Thomas & FRIENDS™ triumphs at australian toy hobby & nursery fair securing 2 ata awards and gfk OzToys’ top selling toy license

Thomas & Friends has enjoyed a triumphant week securing two prestigious wins at the 2010 Australian Toy Association’s (ATA) Annual Product of the Year Awards, alongside holding its position as GFK OzToy’s Top Selling Toy License (value).

At the ATA Awards, held last night at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Early Engineers’ Wooden Thomas ‘Busy Day on Sodor Roundhouse’ Set from RC2 was awarded Licensed Product of the Year and Licensed Product – Pre-School.

Further cementing the popularity of the brand, Thomas & Friends was today presented with the 2009 GFK OzToys Award for Top Selling Toy License (value) in Australia. This is the fourth consecutive year the brand has held this position. The news follows recent NPD results revealing Thomas & Friends to be the number 1 Pre-School License in the UK and America.

Peter Byrne, EVP Consumer Products International, HIT Entertainment said: “To win three of the top industry awards in one fell swoop is true testimony that Thomas and Friends is the undisputed Number 1 license in Australia. It is a fantastic accolade and great recognition of all our partners who have supported the brand”.

In Australia and New Zealand, Thomas & Friends is represented by Haven Licensing.