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Burger King Enters Snack Food Category with Branded Line of Salty Snacks
Broad Street Licensing Group has brokered a licensing agreement with AZ-based The Inventure Group to license the Burger King brand into a line of salty snacks. Inventure, famous for their hugely-successful line of T.G.I. Friday’s potato skin snacks, will produce two initial SKU’s under the Burger King name that capture the brand’s essence: Ketchup & Fries and Flame Broiled. The chips, which are trans fat-free, will roll out in single-serving sizes for vending machines, on airlines and convenience stores and a 5.5 ounce bag at grocery stores. Burger King is also testing a single-serve 100-calorie bag in selected restaurants. By spring 2008, a second rollout will put them in price clubs and additional grocery stores as 20-ounce and 25-ounce variety packs.
Russ Klein, President Global Marketing, Strategy and Innovation at Burger King Corporation said “The line of Burger King snacks will bring the brand into more than 100,000 outlets, a reach far beyond our 11,200 restaurants.” Eric Kufel, President & CEO of Inventure, described the Burger King opportunity as “a perfect fit between the brand and the products. Working with the team at Burger King Corporation has been terrific, and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership in the snack food category.”
Based in Phoenix, Arizona, The Inventure Group (NASDAQ: SNAK) is a marketer and manufacturer of Intensely Different™ consumer brands in indulgent and better-for-you food categories such as salted snacks and frozen fruit under a variety of company owned or licensed brand names. |
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Broad Street Licensing Group to Acquire Properties for BIC
BIC USA has retained Broad Street Licensing Group (BSLG) as licensing consultants to secure properties for its disposable lighter business. Bic Lighters, which are the #1 brand of disposable lighters across the U.S., commands an impressive 65% of the market. “The brands we are targeting will hit BIC’s core consumer: 21-34 year old males, who shop at c-stores and mass markets”, said Carole Francesca, President of BSLG. “We’re excited to help BIC extend its program via licensed partnerships with strong brands and properties.” Ron Weingarten, Director of Marketing for BIC stated, “We were very impressed with BSLG’s credentials and strong track record of licensing successes”. BIC is a leading international distributor of stationery products, lighters and shavers in more than 160 countries around the world. For more than 50 years, BIC has honored the tradition of providing high-quality, affordable products to consumers everywhere. Through this unwavering dedication, BIC has become one of the most recognized brands in the world. Visit BIC USA Inc. at www.bicworldusa.com. |
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Dean & Deluca Adds It’s 1st Housewares Program: CIA’s Masters Cookware Collection
As part of its evolving housewares assortment, New York based specialty retailer Dean and Deluca will be installing 16-foot displays of The Culinary Institute of America’s Masters Cookware Collection. Robinson Home Products is the licensee in an extensive line, brokered by Broad Street Licensing Group, including over 100 SKUs of CIA-branded cookware, gadgets, bakeware and cutlery, all sold exclusively to gourmet stores and specialty retailers. Designed by master chefs at the CIA for serious home cooks, the CIA Masters Collection will be the first comprehensive housewares program that Dean & Deluca has put in its stores. “We’ve always been known for our eclectic mix of housewares that’s highly edited”, said Tod Morehead, EVP merchandising for Dean & Deluca. “We wanted to make an assortment that’s more modern, more comprehensive and more seasonal.” |
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Bruegger’s Enterprises, Inc. Reports 10.5% Increase in Sales for Second Quarter
Bruegger’s Enterprises, Inc. reported that second quarter system-wide gross sales were $42.11 million, compared with $38.12 million in 2006, marking a 10.5 percent increase. Revenue for comparable sales grew 4.9 percent at company locations and 3.8 percent system-wide for the second quarter. This period marks 13 consecutive quarters of growth for the fast casual leader.
During the quarter Bruegger’s opened four bakeries, one company-owned and three franchise-operated bringing the total to 259 bakeries in 21 states. Franchisees have development commitments for nearly 100 new units over the next few years.
“Many factors have been contributing to our great success this quarter. First and foremost, our team is committed to providing a memorable guest experience,” stated Bruegger’s CEO James J. Greco. “We continue to improve the quality of our ingredients and have eliminated artificial trans fats from our menu.” Greco also added that new products contributed to strong results |
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Vita-Mix Teams Up with The Culinary Institute of America
The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) has announced the signing of its newest licensee, Vita-Mix® Corporation, makers of professional blending equipment for the consumer market. Broad Street Licensing Group (BSLG), brokered the deal for the Hyde Park, NY based culinary college as part of an ongoing licensing program in both the consumer and foodservice channels that has yielded licenses with companies including Oneida, ARAMARK and others. Every purchase of a Vita-Mix® CIA™ Professional Series machine benefits The Culinary Institute of America® Scholarship Fund, allowing you to help aspiring culinarians fulfill their passion.
The Vita-Mix brand is the preferred choice of professional chefs and home cooks, so we’re excited about working with The Culinary Institute of America,” said Dan Koch, Regional Manager for Vita-Mix. |
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2007 Hong Kong International Licensing Conference
Bill Cross, Partner at BSLG and VP of Food Licensing, recently spoke at the Hong Kong Licensing Show July 3-5th on the subject of "Brand Extensions & the Chinese Market." A former "China hand" and correspondent in China for a variety of business publications, Cross discussed the changeover in China from suppliers of raw materials to components to now acquiring Western brands and developing their own for their national market. "American companies can no longer compete with Chinese imports in most areas of manufacturing that emphasize price over brand or added value. When you can buy an imported blender at Wal-Mart for $30, the only way to counter that reality is by building a brand or licensing a quality name like The Culinary Institute of America." |
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