Just Born Quality Confections Announces Partnership with Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment

Despicable Me's Subversive Minions Experience Some Sweet Treatment This Holiday Season

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Dec 16, 2014, 09:07 ET

BETHLEHEM, Pa., Dec. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Just Born Quality Confections, makers of PEEPS^®, MIKE AND IKE^®, HOT TAMALES^® and GOLDENBERG'S^® PEANUT CHEWS^®, announced today a partnership with Universal Pictures, Illumination Entertainment and the latter's Despicable Me franchise, on upcoming holiday projects for both the PEEPS^® and MIKE AND IKE^® brands. Just Born produces confections that are loved by all ages, making the partnership with Universal and Illumination a sweet match. Through this partnership, Just Born created innovation and extensions of product lines within the existing PEEPS^® and MIKE AND IKE^® brand families that mimic the entertaining and exciting nature of the dynamic Minions.

To celebrate the success of the wildly popular movie franchise, Despicable Me, PEEPS^® has created one-of-a-kind Minions-shaped marshmallows, complete with their own PEEPSONALITY^®. The limited-edition product will only be available this holiday season and contains collectors comics created exclusively for PEEPS^®on the back of each package. PEEPS^® has also identified three of the Minions – Stuart, Kevin and Dave – on the festive product package as the official PEEPS^® taste-testers of the 2014 holiday portfolio.

MIKE AND IKE^® takes part in the Minion mayhem with the debut of a limited-edition box of MIKE AND IKE^® Minion Mix in Banana and Blueberry flavors with Minions on the packaging. Banana is the newest addition to the portfolio of more than 40 MIKE AND IKE^® flavors, and it is inspired by the Minions themselves to celebrate their mischievous love for their signature fruit.

"We are excited to see the partnership come to life and bring exciting new products to our fans through our collaboration with Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment," said Deb Turoczy, Consumer Engagement Manager at Just Born Quality Confections. "We encourage both Just Born and Minions fans to celebrate fun and silliness with these limited time offerings."

PEEPS^® is also sponsoring a "Minion Mayhem Sweepstakes," granting one lucky "peep" a trip for four to Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, to experience the new "Despicable Me Minion Mayhem" 3D, Ultra HD ride. The grand prize package includes round-trip airfare, a 3-day, 2-night stay plus one-day park admission tickets with Front of Line passes for four to Universal Studios Hollywood. Enter the sweepstakes online at www.facebook.com/peepsbrand before it ends at 11:59 p.m., EST on December 31, 2014.

PEEPS^® Minions-shaped marshmallows and MIKE AND IKE^® Minion Mix can be found in the seasonal candy aisle at food, drug and mass retailers nationwide and through www.peepsandcompany.com.

For more information about Just Born Quality Confections and their brands please visit www.justborn.com, www.facebook.com/JustBornInc or visit brand sites at www.marshmallowpeeps.com and www.mikeandike.com.

About Just Born
Just Born Quality Confections is a privately owned company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Bethlehem, PA, where it manufactures PEEPS^®, HOT TAMALES^® and MIKE AND IKE^® Brand Candies. GOLDENBERG'S^® PEANUT CHEWS^® Brand Candies are produced in Philadelphia, PA. All Just Born candies are made in the U.S.A.

About Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

About Universal Partnerships & Licensing
Universal Partnerships & Licensing (UP&L) oversees NBCUniversal's consumer product and digital licensing for Universal Pictures, NBC Television, Focus Features and Sprout Channel. This dedicated division is also responsible for film, home entertainment and television promotions. UP&L is part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

About Illumination Entertainment
Illumination Entertainment, founded by Chris Meledandri in 2007, is one of the entertainment industry's leading producers of all-audience event films. In July 2010, Illumination, which has an exclusive financing and distribution partnership with Universal Pictures, released its first film, Despicable Me, starring Steve Carell, which earned more than $540 million worldwide and launched a beloved global franchise. With the success of 2011's Hop, 2012's Dr. Seuss' The Lorax and 2013's juggernaut Despicable Me 2— the highest-grossing first-run film in Universal's history and the year's third-highest-grossing film at the worldwide box office—Illumination's films have made almost $2 billion. Universal and Illumination's next film Minions, starring Academy Award®-winner Sandra Bullock and Jon Hamm, arrives in theaters on July 10, 2015. In 2011, Universal Pictures acquired the animation division of French visual effects studio Mac Guff Ligne and formed Illumination Mac Guff to work exclusively on Illumination Entertainment's fully CG movies. Fans may also experience Minion Mayhem in 3D with the Ultra-HD movie motion simulator adventure at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.