Christchurch's Cookie Time is poised to start licensing its One Square Meal in the US after last week’s launch in Australia with Sanitarium.

A team will head to the US in the second quarter of this year to engage with prospective licensing partners and explore further opportunities for One Square Meal in North American territories.

Trademarks for One Square Meal are already in place in Australia, Canada, Japan, the US and the European Union. Trademark applications are also under way in a number of longer-term markets.

The licensing arrangement with Sanitarium in Australia has taken 18 months to commercialise from initial discussions through to production, Cookie Time says.

The Australian product is known as Sanitarium One Square Meal, with Sanitarium holding the licence for Australia to manufacture, distribute, market and sell the product.

Cookie Time will retain the trademarks and patent.

Sanitarium has a 12-month advertising and marketing campaign planned to support the launch, which started with Coles and Woolworths supermarkets last week and will be followed by convenience stores. 

The product is initially available in two flavours – Apricot with Manuka Honey and Cranberry with Manuka Honey – in a two-pack format. Six packs and bite sized bars will likely follow later in the year.

Sanitarium used two sports-linked brand ambassadors for the Australian launch: soccer and cricket international Ellyse Perry and triathlon star Brad Kahlefeldt.

Cookie Time general manager Lincoln Booth said specific numbers around the Australian deal were confidential but multi-million dollar sales were projected for year one. The licensing agreement was long term, with royalties set as a percentage of sales.  

“Having similar values and the right capabilities were critical in putting together this deal,” Booth said. “Licensing is the pinnacle achievement in terms of business success. It is an absolute confirmation of the value and international relevance of your intellectual property.

“We’ve got some big growth plans and opportunities in play and we see this as the first of many licensing opportunities for us, with North America our next goal.”