Disney moots UK toy company launch

Disney is planning to launch a UK toy company to handle its own range of merchandise.

A toy company – already established in the UK – is believed to have been approached by Disney in the past week to handle its entire toy licensing, according to a recruitment consultant.

A Disney toy company would be up against the giants Hasbro and Mattel, which both hold licences to produce the film company’s toy ranges.

Disney licenses its products through a number of companies РMattel holds licences for the Disney film range which includes Lion King, Pocahontas and toys for the new cartoon The Hunchback of N̫tre Dame.

However, Disney consumer products managing director Peter Woodhead denies the move, saying there was no change to shift the licensing of its toys and set up its own company.

Although he admits: “We’re al-ways looking at different, new ideas.”

A retail division is already well established as part of The Walt

Disney Company in the UK. There are 50 Disney Stores in Europe that specialise in character merchandise, as well as clothing books and toys. The first international store outside the US opened in 1990 in Regent Street, London.