News from Upper Deck

 

Their phenomenal success is set to sweep into the Benelux countries now that Upper Deck International has joined forces with manufacturer Cepia to bring Zhu Zhu Pets to stores across the region.

 

Since the Zhu Zhu Pets (or Go Go Pets as they are called in the UK) range was released in the US and UK, sales have skyrocketed and the level of demand has outstripped supply, leading to constant comparisons in the media to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles craze of the 1980s.

 

These four adorable plush hamsters, Chunk, Pip Squeak, Mr. Squiggles, and Num Nums are artificially intelligent ‘smart pets’ that interact with each other and their environment. The Zhu Zhu Pets like nothing more than exploring their own purpose-built network of tunnels, rooms, and even vehicles! 

 

The pets have two play modes, ‘Talk Mode’, which is their nurturing, loving mode, and ‘Explore Mode’, in which they investigate their habitat and respond to what they discover with a variety of sounds and actions. 

 

Upper Deck International will release the full Zhu Zhu Pets range in May 2010, which includes all five pets, as well as the Hamster House Starter Set, Wheel and Tunnel, Fun House, Adventure Ball, Spiral Slide, and plenty more. 

 

It’s easy to see why these unique pets have become the most sought-after toy this year; kids just love taking care of their own hamsters and building a Zhu Zhu city for them to enjoy. And parents love them too, since they are easy to control, mess-free, and best of all, they live forever!

 

With excellent distribution channels and an impressive track record of bringing the best toys to the market, securing exclusive distribution rights for Zhu Zhu Pets in these territories serves to strengthen Upper Deck’s position as one of today’s market leaders in the hottest toy trends.

 

Matthijs van Straalen, Buyer at Toys XL, says: ‘We can’t wait for Zhu Zhu Pets to hit our shelves, and are already receiving enquiries from kids and parents who are desperate to get their hands on them. We plan to celebrate their arrival with lots of fun in-store promotional activities for our customers.’

 

‘Zhu Zhu Pets are one of the toy industry’s greatest success stories of modern times’, says Nico Blauw, CEO of Upper Deck International BV. ‘Here at Upper Deck, we are delighted to be bringing this latest craze to the Benelux region, and we are proud to welcome Zhu Zhu Pets to our winning portfolio of some of today’s most popular toys and games.’

 

About Upper Deck International

 

Starting out in 1999 and quickly becoming a leader in Trading Card Games based on popular licenses such as World of Warcraft and Huntik, Upper Deck International is now an important player in the toy and entertainment industry. With headquarters based in the Netherlands and offices around Europe as well as Hong Kong and Japan, UDI holds strategic positions in key entertainment markets. Having secured exclusive pan-European toy rights with companies such as Moose (Crazy Soundz and Spongi), Playmates (Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s), All-in-One (Mickey Says), and Big Bocca (Huntik toys), and regional distribution for brands Bakugan and Tech Deck (Spin Master), Dinosaur King toys (Playmates) and Gormiti (GP), UDI is also investing heavily in IP development. An original line of pre-school products including Scrolly and Kikaboo! has been developed under classic Disney licenses and complete rollout is scheduled for the spring of 2010. For additional information please visit: upperdeck-international.com.