Multi-Licensee Display Supports Halo at Walmart Mexico

Microsoft and 343 Industries launches a multi-licensee in-store display for Halo consumer products at Walmart Mexico, seeking to expand sales there following the release of “Halo Wars 2” in late February, says Head of Consumer Products John Friend.

Microsoft has a table display through month’s end with products from 10 licensees in “a core merchandising” section outside the gaming department in many of Walmart’s more than 260 supercenters, says Friend. Licensees represented include Egmont Publishing (Halo Mythos strategy guide) and local suppliers Union Kids (boys t-shirts) and Lyn de Mexico (loungewear and pajamas). Also included are products from Mattel and its Mega Brands division.

“This promotion is more about apparel and other products and less about sales” of Halo Wars 2, says Friend. About 60% of the products are tied to the broader Halo brand with the remainder being licensed specifically for Halo Wars 2, says Friend. “The ultimate goal is not to have a peak because of a new release [but rather to] behave more like an evergreen brand,” says Friend.

As part of a broader effort, additional products may be introduced this fall tied to the 10th anniversary of Halo 3’s release.

Contacts:

343 Industries/Microsoft, John Friend, Head of Consumer Products, 425-703-6315, John.friend@microsoft.com

Dollar Tree Ramps Up New Stores

Dollar Tree will open 650 stores this year, split between its own banner and the Family Dollar chain it acquired in 2015, Dollar Tree CEO Bob Sasser told analysts. The expansion plans follow Dollar Tree posting a 2.8% increase in net income to $321.9 million in Q4 ended Jan. 28, on a slight revenue increase to $5.6 billion. Dollar Tree Q4 operating income grew 15% to $476.1 million as revenue jumped 7.2% to $2.89 billion on a 1.2% increase in same-stores sales. Family Dollar Q4 operating income rose 40% to $110.4 million as revenue rose less than 1% to $2.73 billion on a 0.2% increase in same-store sales.

Contact:

Randy Guiler, VP, 757-321-5284

Carrefour To Launch Tony Roma’s Ribs in Spain

Retailer Carrefour will launch sales of Tony Roma’s ribs and pulled meats across 350 stores in Spain by May as the U.S. restaurant chain builds out its international licensing business, says Broad Street Licensing’s Bill Cross. Ireland-based Rib World is one of several licensees expected to supply the products. Tony Roma’s has 11 restaurants in Spain, including three in Madrid.

Contact:

Tony Roma’s/ Broad Street Licensing, Bill Cross, SVP Business Development, 973-655-0598 x12, bill.cross@bslg.com

Rib World, Noel Higgins, New Product Development Mgr., +353 52 613 2374, noel.higgins@ribworld.ie

Santoro’s Gorjuss To Enter Russia via Pullman

Pullman Licensing signs to represent Santoro’s Gorjuss as the brand moves into Russia for the first time. While Gorjuss has a “low level” of awareness in Russia, “we felt it had great potential going forward,” said Santoro’s Louisa Skevington. The agreement will initially be limited to Gorjuss and won’t include Santoro’s Kori Kumi brand, says Skevington. Pullman, formed in 2015, also represents Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products in Russia.

Contact:

Santoro, Jo Campbell, General Mgr., +44 (0) 20 8781 1104, jcampbell@santorolicensing.com; Pullman Licensing, Ksenia Bogatyreva, Head of Marketing,+74997077566,Kursanova@pullman-licensing.ru

Coca-Cola Now Nestle Nestea Licensee

Nestle and Coca-Cola Co. are scrapping their joint venture created 16 years ago to sell ready-to-drink Nestea, leaving Coca-Cola as a licensee to supply the tea in seven countries, Nestle said in a blog post. The joint venture will dissolve in January 2018 with Coca-Cola getting a license to manufacture and distribute Nestea in Canada, Spain, Portugal, Andorra, Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria. The Nestle Waters Division manages the Nestea brand in several countries, including the U.S. The joint venture earlier was scaled back to Europe and Canada in 2012.

Contact:

Nestle, Deborah McRonald, Head of Licensing, 818-549-6000; Coca-Cola Co., Kelly Kozel, Global Marketing and Insights Mgr. Worldwide Licensing, 404- 676-2121, kkozel@coca-cola.com