Self-service kiosks company U-Vend has secured a multi-year partnership with North American ice hockey league the NHL.
Under the partnership, U-Vend will use NHL team marks on its Puck Premium Ice Cream brand – now the exclusive official ice cream of the league.
Fans across Canada will be able to buy the ice hockey puck shaped ice cream bars later this year, with the range set to be rolled out in the United States in summer 2016.
Puck Premium Ice Cream will be available from U-Vend machines featuring built-in digital product advertising screens and NHL branding.
“Our new partnership with the National Hockey League – a global brand – is a significant event for U-Vend,” Raymond Meyers, chief executive of U-Vend, said. “This partnership affords tremendous opportunities for us to amplify our brand.”
Paul Neelin, founder of U-Vend and chief operating officer, added: “We believe we have created a strong and multi-faceted marketing engine with the introduction of the Pucks brand. Not only are we able to brand the outside wrapper of the Pucks ice cream bar, but we'll also print NHL team marks on the mini hockey stick that is inserted into the ice cream Puck, making it very collectable.”