HIT Entertainment has revealed the winners of its fourth annual International Pingu Awards during Licensing International Expo in Las Vegas.

The International Pingus are awarded to licensees, agents and retail partners to celebrate outstanding achievement across eight categories of the licensing industry, including the prestigious agent of the year, which goes this year to Cocoban, HIT’s agent for Korea. Despite economic challenges, Cocoban has significantly raised the level of awareness of Thomas and Friends in Korea, making it the No. 1 boys’ preschool brand in the country. Cocoban has made the HIT portfolio a major player in the Korean licensing market.

Other Pingus included:

Food and Beverage Licensee of the Year: BIP, Germany, for Bob the Builder confectionary.

Hard Goods Licensee of the Year: Learning Curve, EMEA, for Thomas Wooden Railways.

Soft Goods Licensee of the Year: Casco Blue, Australia, for Thomas & Friends apparel.

Live Event of the Year: CPLG, Benelux, for Thomas Weekend.

Attraction of the Year: Pleasure Cast, Japan, for Thomas Town Attraction, Shin-Masatu.

Third-Party Promotion of the Year: Sumitomo, Japan, for its Pingu and Sumitomo promotion.

Retailer of the Year: Mueller, Germany, for its support of Bob the Builder and Thomas & Friends.