Entertainer owner hands over toy chain

An established UK toy retailer hands control to staff via an employee ownership trust.

Entertainer founder transfers toy chain to employee trust

The Entertainer founder Gary Grant is transferring 100 percent ownership of the 160 store chain to an employee ownership trust. 1,900 workers will gain a stake in profits and a say on how the business is run. The transfer will complete next month, and the Grant family will receive a payout as part of the move.

The company has grown through tough times including the financial crisis, the pandemic, and the shift to online shopping. The trust structure means profits are shared over time and the leadership will be run by the current chief executive Andrew Murphy and his team with independence from the family after the transfer.

This move shows a growing trend in employee ownership that seeks to combine performance with purpose. For a family business, it preserves a culture while reducing the risk of a forced sale to a third party. The plan also tests how leadership and accountability work when wealth is distributed among workers rather than a single owner.

The policy context matters. Government changes on National Insurance and a tight retail market could shape how the business can grow without external funding. The model may boost morale, but it also raises questions about career ladders, capital access, and the ability to fund expansion.

Highlights

Time will tell how this plan holds up in a changing market