Gary Grant will transfer 100% ownership of family-owned business to employee trust by end of September

The family behind Britain’s biggest toy shop chain, The Entertainer, is handing over ownership of the business to its 1,900 employees.

The retailer, which also includes the Early Learning Centre and Addo brands, will be transferred into a trust by the end of September, with payments to the family coming out of future profits. The valuation of the company has not been revealed.

The sale comes after the family paid themselves a £15.6m dividend in the year to 27 January 2024, despite annual pre-tax profits falling 18% to £6.7m as sales dipped 3.7% to £238.3m. It was the family’s first dividend since 2019 when they took home £2.6m.

A newly created employee advisory board will have influence over the future direction of the group and staff will be rewarded through tax-free bonuses based on the amount of profit the business generates.

Founded in 1981 by Gary and Catherine Grant, The Entertainer has grown from one shop in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, to 160 stores and more than 1,000 concessions in the UK in other retailers including Tesco and Marks & Spencer. It also trades online and overseas.