UK Toy Chain Entertainer Transfers Ownership to Employee Trust

Gary Grant, founder of The Entertainer, Britain's largest independent toy retailer, is transferring full ownership of the company to an employee ownership trust, granting the 1,900 staff a direct stake in the business. This move, set to complete in September 2025, enables employees to share in profits through tax-free bonuses and have a voice in company decisions via a Colleague Advisory Board with representation on the trust board. The decision reflects a long-term succession plan aimed at preserving the company’s culture and legacy while rewarding employees who contributed to its growth to over 160 UK shops and international markets. Despite recent financial pressures from lower-cost rivals and a slight decline in profits, the company is well-positioned for growth with strategic investments and partnerships, including exclusive retail deals with Tesco and M&S. Grant emphasized the importance of maintaining the family’s values and legacy, noting the family will be compensated over time from profits, and expressed optimism that meaningful employee rewards will begin by the financial year ending January 2027. The transfer highlights a growing trend toward employee ownership as a way to secure business longevity and empower workers.