The Entertainer grew profits and sales in its last full year, driven by a bumper performance online.
The toy specialist said pre-tax profits jumped 37% to £11.5m in the 12 months to February 1.
Sales surged 6.8% to £162m during the period, but were flat on a like-for-like basis.
The Entertainer’s online business – TheToyShop.com – generated a 30% surge in revenue, with click-and-collect advancing 32%. In the last five years, its ecommerce division has grown five-fold, the retailer said.
Founder and managing director Gary Grant said: “Considering the well-documented challenges that the high street and the toy industry faced in the last year, we are delighted with these results.”
He said its own-brand toy range – Addo Play – and international store growth also contributed to the growth, which has facilitated a payment of £1.9m to its staff as part of its profit-share scheme. The business also gave 10% of its profit to charity.
The Amersham-based retailer claimed to have “an ambitious growth agenda”, with plans to invest in UK and European acquisitions and a new web platform.
“We strive to drive the toy market forward while continuing to offer our customers an exciting shopping experience and we are very much looking forward to continued success in 2018,” Grant said.
Earlier this month, administrators of high street toy rival Toys R Us said it had failed to secure a buyer for the ailing firm and kicked off a wind-down of its 100 UK stores.
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