The winners of this year’s Licensing Awards were crowned in a glittering ceremony on September 10, with more than 1,200 industry executives filling The Great Room at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel for an evening of celebration. The event opened with a special industry spoof of BBC’s The Traitors.

Jakki Brown, MD at Max Publishing (which owns and organises The Licensing Awards) officially welcomed everyone, saying: “There are 1,200 of us here, all to celebrate everything that is great about the licensing industry – the people, the products, the brands and the passion. We’re all in the entertainment business and so this event, the largest awards event for the licensing industry in the world, just has to reflect that. It should be fun and memorable – and hopefully tonight will be that and much more.”

The multi-award-nominated comedian Suzi Ruffell hosted the awards, with the evening coming to an emotional close with long term licensing professional Richard Hollis being honoured with this year’s Honorary Achievement Award.

The awards were once again backed by Brand Licensing Europe as headline sponsor, with further support from industry trade body, Licensing International. 

Here are the key awards that are particularly relevant to Gifts Today: 

THE UK RISING STAR AWARD
Corinne Duckworth, commercial executive, Dreamtex

BEST RETAILER OF KIDS’ LICENSED PRODUCTS (AGE GROUP 5-16)
Primark

BEST RETAILER OF ADULT LICENSED PRODUCTS
HMV

THE RADAR AWARD
Cardfactory

BEST OVERSEAS RETAILER
H&M

BEST LICENSED PROMOTIONS CAMPAIGN
Cluedo Cooking Sauces Promotion with Premier Foods

BEST LICENSED TOYS OR GAMES RANGE
Traitors The Official Board Game from Vivid Goliath

BEST LICENSED HEALTH AND BEAUTY RANGE
SpongeBob SquarePants Bath and Body Collection from LUSH

BEST LICENSED PRESCHOOL APPAREL OR ACCESSORIES RANGE (0-5 YEARS)
Peppa Pig x Natural History Museum Collection for F&F at Tesco from Blues Group

BEST LICENSED CHILDREN’S APPAREL OR ACCESSORIES RANGE
Squishmallows Collection from H&M

BEST LICENSED DRESS-UP OR PARTYWARE RANGE
Wednesday Dress-up Range from Rubies Masquerade

BEST LICENSED PAPER PRODUCTS OR STATIONERY RANGE
Crayola Kraft Range from Hunter Price

BEST LICENSED GIFTWARE, HOME DÉCOR, TABLEWARE OR HOUSEWARES RANGE
Miffy x Cath Kidston Collection from Cath Kidston

BEST LICENSED FOOD OR DRINK RANGE
Elf Doughnut Collection from Krispy Kreme

BEST SUSTAINABLE LICENSED PRODUCT
Happy Place by Fearne Cotton AW23 Collection with Fabacus from Nobody’s Child

BEST PRESCHOOL LICENSED PROPERTY (AGE GROUP 0-5)
Bluey

BEST CHILDREN’S OR TWEEN LICENSED PROPERTY (AGE GROUP 5-12)
Squishmallows

BEST MUSIC OR CELEBRITY LICENSED PROPERTY
The Beatles

BEST SPORTS LICENSED PROPERTY  
Manchester City Football Club

THE CLASSIC LICENSED PROPERTY AWARD
Hello Kitty

WHAT KIDS LOVE AWARD
Pokémon