The winners of the Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards 2024 have been sharing their joy with LicensingSource.net as to what it means to win one of the prestigious awards.
Held on Thursday 25 April at the Royal Lancaster London, the B&LLAs saw some 400 industry executives gather to mark and celebrate the sector’s achievements over the past 12 months.
To read the full list of winners at the B&LLAs 2024, simply click on this link.
Beth Broadhead, brands manager, DFS commercial/marketing, told LicensingSource.net that winning the award for Best Specialist Retailer of Licensed Brands filled the team with “immense pride”.
She commented: “This achievement is a testament to the dedication we pour into collaborating with our brand partners. It takes a collective effort akin to a small village to meticulously execute licensed brands to such high standards. We extend huge thanks to B&LLAs for consistently championing our efforts and supporting the licensing industry. Alongside all our brand partners, who place their trust in us to house their brands.”
Iceland was recognised as Best Supermarket of Licensed Brands, with Oliver Gilding, head of licensing and innovation – who also picked up the Rising Star accolade – commenting: “Last year saw Iceland launch 100s of new licensed products with our existing brands and the launch of new ranges with Myprotein and Blue Dragon, both of which have been hugely successful.
“It was brillant to be recognised and win supermarket of the year – it is an amazing achievement and testament to the wider teams involved within the business and our strategic focus on offering our customers a point of difference.”
The Laura Ashley brand was a big winner, picking up a trio of awards during the afternoon – Best Brand Licensed Children’s Product or Range for its collection with Mamas & Papas, Best Brand Licensed Electrical &/Or DIY Products or Range for the Laura Ashley China Rose Appliances from My VQ and Best Licensed Design-led Lifestyle Brand.
Carolyn D’Angelo, senior md, Gordon Brothers Brands and president of Laura Ashley Global, commented: “It’s an honour to win three awards in the Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards against such integral players in the industry. Having expanded our product ranges greatly over the last few years, and only last week relaunched our fashion collection for SS24, it’s an exciting time for the brand, with lots more to come.”
Van Gogh Museum walked away with a brace of awards – The Sustainability Brand Licensed Product or Range for its collaboration with Cariuma and Best Licensed Heritage or Institution Brand.
Marijn Veraart, head of global partnerships and licensing at Van Gogh Museum, commented: “Our licensing partnerships continue to flourish, earning recognition for our accomplishments. We take pride in the distinctive products we create alongside esteemed partners such as Cariuma, designed with durability and environmental consciousness in focus.
“Winning the prestigious award for Best Licensed Heritage or Institution Brand is the cherry on the top; a delightful pinnacle of our efforts. None of this would have been achievable without the dedication of our amazing team, the innovative spirit of our partners and the invaluable support of our agent, Licensing Link Europe.”
Best Brand Licensed Food or Beverage Product or Range was won by the Nadiya x Schwartz Recipe Kits and Seasonings from McCormick (UK).
Senior brand manager, Hayley Napier-Barr said: “We are thrilled to have won a prestigious B&LLA award for our Nadiya X Schwartz range of recipe mixes, kits and seasonings and be recognised by the licensing industry. It has been an exciting journey working with Nadiya, her team and Start Licensing to build a tasty range of products that offer home cooks new fuss-free, mealtime favourites, and that celebrate the growing interest and demand for diverse cuisines in the UK.”
Also celebrating was Brandgenuity on behalf of its client Edgewell and Designer Parfums following the Best Brand Licensed Health & Beauty Product or Range win for the Hawaiian Tropic Tropi-Cool Cooling Mists Collection.
“We are thrilled to be recognised for the collaboration between our client Edgewell and Designer Parfums for their fun and unique cooling fragrance mist collection,” said Teri Niadna, md at Brandgenuity Europe. “Being a proud sponsor of the B&LLAs allows us to be inspired by incredible innovation and we congratulate all of the hard work on display over the last year in the licensing industry.”
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