Contender Ent. Group, which owns, develops, markets and licenses worldwide the hit preschool animation PEPPA PIG, has announced the award of three more PEPPA licenses for the U.K. -- for partyware, amusement plush and educational toys.
Party Plus, a leader in the production and supply of children's themed partyware, has been awarded a license to supply PEPPA-branded party product, including paper plates and cups, napkins, table covers, party bags and invites. The PEPPA partyware will be available from June through the company's website and mail order, and in the high street through independent retailers of party goods.
Steven Wilson, Director of Party Plus, said, "PEPPA's enormous popularity with the preschool market makes her an obvious choice for partyware. We are delighted to have the opportunity to offer this range, which we are sure will be enormously successful."
PMS International, which supplies a wide range of toys, gifts and novelties, will be producing a range of PEPPA plush aimed specifically at the amusement market. The range -- Peppa, George, Daddy and Mummy Pig plush in sizes ranging from six to 24 inches -- will be used as prizes and promotions in theme parks, family entertainment centers, and independent amusement arcades, notably at holiday parks such as Butlins.
The first plush will be launched at the ATEI coin-op and amusement show and exhibition in January. Stock will be generally available in 2009 in time for the Easter holiday season.
PMS Buyer Steven Beverley said, "PEPPA is ideal for this market. She is now at the stage where she is one of the most recognizable preschool characters in the country and one that children and their parents will be keen to win as prizes in arcades or promotions."
InspirationWorks, a company that specializes in infant, preschool and youth electronic products that inspire development and learning as well as fun and entertainment, will be offering a number of electronic learning products. These include PEPPA PIG FUN PHONICS, an illustrated backlit alphabet board with eight activities, and the PEPPA PIG MAGIC MIRROR, which features sound effects associated with the main PEPPA characters.
InspirationWorks' PEPPA range will launch in July for the fall/winter period and will be available through Woolworths, Argos, Magsons, Club and Toymaster as well as online.
Tracey Devine, Marketing Manager of InspirationWorks, said, "PEPPA was an obvious choice for us when further strengthening our licensing range. We are extremely excited by the retailer reaction we have had so far and are confident in PEPPA's long-term potential."
Andrew Carley, Head of Contender Merchandising said, "The variety and diversity of these and other licenses recently awarded attest to the growing strength of the PEPPA brand across a wide range of categories. These three licensees are leaders in their fields and we are delighted to have them on board."
PEPPA PIG launched in 2003. The show airs daily on Five's Milkshake! block and Nick Jr. in the U.K. The character is now consistently placed in the top five preschool licenses in the U.K., according to data from NPD.
