LeapPad Explorer (LeapFrog), Hasbro and The Entertainer triumphed at this year’s annual Toy Industry Awards, winning Toy of the Year, Supplier of the Year and Toy Retailer of the Year, respectively.
Organised by the British Toy & Hobby Association with the Toy Retailers Association (TRA) – the awards were presented at a prestigious event at Banqueting House in central London following the first day of the 59th Toy Fair at Olympia.
BTHA chairman Christine Nicholls announced the winners of the Toy Retailer of the Year Awards, including a Judges Special Recognition Award presented for outstanding achievement in toy retail, which went to Bentalls of Kingston.
TRA Chairman Alan Simpson unveiled the Supplier of the Year Awards. A total of three TRA Special Recognition Awards were presented to Innovation First for its Hexbug range, Interplay for its Craft ranges and TY for Beanies & Beanie Boos. And Val Stedham was the acclaimed recipient of a TRA Industry Award for her services to the toy industry. The full line up of winners follows:
TOY RETAILER OF THE YEAR WINNERS:
Independent Toy Retailer of the Year W J Daniel & Co (Windsor)
Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year The Entertainer
Online Toy Retailer of the Year The Entertainer
Toy Catalogue of the Year Smyths
Toy Retailer (Grocer) of the Year Tesco
Judges Special Recognition Award Bentalls (Kingston)
Overall Toy Retailer of the Year The Entertainer
TOY SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARDS:
Collectable Toy of the Year Moshi Moshlings, Vivid Toy Group
Construction Range of the Year Ninjago, Lego
Game of the Year Doggie Doo, John Adams
Pre-School Toy of the Year Toot Toot Drivers Car and Garage, Vtech
Girls’ Toy of the Year Fijit Interactive Friends, Mattel
Boys’ Toy of the Year Nerf N-Strike Maverick, Hasbro
Doll of the Year Disney Tangled Sing & Glow Rapunzel, Mattel
Lifestyle Toy of the Year LeapPad Explorer, Leapfrog
Toy License of the Year Moshi, Mind Candy
TRA Special Recognition Award Hexbug, Innovation First
TRA Special Recognition Award Beanies and Beanie Boos, TY
TRA Special Recognition Award Craft Ranges, Interplay
TRA Industry Award Val Stedham
Supplier of the Year Hasbro
Toy of the Year LeapPad Explorer, Leapfrog