Cold Stone Creamery today announced a 3-year extension of its licensing partnership with Jelly Belly Candy Company.
The deal allows for the continued production of Cold Stone Creamery Jelly Belly jelly beans, available at a growing number of retail locations nationwide. The product is also expected to be launched internationally.
Cold Stone and Jelly Belly first teamed up in 2008. The line of jelly beans, inspired by Cold Stone's signature ice cream Creations, became the fourth best-selling jelly bean mix in 2010.
"Cold Stone Creamery is known for its innovative products and unmatched in-store experience. Our customers have high expectations for a premium experience with Cold Stone, so our licensing plan and our licensed products must deliver on that same promise," said Chris Henry, executive vice president of licensing for Kahala, Cold Stone's parent company. "Jelly Belly is a great partner who embodies our same philosophy of quality and excellence. Together we've been tremendously successful in providing customers the Cold Stone Creations they crave in a brand of jelly beans they love."
The licensing partnership builds on the creativity of each company's research and development teams.
Rob Swaigen, vice president of marketing for Jelly Belly, said the experience with Cold Stone translates well with the jelly bean brand and is compatible with the company's premium products. First-year sales exceeded expectations at both companies.
In addition to extending the length of their partnership, Cold Stone and Jelly Belly plan to push into additional retail markets and outlets nationwide, and ultimately gain an international presence.
The Cold Stone Creamery Jelly Belly flavors feature some of Cold Stone's most popular flavors, including Apple Pie a la Cold Stone, Chocolate Devotion, Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Our Strawberry Blonde and Birthday Cake Remix.
The Cold Stone-inspired jelly beans are available in bulk as well as a variety of promotional items, including gift sets, gift bags and ice cream cone shaped packaging.
Rocky Mountain's dip into frozen yogurt doesn't affect Cold Stone partnership
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory also has a long-standing partnership with Cold Stone Creamery.
And, Rocky Mountain's recent creation of Aspen Leaf Yogurt, a self-service yogurt store, will not affect that partnership, even though Cold Stone just announced its own foray into the frozen yogurt segment.
The Durango, Colo.-based Rocky Mountain announced that it is expanding the subsidiary and will soon open in Farmington, Colo. The first Aspen Leaf store opened in December in San Antonio. Others are planned for Greeley, Colo., and Boise, Idaho.
In the partnership, Aspen Leaf will use Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory toppings on yogurt selections.
The Aspen Leaf concept represents a new strategy for the chocolatier, and follows an expanding relationship Rocky Mountain has forged with Cold Stone Creamery. But while Cold Stone is owned by another company, Kahala Corp. of Scottsdale, Ariz., Aspen Leaf gives the chocolatier its own frozen-dessert purveyor.
The debut of Aspen Leaf does not affect the company's co-branding relationship with Cold Stone Creamery, however. Under an agreement between the companies, certain stores sell both Rocky Mountain chocolates and Cold Stone ice cream.
"Cold Stone Creamery has a strong relationship with Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and we were informed in advance by our co-branding partner about their new yogurt concept," said Cold Stone president Dan Beem. "We respect Rocky Mountain's desire to enter into the yogurt category, and Cold Stone Creamery will continue to be committed in our co-branding partnership with Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory."
