The Toys R Us and Babies R Us names will be heading back into the UK retail landscape from 2022.
Toys R Us ANZ has secured an exclusive licence with WHP Global – the parent company of TRU and Babies R Us – to run digital and physical retail for both brands in the UK.
Toys R Us ANZ runs the Australian ecommerce websites for both brands having acquired the brands from Hobby Warehouse Group in November 2020.
The team plans to begin online sales to UK shoppers over the next several months, initially from existing operations in Australia, while it works to establish local teams, offices and logistics facilities during 2022 and 2023.
“We selected Toys R Us ANZ as our partner to expand into the UK because of their proven success in launching with us in Australia under the leadership of their ceo, Dr. Louis Mittoni,” said Yehuda Shmidman, WHP Global and Toys R Us chairman and ceo. “Toys R Us today is a vibrant business with over 900 stores and e-commerce sites across 25+ countries generating over US$2 billion a year in sales and growing, especially with the new launches underway for both the US and UK markets.”
Dr Louis Mittoni added: “Tailoring our successful Australian relaunch plan to the UK echoes the success of other e-commerce ‘platform play’ businesses that have delivered growth and value due to their ability to quickly and cost effectively expand their software, processes, partner relationships and brands into new countries.
“Since Toys R Us’ return to Australia in June 2019, we have scaled quickly as customers returned to the much-loved brand and our e-commerce model has proven its success.
“My team and I are looking forward to developing technical and commercial relationships with UK-based vendors and partners and to engage with the many loyal Toys R Us former customers and fans in the UK.”
