Coolabi Group has appointed Retail Monster UK as its licensing agent and retail representation partner for the hit IP Warrior Cats in the UK and Ireland.
The deal builds on the established partnership between Coolabi and Retail Monster US in North America, where the brand launched at retail across Walmart and Target.
Retail Monster UK will lead a retail-first licensing program targeting core categories including apparel, accessories, stationery, collectibles, home, FMCG, and games.
Toy Distribution Performance and Retail Response
In the UK, Character Options manages distribution for the Bonkers Toys line. Following a June launch, consumer demand has driven early plans to accelerate into season two across plush variants and blind box collectible figures.
“Following a great preview at London Toy Fair and our subsequent launch in June, sustained consumer demand has been incredible. In fact, after less than three months in the market, sales are so strong that we are already accelerating into season two,” stated Mark Hunt, Marketing Director at Character Options. “This exceptional performance is mirrored across the entire portfolio — from our Mini Mystery Plush to the blind box collectible figures.”
Animated Series Adaptation & Franchise Metrics
The licensing agreement follows the announcement that the fantasy book series is being adapted into an animated TV series by Tencent Video and animation studio Original Force for Disney+ and Disney Channel, under a deal with Coolabi Group and Disney Kids & Family.
Created by Working Partners (a Coolabi Group company) and published by HarperCollins in English-speaking markets, the Erin Hunter-penned book series has achieved significant global scale:
- Publishing Reach: Over 90 million books sold across 38 languages.
- Digital Engagement: Over 2 million annual users on the official website, 50 million monthly YouTube views, and nearly 3 billion views on TikTok.
- Gaming Presence: The Warrior Cats: Ultimate Edition game on Roblox has accumulated over 728 million plays.
Executive Commentary
“The Warrior Cats franchise already has a global fanbase across publishing, Roblox, TikTok and YouTube, and we anticipate that this will grow with the launch of the TV series. The demand for consumer products in North America has been incredible and we are confident that through our partnership with Retail Monster, we will see the same results in the UK and Ireland,” said Allison Watkins, EVP of Licensing & Merchandising at Coolabi Group.
“The brand has a huge community of dedicated fans. We will build a programme that not only offers this community the products they want but also brings Warrior Cats to a new audience through consumer products,” added Gemma Witts, Managing Director of Retail Monster UK.
