Media Contact: Julie Chalpan
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CANDYRIFIC SECURES LICENSING AGREEMENT FOR
UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND ILLUMINATION ENTERTAINMENT’S
DESPICABLE ME FRANCHISE AND UPCOMING PREQUEL MINIONS

CandyRific has been granted rights to produce candy novelties based on Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s Despicable Me global film franchise, including the upcoming prequel Minions, opening in theaters July 10, 2015. The licensing agreement was awarded by Universal Partnerships & Licensing.

CandyRific will launch three novelties: Minions Singing Light and Sound Talker, Minions Spin Pop and Minions Candy Character Fan. These items will be available May 15, 2015.

Item:  Minions Singing Light & Sound Talker
Description:  Stuart sings atop this light and sound talker that comes complete with .53 oz. of banana shaped, banana flavored candy.
SRP:  $4.99
Shipping:  Six, 12-count display per case

Item: Minions Spin Pop
Description: Check out Bob on this animated spin pop from CandyRific. The lollipop is .42 oz. of candy.
SRP: $4.99
Shipping: Six, 12-count display per case

 
Item: Minions Candy Character Fan
Description: Kevin will keep you cool this summer, sitting on top of this character fan, complete with.53 ounces of banana shaped, banana flavored candy.
SRP: $4.99
Shipping: Six, 12-count displays per case

About Minions

The story of Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s Minions begins at the dawn of time. Starting as single-celled yellow organisms, Minions evolve through the ages, perpetually serving the most despicable of masters. Continuously unsuccessful at keeping these masters—from T. rex to Napoleon—the Minions find themselves without someone to serve and fall into a deep depression.

But one Minion named Kevin has a plan, and he—alongside teenage rebel Stuart and lovable little Bob—ventures out into the world to find a new evil boss for his brethren to follow. The trio embarks upon a thrilling journey that ultimately leads them to their next potential master, Scarlet Overkill (Academy Award® winner Sandra Bullock), the world’s first-ever female super-villain. They travel from frigid Antarctica to 1960s New York City, ending in mod London, where they must face their biggest challenge to date: saving all of Minionkind...from annihilation.

Featuring a soundtrack of hit music from the ’60s that still permeates our culture today, Minions is produced by Illumination’s Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, and is directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda. Brian Lynch has written the screenplay for the 3D-CG comedy adventure, and Chris Renaud serves as executive producer of the film. www.minionsmovie.com

About Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

About Universal Partnerships & Licensing
Universal Partnerships & Licensing (UP&L) oversees NBCUniversal’s consumer product and digital licensing for Universal Pictures, NBC Television, Focus Features and Sprout Channel. This dedicated division is also responsible for film, home entertainment and television promotions. UP&L is part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. 

About Illumination Entertainment
Illumination Entertainment, founded by Chris Meledandri in 2007, is one of the entertainment industry’s leading producers of all-audience event films. In July 2010, Illumination, which has an exclusive financing and distribution partnership with Universal Pictures, released its first film, Despicable Me, starring Steve Carell, which earned more than $540 million worldwide and launched a beloved global franchise. With the success of 2011’s Hop (over $183 million worldwide), 2012’s Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax and 2013’s juggernaut Despicable Me 2— the highest-grossing first-run film in Universal’s history and the year’s third-highest-grossing film at the worldwide box office—Illumination’s films have made almost $2 billion. Universal and Illumination’s next film Minions, starring Academy Award®-winner Sandra Bullock and Jon Hamm, written by Brian Lynch, and directed by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud, arrives in theaters on July 10, 2015. Fans may also experience Minion Mayhem in 3D with the Ultra-HD movie motion simulator adventure at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.

CandyRific sells candy and novelty product combinations utilizing popular licensed brands. Brands in CandyRific’s portfolio include M&M’S® Brand, Star Wars, Marvel, Minions, SKITTLES® Brand, STARBURST® Brand, Warner Bros., Disney, Scooby-Doo, and Dreamworks. All products have a high perceived value, are merchandised in colorful displays and are especially popular with collectors. The company has distribution with most of the major retailers in the U.S. and distributors in almost every major market in the world. CandyRific has appeared on the Inc. 500 and Inc. 5000 lists of fastest growing companies in the U.S. consecutively for the last seven years and was named one of Louisville’s Businesses of the Year for 2011.

Retailers interested in CandyRific novelties, please contact us.