Toys ‘R’ Us is set to make a dramatic return to the UK almost four years after the firm vanished across Scotland.
The toy shop chain were forced to close all of its branches following its collapsed in 2018.
But the plans for its revival are now in motion after Toys ‘R’ Us’ Australian arm signed a licence agreement to bring “digital and physical retail commerce” back to the UK.
The Mirror reports that the firm is now ramping up recruitment with plans to relaunch the brand within months.
It is unclear if there will be any branches opening immediately in Scotland as a result of the move.
Louis Mittoni, who is leading the relaunch and is Toys ‘R’ Us Australia chief executive, said: “I’m very excited to welcome over 100 years of retailing experience in our new team, who will lead the relaunch our iconic brand back into the UK market in the next few months. We have an amazing toy and baby buying team, which I believe is the best in the country.
“With this team now in place, we’re hitting the ground running and have been reaching out to the supply base to see with whom we can align on this amazing journey.”
Toys ‘R’ Us was branded the ‘world’s first toy supermarket ’ when it first opened stores in the UK in 1985.
But the firm hit turbulent times in 2017, after its US parent company filed for bankruptcy as debts spiralled out of control to the tune of £3.5bn.
A year later, the owners decided to shut all 100 UK branches.
Toys ‘R’ Us owner WHP Global signed an agreement with the Australian wing of the beloved toy brand to lead the company’s UK revival last year.
WHP Global had previously acquired a controlling interest in Tru Kids, the parent company of the Toys 'R' Us and Babies 'R' Us brands.
Yehuda Shmidman, the chairman of WHP Global and Toys 'R' Us, previously said: “Toys 'R' Us today is a vibrant business with over 900 stores and e-commerce sites across 25-plus 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."
Louis Mittoni, boss of Toys 'R' Us ANZ, said: “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."
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