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-- October 18, 2006 -- Hot Tuna (International) PLC ("Hot Tuna" or "the Company") (AIM: HTT), a lifestyle apparel brand with authentic surf heritage, is pleased to announce that it has received orders from four of the surf industry's pre-eminent independent retailers in the US.
Following the showing of the Spring/Summer 2007 range at a series of the leading trade shows in the US over the summer, including Magic (Las Vegas in August) and ASR (San Diego in September), the Company is delighted to announce that the new range has been well received and great support has been associated with the previous history of the brand. Hot Tuna USA's launch plan is to establish an initial account base of 'A' grade independent surf retailers.
The Company is delighted to announce it has received an order from Jacks' Surfboards, which was voted Retailer of the Year 2006 by the Surf Industry Manufacture Association (SIMA). Jacks' Surfboards is based out of four locations in California, namely Huntingdon Beach, Newport Beach, Corona del Mar and Dana Point.
An order has also been received from Yellow Rat Bastard ("YRB"), one of the core clothing retailers in New York City. YRB, with three stores in New York, has committed to purchase Hot Tuna men's apparel and women's apparel.
Additionally, the Company has received orders from Diane Beachwear, a leading swim wear retailer with fourteen stores in southern California.
Finally, the Company is delighted to announce that it has also received orders from Cocoa Beach Surf Company, which is based in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Cocoa Beach houses the largest surf complex in the world and is the location of Hot Tuna's first concept store launched in Spring 2006.
Commenting on these early commitments, Ranjit Murugason, Executive Chairman of Hot Tuna, said: "It is gratifying to have received orders from four of the most well recognised independent retailers in the US. These orders bode well for future sales in the US market, which is the largest market for surf apparel in the world."
Notes to Editors
Hot Tuna International PLC (AIM: HTT) owns the rights to the Hot Tuna brand, a progenitor of global youth fashion, born in Australia with a heritage of authentic surf culture.
Hot Tuna is one of the world's most iconic names in surf lifestyle and can trace its roots back to 1969 when it was founded by a surfer and his fashion designer wife. Though the label had not been actively marketed over for the last decade, it retained an organic cult status among core action sports enthusiasts.
In June 2005, Hot Tuna International PLC purchased the 'Hot Tuna' brand from Frontier International (Holdings) Pty Ltd, listed on AIM in September 2005, and has since started to aggressively market the brand and reinvigorate the business. The Company now owns all intellectual property rights to its name and related iconography, and has put in place key management drawn from the executive ranks of Quiksilver, O'Neill and Ocean Pacific, among others.
Headquartered in the UK, Hot Tuna operates design, marketing and distribution hubs in the USA, Australia and the UK. In its core markets, Hot Tuna sells products, which are directly manufactured in facilities in North America, Europe and in China.
Hot Tuna offices are maintained in Sydney, Los Angeles and London.
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