Industry org LIMA has announced the best of the best of this year’s crop of consumer products programs, unveiling 75 nominees for the 2010 edition the competition.

Awards in seven categories plus the License of the Year Award will be announced at LIMA’s Opening Night Awards Party on June 8th during Licensing International Expo 2010 in Las Vegas.

The nominees include:

License of the Year:

2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, National Hockey League
Burger King, Burger King/Broad Street Licensing Group
Food Network, Scripps Enterprises/Brandgenuity LLC
Hello Kitty, Sanrio
In the Night Garden, Ragdoll Productions/BBC Worldwide
Skelanimals, Skelanimals, LLC/Art Impressions
The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Summit Entertainment

Best film, television, celebrity or entertainment program of the year:

Bakugan, Nelvana Enterprises/Cartoon Network Enterprises
In the Night Garden, Ragdoll Productions/BBC Worldwide Limited
Princess and the Frog, The Walt Disney Company
SpongeBob SquarePants, Nickelodeon Consumer Products
Transformers, Hasbro
The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Summit Entertainment

Best character/toy brand program of the year:

Barbie, Mattel
Care Bears Japanese Licensing Program, American Greetings Corporation/Mindworks Entertainment
Gogo’s Crazy Bones, Magic Box International/PPI Worldwide Group/Bulldog Licensing
Hello Kitty, Sanrio
PUCCA, Vooz/Warner Bros. Consumer Products

Best character/toy brand licensee of the year – hard goods:

LEGO/electronics, Digital Blue
Hasbro Family Game Night, Electronic Arts
Club Penguin/plush, figures & play sets, JAKKS Pacific
Hello Kitty 2009 Collection, Sakar International
Peanuts Collection, United Labels AG

Best character/toy brand licensee of the year – soft goods:

DC Originals/daywear, loungewear, sleepwear, underwear, Briefly Stated
Hello Kitty/apparel, Evy of California
Hot Wheels Tracker Sandals, Grendene
Hello Kitty/accessories, Loungefly
Peanuts Tee Program, Mighty Fine

Best retailer of the year:

Kmart, Dora the Explorer: Dora Loves Puppy at Kmart
Mothercare, In the Night Garden
Nordstrom, The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Walmart, Princess and the Frog
Walmart, SpongeBob’s 10th Anniversary at Walmart