Santa Monica-based Taste of Nature Inc. announced a new licensing partnership with Famous Brands International, the parent company of Mrs. Fields cookies.

Starting Jan. 1, the company will manufacture as well as helm the nationwide sales and distribution of all pre-packaged Mrs. Fields cookies found on grocery store shelves.

“Mrs. Fields is an iconic global brand and we are thrilled to welcome its cookies into the Taste of Nature Inc. portfolio,” said Scott Samet, president and co-founder of Taste of Nature Inc.

Samet declined to comment on terms of the deal, but said that the partnership made logical sense since the company is a candy manufacturer itself. Taste of Nature manufactures and markets a variety of licensed brands including Cookie Dough Bites, Care Bears Gummi Bears and Hawaiian Punch.

The company operates a 100,000-square-foot facility in Chicago and has 45 employees on its payroll.

Manufacturing and trade reporter Shwanika Narayan can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @shwanika.