Executives

Chuck Scothon, ex-Disney, returns to Mattel as SVP and General Manager of the Infant and Preschool Division, replacing Julie Feiss Masino, who joined the company last spring…. Stephen Teglas, ex-Disney, appointed SVP Global Fashion, Home & Infant at Warner Bros. Consumer Products, new position… Keri Jones, ex-Dick’s Sporting Goods, named CEO at Christopher & Banks women’s clothing retailer, replacing Joel Waller, who was interim CEO and remains a consultant… Gene Kelsey retires as Chief Marketing Officer at Jem Accessories Inc., replaced by Carl Barnette, formerly VP of Merchandising and Product Development… Nick Dora, ex-Rovio, launches animation studio Haruworks.

Contacts:

Christopher & Banks, Keri Jones, CEO, 763-551-5000

Jem Accessories Inc., Carl Barnette, Chief Marketing Officer, 908-222-7501

Mattel, Chuck Scothon, SVP and General Mgr. of the Infant and Preschool Division, 310-252-2000, chuck.scothon@mattel.com

Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Stephen Teglas, SVP Global Fashion, Home & Infant, stephen.teglas@warnerbros.com

UK Fitness Guru Moves into Housewares

UK Online fitness and diet guru Joe Wicks expands into housewares via a licensing deal with Meyer Corp. Wicks, author of “The Fat-Loss Pan” and host of “The Body Coach” who has 1.5 million Instagram followers, hired Global Merchandising Services last year to expand his reach in licensing. Meyer will field 40-50 SKUs of stainless steel and aluminum fry and sauce pans as well as kitchen gadgets, bakeware and knives starting in early 2019, says Global Licensing Manager Jens Drinkwater. Wicks also has agreements with Macmillan Publishing’s Bluebird Books (cookbooks) and Universal (DVDs).

Contact:

Global Merchandising Services, Jens Drinkwater, Global Licensing Mgr., +44 20 7384 6467, jens@globalmerchservices.com.

Meyer Corp., Carl Wright, Head of Marketing-UK, carlw@meyercorpuk.com

Bon-Ton Files for Bankruptcy

The Bon-Ton Stores filed for bankruptcy protection late Sunday as it moved to close 47 of its 260 stores during the next 12-14 weeks. The department store chain, whose brands also include Carson’s, Younkers and Elder-Beerman, listed $1.59 billion in assets and $1.74 billion in debt as of Oct. 28. Among its top creditors are Estee Lauder ($5 million), Hannesbrands ($3.6 million), Michael Kors Holdings ($2.8 million), Perry Ellis International ($2.3 million), Under Armour ($1.5 million) and Fossil ($686,206). Bon-Ton has secured up to $725 million in debtor-in-possession financing.

Contact:

Bon-Ton Stores, Michael Culhane, Chief Financial Officer, 717-757-7660

Vita Launching Tony Roma’s Barbeque Sauce

Vita Food Products will launch Tony Roma’s barbecue sauces in the spring, as the restaurant chain seeks to expand distribution of licensed products. Vita replaces Greystar as licensee for barbecue sauce with a goal of moving distribution outside the California, Mexico and southwestern U.S. markets where it has been available. The plan also is to have Vita supply sauces for the chain’s restaurants and to licensee Ruprecht’s for its retail line of ribs and pulled meats, says Broad Street Licensing Group’s Bill Cross, whose firm brokered the deal. Vita also makes products under the Jim Beam, 7UP, A&W, Dr. Pepper and other brands. “We wanted to bring the sauces under one supplier to ensure consistency in the product,” says Cross.

Contacts:

Broad Street Licensing Group, Bill Cross, SVP Business Development, 973-655-0598 x12, bill.cross@bslg.com

Tony Roma’s, Jim Rogers, Chief Marketing Officer, 214-343-7800, jimrogers@romacorp.com

Vita Food Products, Bill Zaikos, VP, 312-738-4500, bzaikos@vitafoodproducts.com

Nathan’s Famous’ Q3 License Royalties Rises

Nathan’s Famous’ license royalties rose 5.9% to $4.2 million in fiscal Q3 ended Dec. 24, driven largely by sales of licensed hotdogs to Sam’s Club. Licensee John Morrell & Sons’ sales to Sam’s Club rose 5.1% to $3.68 million. Royalties earned from sales of all other Nathan’s-branded products, including French fries sold by licensee Lamb Weston, increased $58,000, the company said. Overall, the company swung to a $3.7 million net loss from a $699,000 profit a year earlier as it recorded an $8.8 million loss on the early payoff of debt, reflecting a premium paid to redeem 2020 notes. Total sales increased 12.8% to $16.7 million as revenue from the food service segment, which also includes licensed products, rose 14% to $14.6 million.

Contact:

Nathan’s Famous, Ronald DeVos, Chief Financial Officer, 516-338-8500