Gary Grant, founder of The Entertainer, is handing over 100% ownership of the UK’s largest toy shop chain to its 1,900 staff through an employee trust.
Gary Grant, founder of the UK’s largest toy chain, The Entertainer, is transferring full ownership of the business to its 1,900 staff. The move comes after 44 years of family ownership and will see control pass to an employee ownership trust. Grant, 66, opened his first shop with his wife Catherine in 1981 at age 23.
The company now operates 160 stores nationwide and has grown into a multi-million-pound enterprise. Under the new structure, employees will share in profits and have a say in how the business is run.
Gary Grant stressed that selling purely for financial gain would have clashed with the family’s ethos. The business donates 10% of its annual profits to charity and remains closed on Sundays in line with the family’s Christian principles.
Nearly 400 staff have worked at The Entertainer for more than a decade, and 50 have been with the company for over 20 years. Grant said the trust model would safeguard both the company’s financial health and its cultural values.
ALSO READ: UK Widens ‘Deport First, Appeal Later’ Policy to 23 Countries
The family will receive a payout for their 100% shareholding, drawn from company profits over time. While it is too early to say if staff will get bonuses this year, Grant expects the “real rewards” to come for the year ending January 2027. In the last financial year, The Entertainer posted pre-tax profits of £6.7 million.
Gary Grant reflected on the challenges the business has survived — from the 2008 financial crisis to the COVID pandemic, the decline of the High Street, and the shift to online sales.
The company has thrived despite these pressures, recently expanding its partnership with Tesco to stock toys in more than 850 supermarkets and opening concessions in 140 Matalan stores.
ALSO READ: UK Cracks Down on Unlicensed Cosmetic Injections Amid Botulism Fears
The shift to employee ownership highlights a growing trend in the UK retail sector, with companies seeking to secure stability by aligning staff incentives with business performance.
Experts suggest this model can help High Street retailers withstand economic volatility by fostering loyalty, reducing turnover, and encouraging long-term thinking. For The Entertainer, it could provide a competitive edge against online giants by deepening employee engagement and protecting brand values.
Two years ago, Andrew Murphy, formerly of the John Lewis Partnership, became The Entertainer’s first external CEO. He will now lead the business independently, supported by his senior team. Murphy said the company carries no long-term debt and has no urgent need for external capital.
ALSO READ: Keep Windows Shut, Warns Expert as False Widow Spiders Spread
Grant, who likened the business to a “fifth child,” plans to spend more time with his 10 grandchildren, enjoy his narrowboat, and focus on charity work. He leaves confident that the company is in “strong financial health” and set for continued growth.
