Founder’s Hand Control for Employees

Monday 11 August 2025 10:01

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Nearly 2,000 largest toy chain employees in the UK, entertainers, will receive a tax -free bonus after the founders hand over control over their retail kingdom.

Gary Grant has moved 100 percent of his ownership in the Teal Group Holdings, which he holds with his wife Catherine, to the belief in employee ownership.

This step, which will be completed in September, will produce 1,900 workers who have entertainers and initial learning centers and adddo play.

Grant opened his first shop with his wife in 1981 when he was 23 years old and now heads a kingdom that covers 160 shops throughout England.

As a beneficiary of this trust, employees will be valued through tax -free bonuses based on the amount of profit generated by business in the future.

According to the most recently issued account, the group reached a profit before tax of £ 6.6 million this year to 27 January 2024.

After the agreement is over, employees will also have an influence on the future direction of the group.

The newly created colleague advisory council will help form policies, share sentiments and ideas and will have representatives who will sit on the Trustees of the three people.

‘This is a significant decision for the family’

Gary Grant, who served as Chair of the Teal Group Holdings executive, said: “Today marks an important day for the Grant family.

“It was only yesterday that my wife was Catherine and I opened our first shop in Amersham, and we could only dream of the height that was achieved by the business.

“Over the past 44 years, we have invested our work lives into this business. All of our children are shareholders, and our two oldest sons joined to work with us, 20 years ago – so this is really a family business.

“This is a significant decision for the family, and what we have not considered lightly, but it feels like the right time to transfer all our share ownership into the trust of employee ownership.

“We want to send sincere gratitude to all our employees, who have worked hard to make a comforter like this.

“When we start a business, we have a vision to maintain an unrobable focus on children and communities through creating memories, inspire miracles and providing extraordinary services.

“We cannot be more proud that this is still the heart of business today, thanks to the enthusiasm of our daily staff -many of them have worked for us for years.

“Therefore, ensuring our employees have a place in the future of the group are very important for us.

“This business is in a strong hand with Andrew Murphy and his team at the top of the leadership and we hope for the best for them when they take a comforter through this interesting growth in this interesting growth.”

During the group’s financial year until January 2024, the founders were paid by dividends of £ 15.62 million.

During the same period, group turnover declined from £ 2474 million to £ 238.2 million.

‘The new structure will bring us closer as a business’

Group Executive Chief Andrew Murphy added: “What has been built by the Grant Family is a true British success story – which is more impressive because it consistently fights the belief that business can be a strength for the good throughout the community they serve.

“I have studied a lot from Gary and Grant’s family for the past two years and really enjoyed working with them when we brought business to a new growth phase both in the UK and internationally.

“Group’s operational and financial strength provides a strong foundation for future success with a clear growth strategy, dedicated and enthusiastic team and fantastic offers of products.

“Since joining in 2023, I am proud of the strong leadership team that we have built to provide a ‘game to win’ strategy and this team will now provide continuity to our employees and trading partners when we switch to our new EOT ownership model.

“I know that our new structure will bring us closer as a business and will give our employees who work hard with a sense of opportunity, accountability, and ownership when we work to create more memories, inspire miracles and provide extraordinary customer service. I am very eager to what is in front.”

The group’s latest series of accounts will be submitted to the Companies House at the end of October.

During the year until January 2024, the number of people employed fell from 2,068 to 1,958.

ENTERTAINING Join John Lewis and Go Ape

James de la Vingne, executive chief, employee ownership association, said: “This is always a pleasant time when the main high street brand takes the brave step to become an employee.

“That is why I like to welcome entertainers not only for employee ownership, but as a member of Wali EOA.

“We see a developing trend for retailers who switch to employee ownership in addition to calls to help save the highway.

“In my opinion, the important part of this solution is employee ownership. Business such as entertainers and fellow trustees of EOA John Lewis Partnership, Richer Sounds, and Go Ape helps your beloved brands in the future, root work in the local community, and inject wealth into the regional economy.

“This is a brave and brilliant commitment for mutual success and stock in the future for people who make businesses like that, arriving when many retailers rethink what long-term success.

“I do not hesitate that other known brands will follow examples of entertainers about what is possible.

“The future of the highway is employee ownership, and the future has occurred.”