NEWS
Bradford India sign to license Pac-Man Bradford Licensing India are actively promoting iconic game brand Pac-Man.From an arcade game to a cultural iconPac-Man’s popularity has crossed the globe for more than 35 years. Back in 2005 it received the Most Successful Coin Operated Game Machine award from Guinness World Records and in 2010 it was named as the Most Recognisable Video Game character. Over the years, new games have been developed for numerous platforms including cell phones and other handheld devices. The ‘Up for Whatever?’ Pac-Man was one of the Super Bowl’s most watched commercials of all time.
Pac-Man was th first video game that included an actual character and, as such, it succeeded
in appealing to both genders and to several age groups. In addition Pac-Man was gaming’s first licensing licensing success spawning a wide ranging merchandising program including a successful song that sold over one million records and a TV series from Hanna-Barbera that enjoyed 56% market share in the US. Today’s Pac-Man games include one or two titles worldwide for multiple hardware such as portable game devices DS and PSP, and home video games (Wii, PS3, Xbox 360). In terms of cellular and mobile games, multiple Pac-Man titles per year are launched for mobile phones and tablets. In terms of recent highlights, Pac-Man collaborated with the world-famous fashion brand Coach for an Autumn/Winter 2016 collection and, staying with fashion, Pac-Man and designer Anya Hindmarch collaborated on a range of bags and coats. Opposuits created a Pac-Man suit and, on a different note, Level 257 launched a Pac-Man restaurant in Chicago. Further licensees include Havaianas and Fred Perry and Bradford are now looking for licensees in apparel and accessories, footwear, bags and luggage, toys and games, back to school, home, new media and publishing as well as gifts and novelties.
Anheuser-Busch sign with SeaPak Shrimp & Seafood Anheuser-Busch InBev has teamed up with SeaPak Shrimp & Seafood Company to create a new line of Budweiser-branded beer-battered seafood. Broad Street Licensing Group brokered the deal on behalf of SeaPak, while CAA-GBG represented Budweiser. The frozen seafood range was created in as a collaboration with SeaPak’s chefs and Budweiser’s master brewers. Initially, the product line will include Wild Caught Cod and Crab Poppers with a citrus tartar dipping sauce and Oven Crunchy Shrimp with citrus dipping sauce,. The SeaPak/Budweiser seafood line will roll out at Sam’s Clubs in March and is available in the seafood freezer aisle at Walmart, Kroger and other retailers.
KFC unvail a line of Colonel Sanders figures from Funko KFC has unveiled a limited-edition line of Colonel Sanders Pop! vinyl figures in partnership with collectibles brand Funko and the initial limited-edition Colonel Sanders Funko figure sold out in eleven minutes. One figure depicts the Colonel holding a bucket of fried chicken and will be available at select retailers. It was available for pre-order on Amazon. A second figure, showing the Colonel with his signature cane, was available exclusively at funko-shop.com, but sold out within 11 minutes. The new figures were the first Colonel Sanders Pop! collectibles, but Funko previously partnered with the brand on a 50th anniversary edition of Colonel Sanders Wacky Wobbler bobblehead in 2002.
TOTAL BRAND LICENSING
KFC continues to unveil one-of-a-kind merchandise featuring the likeness of its iconic Colonel Sanders mascot. The partnership with Funko on Pop! collectible figures should help the fast-food chain boost brand awareness, as KFC is tapping into the Funko collectible craze and the company’s ability to capitalize on pop culture fandom. Branded limited-edition merchandise, often with a quirky spin, has been a hallmark of KFC’s marketing over the past few years. Recently, KFC introduced a gravy-scented candle. For the 2018 holidays, the brand partnered with Enviro-Log to create firelogs that smell like KFC fried chicken. Since bringing back its Colonel mascot in 2015, KFC has also incorporated its brand
icon into many merchandise-focused campaigns. To promote its Hot Honey fried chicken items in September, KFC gave fans the chance to win a vintage-inspired, pull-string talking Colonel Bear, resembling the iconic bear-shaped honey bottles but with a white suit, glasses and goatee.
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