18 Nov 08

Purple Ronnie isn’t just funny and cheeky: next year he’s going to be sweet as well!

Beacon Confectionery Limited, a leading supplier of licensed character confectionery, has been awarded a license to produce special Purple Ronnie-branded gift confectionery for Valentine’s Day 2009. And Greencore Cakes and Desserts is planning to launch the latest in its highly successful range of Purple Ronnie celebration cakes early next year.

For Valentine’s Day, Beacon is planning a pack of milk chocolate hearts. It will go out with an edition of Purple Ronnie’s Little Guide for Lovers, specially produced in paperback form for the occasion. The target market for the confectionery items is expected to be young male adults along with their gift-buying partners, a market for which Purple Ronnie has a high recognition factor and a great deal of appeal. Beacon Confectionery aims to sell the mini-book and chocolate hearts through major supermarket chains. Tesco is already planning to stock the gift pack in selected stores.

Greencore’s Purple Ronnie cakes, available through major supermarkets in the New Year, aim to repeat the stunning success of this year’s offering, which, according to TNS, is number three in the character celebration cake market, selling 4,000 units per week. The design of the two new 2009 cakes is a closely guarded secret but Greencore has revealed that they will be affordably priced and aimed at people wanting to give friends, housemates or colleagues a little extra treat on a special occasion.

Deborah Williams, Marketing Director of Beacon Confectionery, says: "Purple Ronnie is a high-visibility brand with which many young men identify and which many women associate with gifts for husbands and partners. He is also funny, positive and likes the good things in life. He is the perfect partner to help us bring our confectionery to this huge, untapped market."

Sarah Day, Marketing Controller, Greencore Cakes & Desserts, says: "Purple Ronnie cakes have been strong performers for some time, and we feel certain that our latest two will continue that trend. We are looking forward enormously to bringing them to fans both of Ronnie and of cakes!"

Janet Woodward, Head of Licensing for Coolabi, the company that owns and licenses Purple Ronnie, says: "Beacon and Greencore are not only producers of high-quality confectionery and celebration cakes but companies that understand the licensed character market. Beacon has designed a product that is appealing and beautifully packaged and, naturally, delicious, but also perfectly suited to Purple Ronnie. Greencore has done Ronnie proud in the past and we fully expect its latest celebration cakes to emulate the triumphs of their predecessors."

For further information please contact:

Jane Garner & Sallie Deary

jgarner@kilog.co.uk / sdeary@kilog.co.uk

kilogrammedia ltd

Bury Barn

Brent Pelham

Hertfordshire

SG9 0AU

t + 44 ( 0 ) 1279 778 919

f + 44 ( 0 ) 1279 778 929

Links: Purple Ronnie