Gummybear Signs Seven Licenses in Greece

Gummybear, the popular Internet music character known from his appearance on YouTube and used in advertisements for Ifantis salami products, has now signed seven licenses with products due to launch this year.

In the four weeks to Christmas, Gummybear's European licensing agent AT New Media, signed deals for leisure plush, retail plush, back-to-school bags, lunch kits and stationery, as well as sugar confectionery, balls and rackets, beach toys, melamine tableware, creative stationery and books. Several others are in negotiation, including T-shirts, bedding, towels and chocolate confectionery.

The craze took off when Ifantis adapted the Internet animation for the song "I Am A Gummybear." to promote its processed meat product and the colorful video and catchy tune have captured the imaginations of Greeks. Gummybear character costumes, made by Rainbow Productions, have been appearing on TV. Universal Music has sold 300,000 units of the single in the Greek market.

Gummybear is trademarked as Gummibär, due to the unrelated confectionery brand of the same name.