The company has hired The Licensing Company of North America (TLC) to lead the work. The agreement is global, with the exception of Australia and New Zealand.
Under the deal, TLC will focus on extending the Jim Beam brand into the food and beverage categories as well as lifestyle and accessories products.
Daniel Avener, TLC's global brand director, said the company was hoping to introduce products such as ready-to-cook meat marinated in Jim Beam-flavoured sauce, desserts and snack food from the end of 2007.
He added that all new product development would be carried out 'responsibly' and the company would not encourage irresponsible drinking. Jim Beam has already introduced a beef jerky product in the US, but Avener said this would probably not be suited to the tastes of UK consumers.
TLC already handles the licensing strategy for other Beam Global brands, including a Sauza tequila margarita mix drink, condiments also using the Sauza brand and Courvoisier cigars.
Jim Beam will be hoping to emulate the success of rival bourbon brand Jack Daniel's, which has extended its brand into areas including clothing, bags and accessories.
Beam Global Spirits & Wine is the world's fourth-biggest spirits company and has nine of the world's top 100 premium spirits brands in its portfolio, including Teacher's, Canadian Club and DeKuyper. The company acquired Allied Domecq in a £7.4bn deal last year.
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