Bugs Bunny, Tweety And Taz Shape Up To Ship Out - Poore Brothers’ Crunch Toons Brand Snacks Add Flavor To Retail Shelves Nationwide
(June 24, 2003 – Burbank, CA) – Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Poore Brothers, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNAK) today announced that Crunch Toons™, a highly innovative new brand of salted snacks featuring Warner Bros. beloved Looney Tunes characters, including Bugs Bunny, Tweety and the Tasmanian Devil, are now available in major national retail outlets.
“We are thrilled to see Crunch Toons beginning to hit retail shelves,” commented Eric J. Kufel, president and CEO of Poore Brothers. “This innovative new brand utilizes breakthrough manufacturing technology to produce fun, three-dimensional Looney Tunes character-shaped snacks with the taste and crunch of potato chips.”
“We are excited to be working with Poore Brothers on delivering this unique new salted snack to families across the country," said Jordan Sollitto, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "Who would've thought that the sculpted embodiment of Bugs Bunny in an extruded potato product could be so tasty?"
Crunch Toons will be introduced into all key trade channels throughout the summer and fall of 2003, with initial shipments commencing now to key national retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target, and Sam’s Club. The brand will be launched initially with three products: original flavor
Bugs Bunny shaped snacks, cheddar cheese flavor Tweety shaped snacks, and nacho cheese flavor Tasmanian Devil shaped snacks. These products will be available in five channel-specific sizes, as well as three multi-packs of single serving sizes. The suggested retail price is $2.49 for the 6 oz. re-sealable pouch bag.
As previously announced, Poore Brothers has teamed up with Warner Bros. Consumer Products in a multi-year licensing agreement granting Poore Brothers exclusive snack category brand licensing and promotional rights for Looney Tunes characters. As part of the agreement, Poore Brothers has also been granted exclusive brand licensing and promotional rights for Warner Bros. Pictures upcoming live-action feature film, “Looney Tunes: Back in Action,” which is slated to hit movie theaters November 14, 2003. The film stars Brendan Fraser, Jenna Elfman, Heather Locklear and Steve Martin.
Throughout 2003, there will be increasing Looney Tunes awareness as a result of the motion picture and related promotional partner marketing activities. Poore Brothers plans to support the introduction of Crunch Toons with the most comprehensive advertising, consumer promotion and public relations campaign in the company’s history. In the second half of 2003, and particularly in the fourth quarter, Poore Brothers will launch a national television advertising campaign, newspaper coupon program, and public relations activities, as well as feature on-pack promotions such as free Looney Tunes tattoos.
“I am pleased to report that Crunch Toons, the latest addition to our family of “intensely different”™ snack food brands, continues to experience enthusiastic support from retailers,” continued Kufel. “We are expanding the brand into all key trade channels and we are actively working on exciting new Crunch Toons products intended for launch in 2004. We intend to make our partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products flourish.”
About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.
About Poore Brothers, Inc.
With facilities in Indiana and Arizona, Poore Brothers is a marketer and manufacturer of
"Intensely Different"™ salted snack foods under a variety of owned or licensed brand names, including Crunch Toons™, T.G.I. Friday's®, Tato Skins®, Poore Brothers®, Bob's Texas Style®, and Boulder Potato Company®. Further information is available at http://www.poorebrothers.com.# # #