What’s Hot: Disney’s “Cars” sales speed along

For a property that doesn’t have a major film or TV show to support it, Disney’s “Cars” franchise is having a pretty good year.

Toys and merchandise based on the film that took in $244 million at the box office in 2006 are still generating strong sales at such retailers as Walgreens and CVS on the strength of brand awareness. Disney Consumer Products chairman Andy Mooney said sales of “Cars” product are on pace to generate full-year sales of $2 billion worldwide.

Mattel even reported that second-quarter sales of its “Cars” toys exceeded those from the second quarter in 2006, when the movie was in theaters. Drug retailers have had the most success with Mattel’s line of die-cast toy cars, based on characters from the movie, that sell for as little as $3.99.