.

The partnership will be the first confectionery licensing agreement globally recognised brand, Pusheen, has made since its inception in 2010.

As the first European manufacturer of gelatine-free marshmallows, Freedom Confectionery, along with its partnership with Pusheen, is hoping to build on its allergy-free credentials offering vegan, vegetarian, plant-based and non-allergy customers worldwide a sweet treat that is completely gelatine-free.

The 54g strawberry flavoured vegan gummy bar, aptly named, Vegumi, will be coated in dairy-free chocolate and wrapped in a designed film featuring Pusheen The Cat.

The partnership now allows the Lancashire-based Freedom Confectionery the opportunity to reach a new audience and cement its position within the allergy-free, vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based market.

Elvin Willgrass, sales director at Freedom Confectionery, said: “After being in the business for five years, this is by far the most exciting launch Freedom Confectionery has been a part of. To have a brand licensing partnership with Pusheen is an amazing opportunity and I can’t wait to hear what our customers think of it.

“Not only does Vegumi taste amazing, but it’s also approved by The Vegan Society and is free from the top allergens. As a business, we believe in 100 per cent allergy-free, no product leaves our factory without being thoroughly tested and packaged accordingly and we’re delighted that Pusheen want to be part of our business journey.”

Cate D’Allessandro, director of licensing at Pusheen Corp, added: “Our team is excited to partner with Freedom Confectionery to bring our fans a delicious new sweet treat to enjoy.”

The new Vegumi bar will be available to purchase initially from the Freedom Confectionery online shop https://freedommallows.com/our-shop/ from £1.99 per bar.

Freedom Confectionery also have plans to roll the new product offering out to retailers through its national distributors, Bravura Foods.

Approved by The Vegan Society, the Freedom Confectionery Pusheen Vegumi bar is gelatine, gluten, egg, dairy, and soy free with no artificial colours or flavourings.