U.K. Licensing Awards Reveals Finalists

Close to 5,000 licensed products were entered into the product awards this year and the finalists were chosen by a judging panel comprised of nearly 100 top retail buyers from companies including Sainsbury’s, Argos, Primark, Claire's, Toys 'R' Us, Tesco, Boots, The Entertainer, Asda, BHS, Paperchase, Lloyds Pharmacy and Rymans.

This year's finalists are:

PRODUCT AWARDS

Best Licensed Toys or Games Range:

Despicable Me 2
R/C inflatable Stuart and Dave Minions with sound from Bladez Toyz
Frozen
toddler doll range from Jakks Pacific
"Paw Patrol" toy range from Spin Master
"Peppa Pig" construction toys from Simba Smoby
Shopkins series three collectible mini figures and play set from
Moose Enterprise/GP Flair
Star Wars
Roar and Rage Chewbacca and Lightsaber Battle Yoda action plush from Underground Toys

Best Licensed Dress-Up or Partyware Range:

Frozen
light-up princesses range from Rubie's Masquerade
Marvel
Avengers: Age Of Ultron
dress-up from Rubie's Masquerade
Marvel superheroes dress-up from Morph Costumes
Minions
novelty party range from Icon Live
Paddington Bear partyware range from Creative Party
Roald Dahl children’s dress-up range from Smiffys

Best Licensed Preschool Apparel Range (0-5 years):

Minions
build-your-own PJs for [email protected] from Cooneen By Design
Minions
preschool collection for TU at Sainsbury’s from Smith & Brooks
Minnie Mouse denim girls' preschool range from Primark
Paddington babywear for Tesco from Brecrest Fashion
Peter Rabbit baby range for M&S from Watermelon
Star Wars
baby range for Mothercare from Dennicci

Best Licensed Children’s or Adult Apparel Range:

Coca-Cola adult range from Retro Freds by Brand Alliance
DC Comics Superman collection from Fabric Flavours
Minions
boys’ range for [email protected] from Cooneen by Design
Despicable Me 2
children’s footwear range for [email protected] from William Lamb Footwear
Frozen
nightdress for TU Sainsbury’s from Cooneen by Design
Harry Potter
fall/winter '14 ladies range from Primark

Best Written, Listening or Learning Range:

Alien
classic range from Titan Publishing Group
Frozen
magazine from Egmont Publishing
Jurassic World: Where Dinosaurs Come To Life
augmented reality books from Carlton Publishing
"Peppa Pig" book and app range from Penguin Random House
"My Very Hungry Caterpillar" app from Story Toys
"Winnie The Pooh" classic collection from Egmont Publishing

Best Licensed Paper Products or Stationery Range:

Despicable Me
stationery range from Pyramid International
"Great British Bake Off" stationery and gift range from Otter House
House of Holland stationery range from Blueprint Collections
Despicable Me
greeting cards, gift bags, calendars and giftwrap from Danilo Promotions
Star Wars
greeting card range from Hallmark Cards
Winnie the Pooh Bother-Free Days card range from Moonpig

Best Licensed Giftware Range:

Cinderella
adult jewelry collection from Icon Live
IWM Victory Is In The Kitchen range from Kimm & Miller
Despicable Me
Minion-Made plush backpacks from Posh Paws
The Makery giftware range from Wild and Wolf
Mr. Men and Little Miss grow kits from Gift Republic
Winnie The Pooh classic gift range from Widdop Bingham

Best Licensed Food or Drink Range:

"The Beano" Sweet Shop and selection tin from Rose Marketing
DC Super Heroes biscuit collection from Biscuiteers
Frozen
baking range from Fiddes Payne
Jammie Dodger celebration cake from Finsbury Food Group
Minions
ice creams, lollies and squeezers range from Icefresh Foods
Snowman And The Snowdog
chocolate gift range from Thorntons

Best Licensed Home Décor, Tableware or Housewares Range:

Frozen
crystal bedding and home furnishings collection from Character World
Happy Jackson storage tin range From Elite
Roald Dahl bedding and accessories collection from Ashley Wilde
Star Wars
homewares collection from Half Moon Bay
Ted Baker Portmeirion The Fine Collection Rosie Lee from Portmeirion
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
nursery collection from East Coast Nursery

Best Licensed Brand Range:

Kellogg’s vintage health and beauty range from Mad Beauty
Historic Royal Palaces Baroque Gardening collection from Briers
PlayStation retro range from Bioworld
Rugby World Cup collection from Ulster Weavers
V&A spring/summer '15 collection from Oasis
Volkswagen retro housewares range from Half Moon Bay

The Innovation Award:

"Doctor Who" Cyberman Edge sculpture from Robert Harrop
Historic Royal Palaces fashion collection No. 4 From Hobbs
Metal Gear Solid 5 The Phantom Pain boombox from Konami Digital Entertainment
SpongeBob Square Pants cycle jersey from Scimitar Sports
Star Wars
Melting Storm Trooper from Blue Sky Designs
"Thunderbirds" classic merchMAKER range from Merchant On Demand

BEST LICENSING MARKETING COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN

For this award category,

a panel of marketing and promotions experts judged the entries to arrive at the finalists line-up, each of which demonstrate strong partnerships forged between licensed properties and key FMCG brands.

"Adventure Time" Dr. Martens Bounce Mob stunt
"The Beano" at Brewers Fayre
The Gruffalo
Forestry Commission trails
Paddington Warbeartons campaign
The SpongeBob Movie
Clean Start Appeal for British Red Cross
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Giant Wiggle for Action for Children

RETAILER AWARDS

The finalists of the Retailer Award categories were decided as a result of an online nomination process involving manufacturers, suppliers and importers of licensed products, inviting them to state which retailers have excelled in their retail delivery of licensed merchandise to the public over the last year. These results were then taken into account by a validation panel of industry experts to arrive at the final line-up.

Best Preschool Retailer of Licensed Products (age group 0-5):

Argos
The Entertainer
Mothercare
Next
Sainsbury’s
Smyths

Best Kids Retailer of Licensed Products (age group 6-16):

Argos
Asda
The Entertainer
Next
Primark
Tesco

Best Retailer of Adult Licensed Products:

Forbidden Planet
HMV
Next
Primark
Tesco
Urban Outfitters

The Radar Award:

This award is for any U.K.-based retailer (brick-and-mortar or online) that have "come on the radar" by upping their licensing activities in the last year.