12th Apr 2007 07:00
Hot Tuna (International) plc12 April 2007 Press Release 12 April 2007 Hot Tuna (International) PLC ("Hot Tuna" or "the Group") Hot Tuna breaks into the No1 Australian department store Myer and No1 US surf retailer Pacific Sun Wear Hot Tuna (International) PLC (AIM:HTT), a lifestyle apparel brand with authenticsurf heritage, is pleased to announce that it has won lucrative orders, whichwill be delivered from June and July 2007, from the two largest marketcontenders in Australia and the United States. Hot Tuna has taken orders from Myer, Australia's largest department store. With60 stores nationally, Myer is the market leader in Australian retailing with themost recent results reflecting half year sales of AUD$1.6 billion. Myer has placed orders for the Hot Tuna boys clothing range (8-16 years).Delivery on boys-wear will commence in July 2007 to all of Myers' 60 nationwidestores. Myer have also confirmed that they will be able to place Hot Tunaaccessories (backpacks, caps, wallets and sunglasses) into 15 of these storesusing a Hot Tuna concept store arrangement. The Company is also pleased to announce that it has secured orders from PacificSunwear. Pacific Sunwear, based in the United States, is the world's largestspecialty retailer of action sports and related accessories and footweardesigned to meet the needs of active teens and young adults. Pacific Sunwear isalso the largest retailer of surf apparel in the USA. Pacific Sunwear has placed orders for women's swim and men's apparel fordelivery from June 2007. As of March 15, 2007, the company operated a total of1,119 stores, of which 950 are specifically focused on the surf industry, in 50states. Pacific Sunwear's recent results showed sales of approximately USD$1.4billion. Commenting on the announcement, Ranjit Murugason, Chairman of Hot Tuna(International) PLC, said: "The orders from Myer and Pacific Sunweardemonstrate the growing appetite for Hot Tuna products in two of the Group'score geographic markets. Both Myer and Pacific Sunwear are fantastic outletsfrom which to distribute our products and to facilitate the re-launch of one ofthe surf communities' favourite brands. We could not have hoped to securestronger platforms in the two most important surf markets in the world and I amconfident that the Hot Tuna brand will be further strengthened with theincreased profile it will receive following these orders." - Ends - For further information:Hot Tuna (International) PLCRanjit Murugason, Chairman Tel: +44 (0) 20 7372 [email protected] Seymour Pierce LimitedSarah Wharry / Parimal Kumar Tel: +44 (0) 20 7107 [email protected] www.seymourpierce.com Media enquiries:AbchurchHenry Harrison-Topham / Chris Lane Tel: +44 (0) 20 7398 [email protected] www.abchurch-group.com Notes to Editors Hot Tuna International PLC (AIM:HTT) owns the rights to the Hot Tuna brand, aprogenitor of global youth fashion, born in Australia with a heritage ofauthentic surf culture. Hot Tuna is one of the world's most iconic names in surf lifestyle and can traceits roots back to 1969 when it was founded by a surfer and his fashion designerwife. Though the label had not been actively marketed over for the lastdecade, it retained an organic cult status among core action sports enthusiasts. In June 2005, Hot Tuna International PLC purchased the 'Hot Tuna' brand fromFrontier International (Holdings) Pty Ltd, listed on AIM in September 2005, andhas since started to aggressively market the brand and reinvigorate thebusiness. The Company now owns all intellectual property rights to its name andrelated iconography, and has put in place key management drawn from theexecutive ranks of Quiksilver, O'Neill and Ocean Pacific, among others. Headquartered in the UK, Hot Tuna operates design, marketing and distributionhubs in the USA, Australia and the UK. In its core markets, Hot Tuna sellsproducts, which are directly manufactured in facilities in North America, Europeand in China. Hot Tuna offices are maintained in Sydney, Los Angeles and London. For moreinformation, visit www.hottunaplc.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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