Bryan, OH (January 13, 2003) � The Ohio Art Company and McDonald's announced today that they will partner in a Happy Meal promotion featuring the toymaker's international top-selling interchangeable Betty Spaghetty® doll and friends. During a four-week promotion that starts January 24 of this year, four different collectible Betty Spaghetty and friends dolls - all with interchangeable parts - will be available in McDonald's Happy Meals at participating US McDonald's restaurants, while supplies last.
The McDonald's Happy Meal promotion will include four different 7-inch mini versions of the Betty Spaghetty and friends dolls. Children can collect all four and interchangeable their outfits and accessories to create several different looks.
First introduced in 1998, Betty Spaghetty - the first and only fashion doll with interchangeable parts from head to toe - revolutionized the doll category and gained international appeal among girls aged 4-12. Today, Ohio Art manufactures over 20 different collectible theme and activity sets for Betty Spaghetty and friends that are marketed to girls internationally and continue to grow in popularity.
"McDonald's decision to partner with Ohio Art for a 2003 Happy Meal promotion with Betty Spaghetty really reinforces the strong appeal of the Betty Spaghetty brand and will enable us to get millions of girls to have hands on experiences with the dolls' fun and unique play pattern," said Larry Killgallon, President of The Ohio Art Company, which enjoyed tremendous success in Europe when it partnered with McDonald's for Betty Spaghetty Happy Meal promotions in 2001 and 2002. "We are proud to have Betty Spaghetty aligned with one of the world's most recognizable brands."
"We've watched with great interest as Betty Spaghetty has gained in popularity, and we've looked forward to the opportunity of creating Happy Meal versions of the dolls," said Douglas Freeland, Director of National Marketing, McDonald's. "We are excited to feature Betty Spaghetty and her friends in our Happy Meals and we anticipate they will be well received by our customers."
About Betty Spaghetty:
Beginning as a toy inventor's humble creation of pipe cleaners and a ping-pong ball, the concept for Betty Spaghetty caught the attention of the Ohio Art Company, best known for their 43-year-old Etch A Sketch drawing toy, in 1996. Says Vice President of Research and Development Josephine Wood, who spearheaded the campaign to launch the 95 year-old company's first venture into the doll market, "With a simple play pattern and the ability to spark a young mind's imagination, we knew that we had the potential for another classic on our hands."
Eventually making her debut at New York City's Fashion Cafe in April 1998, Betty Spaghetty-the world's first "never the same look twice" fashion doll with totally interchangeable parts-quickly became one of the country's most popular doll lines. Since then, her fame has grown to include a devout following of fans around the world, becoming one of the best-selling dolls in Europe and Asia. With over 20 collectible Betty Spaghetty activity sets on the market, Ohio Art's new 2003 Betty Spaghetty collection includes fun new themes such as Makin' A Splash, Hittin' the Slopes and Campfire Fun and Friends.
About McDonald's:
McDonald's is the world's leading foodservice retailer with about 30,000 restaurants serving 46 million customers each day. Approximately 80 percent of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent, local businessmen and businesswoman.
