NESTLÉ
PURINA TO LAUNCH INNOVATIVE LINE OF PET-CENTERED ACCESSORIES WITH
ETHICAL PRODUCTS, INC.
NEW YORK, November 7, 2007 — Purina, one
of the most trusted and recognized brands in pet care, announced
today that it has signed an agreement with Ethical Products, Inc.,
a leader in new and innovative pet accessory products, to launch
a line of pet accessories for dogs and cats. The new product line,
which includes leashes, collars, toys and feeding accessories,
marks the launch of Nestlé Purina?s licensing program, brought
to them by The Beanstalk Group.
According to data from Packaged Facts, a consumer research company, and cited in the August 6, 2007, issue of BusinessWeek, Americans now spend $41 billion on their pets, and are expected to spend $52 billion within the next two years. However, the overwhelming majority of non-food pet product brands are either not well-known or completely unbranded. Now pet owners will be able to turn to the trusted Purina name for a complete pet care solution. Distinctive designs, packaging and merchandising, accompanied by the Purina famous red and white Checkerboard logo, will help ensure a seamless integration of licensed products with Purina?s current product offering.
?We are always seeking new opportunities to engage and serve pets and their owners,? said Tom Blair, Vice President, Business Development, Nestlé Purina PetCare Company. ?Ethical Products? outstanding presence in the pet accessory segment as well as its reputation for quality and innovation made it the best partner for the Purina line of pet accessories, which will be as functional and fun for pets as they are trusted by pet owners.?
The Purina line of pet care accessories will be uniquely pet-centered and designed with the pet in mind. The combination of Purina?s 80 years of experience in the pet care industry and Ethical Products? best-in-class manufacturing and distribution capabilities is meant to produce a best-in-class line of products.
?Purina?s insights into how pets and owners interact with each other is an invaluable resource that is unparalleled in the industry,? said Jonathan Zelinger, president of Ethical Products, Inc. ?This information will be essential to the development of our Purina line of innovative, functional, and fun pet care products and accessories. We believe the line will be unlike anything found in the pet accessories segment today.?
?We are delighted to assist Nestlé Purina, the category leader, as it introduces its first integrated licensing program,? said Michael Stone, president and CEO of The Beanstalk Group. ?As the pet accessories segment continues to experience strong growth, Purina is well-positioned to seize the opportunity to extend its brand in new ways for the benefit of pets and their owners.?
Purina pet accessories are slated to launch at retail in fall of 2008 and will be sold in all channels where Purina pet food brands are currently offered. The Beanstalk Group will continue to help build Purina?s licensing program by adding other key licensees in close-to-core categories.
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About Nestlé Purina PetCare Company
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. The headquarters for Nestlé Purina PetCare Company is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis, Missouri. The company is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A.?the world's largest food company.
About Ethical Products, Inc.
Established in 1951, Ethical Products, Inc. is a privately owned company widely known as the leader in the development and marketing of new and innovative pet accessory products. Ethical Products and the Spot and Fashion Pet brands continually rank as the most recognizable brands in the Pet Industry. Fashion Pet is the canine apparel brand of Ethical Products, Inc. which has its corporate offices in Bloomfield, NJ. The staff designs, sources and develops products from more than 15 countries around the world.
About The Beanstalk Group
The Beanstalk Group is the world?s leading brand licensing consultancy. Beanstalk extends brands the smart way through careful, strategic, and creative development of licensed products. The company works with blue-chip brands and other high-profile clients to leverage licensing as a strategic tool to enhance brand awareness, increase consumer touch-points, and generate revenue. Beanstalk also works with manufacturers to help identify and acquire compelling brands and properties to help them gain competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Beanstalk is the licensing agency of record for 35 world-class
brands including Harley-Davidson, AT&T, Ford Motor Company, Mary-Kate
and Ashley, and The Andy Warhol Foundation. Beanstalk has developed
more than 4,000 brand extensions in every major product category,
resulting in more than $3 billion in retail sales in 2006 alone.
Headquartered in New York and London, Beanstalk?s global reach includes
offices throughout the world. For more information, please visit
www.beanstalk.com.
Beanstalk is a part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:
OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com).
Omnicom is a leading global advertising, marketing and corporate
communications company.
For more information please contact:
Lindsey Schiffman
The Beanstalk Group
lindsey.schiffman@beanstalk.com
Tel: (212) 303-1142
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