TOY BULLETIN

UK toy industry intelligence

120 stories · 12/12 sources live
Updated 14:14

Retail

39 stories
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Retail Gazette · 14 Aug 2026 · Retail · 85/100

Disney extends F1 partnership into 2028

Summary: Disney has extended its Formula One partnership, which was originally launched in 2025, until 2028. The partnership will also now feature Pixar’s Cars alongside the original Mickey & Friends line up. Lightening McQueen will appear at the Formula 1 Pirelli G…

Why it matters: Background toy-industry intelligence.

Recommended action: Identify the licence owner and current UK partners. Assess whether there is a licensing, distribution or product-development opportunity.
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Retail Gazette · 14 Aug 2026 · Retail · 75/100

French Connection launches new store at Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Leeds

Summary: French Connection has launched a new store at Frasers Plus Designer Outlet in Leeds. The new 2,257 sq ft shop provides shoppers with a “contemporary shopping environment” with “statement visual merchandising and modern design” as part of the brand’s latest …

Why it matters: Background toy-industry intelligence.

Recommended action: Identify the companies involved and assess the distribution, sourcing, partnership or competitive opportunity.
HIGHRETAIL
Retail Gazette · 14 Aug 2026 · Retail · 70/100

Aldi joins forces with Freedom4Girls to urge all UK supermarkets to offer free period products

Summary: Aldi has joined its charity partner Freedom4Girls in urging more supermarkets to provide free period products in store toilets. Julia Ashfield, chief commercial officer at the retailer and Tina Leslie MBE, founder of Freedom4Girls have written an joint lett…

Why it matters: Background toy-industry intelligence.

Recommended action: Review this development and determine whether it warrants commercial follow-up.
HIGHCOMMERCIAL
Retail Gazette · 14 Aug 2026 · Retail · 65/100

Oxfam’s retail director on why shop-floor expertise remains central to digital growth

Summary: As Oxfam expands into rental and livestream shopping, retail director Rachel Cosgrove-Pearce explains why its stores and volunteers remain the engine behind its digital growth. For Oxfam, digital innovation is not about replacing the charity shop experience…

Why it matters: Background toy-industry intelligence.

Recommended action: Review this development and determine whether it warrants commercial follow-up.
HIGHCOMMERCIAL
Retail Gazette · 14 Aug 2026 · Retail · 65/100

Asda moves into wholesale with new convenience store format

Summary: Asda has launched a new wholesale convenience model, with initial rollouts covering three stores in Glasgow. The company has invested £1 million in the launch of Asda Convenience, which will initially be trialled with Scottish independent operator One-O-One…

Why it matters: Background toy-industry intelligence.

Recommended action: Review this development and determine whether it warrants commercial follow-up.
HIGHCOMMERCIAL
Retail Gazette · 14 Aug 2026 · Retail · 65/100

Boux Avenue to relaunch Guildford and Belfast stores

Summary: Boux Avenue is revamping its Guildford and Belfast shops under its new retail concept launch.

Why it matters: Background toy-industry intelligence.

Recommended action: Review this development and determine whether it warrants commercial follow-up.
HIGHRETAIL
UK Retail Watch · 14 Apr 2026 · Retail · 65/100

Free LEGO Star Wars Razor Crest coming to Smyths Toys - Brick Fanatics

Summary: Free LEGO Star Wars Razor Crest coming to Smyths Toys Brick Fanatics

Why it matters: Background toy-industry intelligence.

Recommended action: Review this development and determine whether it warrants commercial follow-up.
WATCHCOMMERCIAL
Retail Gazette · 14 Aug 2026 · Retail · 60/100

KFC and ‘Chicken Wine’ bring ‘Coq au Vin’ pop up to Shoreditch

Summary: Fast food chain KFC has partnered with La Viellie Ferme, more commonly known as the ‘Chicken Wine’ brand, to launch a wine bar over the bank holiday weekend. Only open 28 August to August 31, the pop-up, Coq au Vin, is located at Katchette Amex in Shoreditc…

Why it matters: Background toy-industry intelligence.

WATCHINDUSTRY
Retail Gazette · 14 Aug 2026 · Retail · 50/100

Screwfix names agency for PPC account

Summary: Screwfix has named Incubeta to its Pay per Click (PPC) account for the UK and Ireland, following a competitive multi-stage pitch process. The agency will be responsible for fully handling strategic consultancy and account management. The agency will also be…

Why it matters: Background toy-industry intelligence.

WATCHINDUSTRY
Retail Gazette · 14 Aug 2026 · Retail · 50/100

Should retailers ban smart glasses from their stores?

Summary: In 2021, Ray-Ban and Meta joined forces to release the latest evolution in wearable technology – the ‘smart glasses’. In the intervening years, smart glasses have transformed from a seemingly harmless tech novelty to true privacy headache for businesses, wi…

Why it matters: Background toy-industry intelligence.

WATCHINDUSTRY
Retail Gazette · 14 Aug 2026 · Retail · 45/100

Russell & Bromley plots high street comeback months after collapse

Summary: Russell & Bromley is returning to the high street just months after falling into administration, as owner Next begins rebuilding the 147-year-old footwear brand. The brand will open a store at Westgate Oxford on 3 September, marking the beginning of its phy…

Why it matters: Background toy-industry intelligence.