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limelight


Toy story

Wow Toys | London

A trade mission to Brazil resulted in a partnership between an innovative UK toy maker and a South American distributor that has brought new opportunities for the brand. WOW Toys’ founder Nadim Ednan-Laperouse attended the trip in November 2009 and appointed California Toys as the company’s main importer and distributor for the Brazilian market. In February 2010, a formal agreement was completed between the two firms to sell the high-quality range of battery-free toys. Supported by UK Trade & Investment staff in Sao Paulo, WOW Toys has achieved a successful entry into the Brazilian market, enjoying growing sales in the country.

>> www.wowtoys.com


Hot global leads for curry sauce company

British Curry Company | Sussex

The British Curry Company (BCC), manufacturer of Bombay Authentics curry sauces, has entered the US food market. Supported by UK Trade & Investment, the sauces are now available in 15 markets around the world, including Australia and Hong Kong. After partnering with Roland Food, a US importer of fine foods, Bombay Authentics products are now on sale at Whole Foods Market and online at Amazon. The move has generated additional interest from hotel chains, restaurants and universities, with 20,000 jars shipped each month. Roland Food will next help BCC extend into Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America. Cofounder Patricia Forbes says: “Having the support and expertise of UK Trade & Investment has been significant in helping us grow our business overseas. It has provided guidance and in-depth knowledge of countries we wanted to move into, as well as invaluable contacts, and has helped fund visits to trade fairs around the world.”

>> www.britishcurry.co.uk


Randy to the rescue

Resquip | Powys

Randy, a rubber, life-sized, fully articulated rescue horse model used in animal rescue training exercises, is proving to be a galloping success for its creators. The first product from Resquip – a Welshpool company specialising in rescue training equipment – is already in service in the USA at two fire and rescue services, a large animal rescue training centre, universities in Florida and Turkey, as well as 12 UK fire and rescue services.

Randy has a price tag of £5,900 and is built around an articulated steel skeleton with full articulation of the head, neck and limbs. Delivered on a wheeled floor stand, it can be lifted off to balance on its own legs. Standing 15.2 hands high and weighing 200kgs, Randy recently caught the eye of potential buyers when it was displayed at Leipzig exhibition, Interschutz.

Marketing director Paul Barrett-Brown says Requip is now focussing on making further inroads into the European and North American markets and is currently working on four new orders – two for the US, one for Belgium and one for the UK. “We are doing really well in the UK and want to ramp up our exports,” he says.

>> www.resquip.com