Cartamundi has recently undergone something of a transformation that promises to put the emphasis on building brands and community construction.

Rachael Simpson-Jones sat down with Andrew Brown, marketing director for Northern Europe, and Nigel Kay, recently appointed sales director to find out about the changes within Cartamundi, the worldwide leader in games production, board and card games, and playing cards, over hundreds of years.

Very few companies can claim to have the history and heritage Cartamundi does. It’s been around since the 18th century, with its printing presses first fired up in 1765, and some its leading brands, such as Bicycle, Bee, Copag and Shuffle, can trace their roots back to 1848. That’s an awful lot of knowledge and experience to bring to bear, and this year, that’s exactly what the company has set out to do in earnest.

“Cartamundi has been through a massive period of change, meaning it essentially entered 2023 as a new business group comprising three distinct, core divisions,” explains Andrew. “Our Solutions division is the one we’re predominantly known for, within which we print and produce games for key partners across the industry. Our Digital Ventures division is an exciting and innovative area of the business, focused on blending the physical and digital worlds, and our Entertainment division – where Nigel and I reside – is our retail-facing business, which launched this year. Our focus is on building out our brands, placing play at the heart of everything we do.”

According to Nigel, this new structure allows each division to provide the service and support their respective channels require, while Andrew adds that the demarcation between divisions offers employees the opportunity to hone in on their specialities and unlock their full capabilities. Solutions, for example, can drive best-in-class outcomes for Cartamundi’s manufacturing partners, while Entertainment can leverage the company’s brands in fresh and exciting ways for the retail channel.

To read the full feature from the September Toy World issue, click here.