Orchard Toys says it is looking forward to being able to expand its brand across Europe after agreeing a distribution agreement with Tomy.

The educational, games and jigsaws manufacturer is looking to replicate the success it has seen in the UK with a company, it says, that can offer regional distribution and local infrastructure. Under the agreement, Tomy will support its plans to expand the Orchard Toys Brand within GAS, Belgium and France.

The deal will ensure continued support of existing retail opportunities as well as the development of major businesses within the regions. A range of Orchard Toys products has been localised to ensure they are appropriate for these regional markets and will be available in a four-language format: French, German, Dutch and Italian specifically for France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium.

Each product will be thoroughly tested to meet with the most stringent European Compliance standards.

Managing director Simon Newbery said: “We’re really excited about this opportunity and feel there is enormous potential with Tomy to take the Orchard Toys brand and grow it further in these important regions.”

Jean-Christophe Bonifacj, general manager, added: ‘’This is a great project which will reinforce our position on Games, one of our four core pillars. This brand is about Educational Games with a high level of quality. We are very proud to sell it and to build its success.”

At the beginning of this year, Orchard Toys announced the appointment of Banaghan & Co as its exclusive distributor for Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Tomy will be featuring the Orchard Toys range at Nuremberg in February and will launch products into the markets by April 2022.