Britain’s Toy Shop to become an Employee Owned Trust

TEAL Group Holdings (the “Group”), owner of The Entertainer, Early Learning Centre and Addo Play Ltd today announces that the Grant family are transferring their 100% ownership to an Employee Ownership Trust (“EOT”). This transfer is due to complete in September 2025.

This decision is the culmination of a long-term succession plan and will ensure the Group remains independent with its employees as beneficiaries, while preserving both the family’s legacy and the family feel of the business.

Founded in 1981 by Gary and Catherine Grant, The Entertainer has grown from just one shop with a vision of “one child, one community at a time” to a multichannel international toy business. As a high-street favourite, the key to its success lies in the commitment, driving force and hard work of its employees who create affordable joy and unforgettable moments for customers, which is why the family have chosen an EOT structure.

As beneficiaries of the Trust, employees will be rewarded through tax-free bonuses based on the amount of profit the business generates in the future. They will have influence over the future direction of the Group, sharing both the responsibility and the rewards of having a stake in the business’ success. A newly created Colleague Advisory Board will help shape policies, share colleague sentiment and ideas and will have a representative that will sit on the three person Trust Board.

Following the Group’s significant investment in store openings, strategic partnerships and brand innovation, The Entertainer is in a prime position for the next phase of its growth, at home and abroad, through its “Play to Win” strategy and “ToyBox” B2B2C offering.

Gary Grant, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of TEAL Group Holdings, said: “Today marks a momentous day for the Grant family. It feels like only yesterday that my wife Catherine and I opened our first store in Amersham, and we could only have dreamed what heights the business would reach. Over the last 44 years, we have invested our working lives into this business. All our children are shareholders, and our two oldest sons joined to work alongside us, 20 years ago – so it’s truly a family business.

This is a significant decision for the family, and one we haven’t taken lightly, but it feels like the right time to transfer our entire shareholding into an Employee Ownership Trust.

We’d like to send our sincere thanks to all our employees, who have worked hard to make The Entertainer what it is today. When we started the business, we had a vision of keeping an unwavering focus on children and community through creating memories, inspiring wonder and delivering outstanding service.

We couldn’t be more proud that this still remains at the heart of the business today, thanks to the daily enthusiasm of our staff – many of whom have worked for us for many years. Because of this, ensuring our employees have a place in the Group’s future is hugely important to us. The business is in strong hands with Andrew Murphy and his team at the helm and we wish them all the very best as they take The Entertainer through this exciting next chapter of growth.”

Andrew Murphy OBE, Group Chief Executive Officer of TEAL Group Holdings, said: “What the Grant family have built is a true British success story – all the more impressive for having consistently championed the belief that business can be a force for good across the communities they serve. I have learned so much from Gary and the Grant family over the last two years and have thoroughly enjoyed working with them as we took the business into a new phase of growth both in the UK and internationally. The Group’s operational and financial strength provides a solid foundation for future success with a clear growth strategy, a dedicated & passionate team and a fantastic product offer.

Since joining in 2023, I am proud of the strong Leadership Team we’ve built to deliver our ‘Play to Win’ strategy and it is this team which will now provide continuity to our employees and trading partners as we transition into our new EOT ownership model.

I know that our new structure will bring us even closer as a business and will provide our hard-working employees with a sense of opportunity, accountability and belonging as we work to create more memories, inspire wonder and deliver outstanding customer service. I am hugely excited for what lies ahead.”

James de la Vingne, Chief Executive Officer, Employee Ownership Association, said: “It’s always an exciting time when a major high street brand takes the bold move to become employee owned. That’s why I’m delighted to welcome The Entertainer not only to employee ownership, but as a Trustee member of the eoa.

We’re seeing a growing trend for retailers making the move to employee ownership alongside calls to help save the high street. To my mind, a key piece of the solution is employee ownership. Businesses like The Entertainer and fellow eoa Trustee members John Lewis Partnership, Richer Sounds, and Go Ape are helping to futureproof beloved brands, root jobs in local communities, and inject wealth into regional economies.

This is a bold and brilliant commitment to shared success and a stake in the future for the people who make the business what it is, arriving at a time when many retailers are rethinking what long-term success looks like. I have no doubt that other familiar brands will follow The Entertainer’s example of what’s possible. The future of the high street is employee ownership, and the future is already happening.”