Licensing International Excellence Awards Winners Unveiled

The winners of the 2023 Licensing International Excellence Awards were unveiled Monday night in a ceremony that brought together industry executives from around the world to celebrate the best of the global brand licensing industry.

The 30 award winners were selected from 201 finalists from across the globe. More than 850 submissions were received, narrowed down by an expert global judging panel and voted on by members of the licensing industry at large.

This year’s Excellence Awards were hosted by Cakewalk Entertainment founder and CEO George Leon and La Panadería President and CEO Maca Rotter. The awards were presented by Alifish, Jazwares, Spaceport, and Spirit.

The Excellence Awards honor innovation and creativity in the licensing community. They spotlight the power of brands to connect with consumers and further a company’s goals; celebrate how licensees develop and bring those products to market; and applaud how retailers highlight licenses on their shelves.

This year’s Excellence Awards featured several new categories to better reflect the constantly evolving nature of the global brand licensing business. New categories included the Most Impactful Service Provider, which was awarded to Octane5, and Best Sustainability Initiative, which was taken home by Goodyear Brake Calipers – FDP Brakes by IMG.

“The Licensing International Excellence Awards are a testament to the power of brands and their ability to inspire products and programs with lasting appeal,” said Maura Regan, President of Licensing International. “It was incredible to gather together with the global brand licensing community to celebrate the industry’s incredible innovation.”

Here are the 2023 Licensing International Excellence Awards winners:

BEST LICENSED PRODUCTS

Apparel, Footwear & Accessories for Corporate Brands — adidas AG – adidas Original Superstar LEGO Shoes

Apparel, Footwear & Accessories for Entertainment Brands — UGG – UGG Sesame Street Collection

Appliances, Housewares & Electronics for Corporate Brands — Smeg – Coca-Cola Refrigerator

Appliances, Housewares & Electronics for Entertainment Brands — Dalstrong – Call of Duty Performance Culinary Collection

Digital: Apps, Software, Video Games & NFTs — Funko – Funko Digital Pop! NFT with Kellogg’s (The Joester Loria Group)

Food or Beverage for Corporate Brands — Mentos/Perfetti Van Melle – Mentos with Fanta

Food or Beverage for Entertainment Brands — Hello Fresh – Buddy the Elf Spaghetti Meal Kit

Health & Beauty Aids — SheGlam – Willy Wonka Collection

Home Décor — Jay Franco and Sons – Hasbro Board Game Blanket

Publishing, Social Expression, Back-to-School — Chronicle Books – LEGO in Focus

Toys, Games, Novelties, Role Play (ages 0-8) — JAKKS Pacific – Mario Kart Ride-on Racer

Toys, Games, Novelties, Role Play (ages 8+) — The LEGO Group – LEGO Ideas The Starry Night with MoMA

BEST LICENSED BRANDS

Art, Design, Museum — Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam

Celebrity, Influencer, Fashion — Dolly Parton – Speckled Bird (IMG)

Corporate — Kodak – Eastman Kodak Company

Digitally Native, Gaming, NFT — Minecraft – Microsoft (CAA Brand Management)

Entertainment Animated — Naruto – Shueisha, TV Tokyo, VIZ Media

Entertainment Live Action — Stranger Things – Netflix

Food, Beverage, Restaurant — Coca-Cola – The Coca-Cola Company

Publishing, Stationery, Social Expression — Crayola

Sports, eSports, Collegiate — NFL Players Association

Toy — Squishmallows – Jazwares

OTHER AWARDS

Best Experiential or Location-Based Initiative — Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience – Ravenswood Experiences

Best Collaboration: Fashion, Footwear & Accessories — Burberry x Minecraft (CAA Brand Management)

Best Collaboration: HBA, Food & Beverage, Other — Starbucks x Emily in Paris

Best Licensed Promotion — Tiffany & Co. x Andy Warhol Holiday 2022

Best Retailer: Corporate, Lifestyle, Fashion, Sports — Vans – Crayola

Best Retailer: Entertainment, Character — Bloomingdale’s – Bridgerton

Best Sustainability Initiative — Goodyear Brake Calipers – FDP Brakes (IMG)

Most Impactful Service Provider — Octane5