Revenues at the Smyths Toys retail empire across Ireland, the UK and Continental Europe increased to a record €2.53 billion last year.
New accounts filed by the Co Mayo Smyth family owned business's Irish, Central European and French units show that the growth in the business was driven by sales increases in its store network across Europe in 2024.
The €2.53 billion in revenues on the back of bumper sales of best-sellers, Lego, Nerf Guns, Paw Patrol, Disney’s Lilo and Stitch was an increase of €40m on the revenues of €2.49 billion for 2023.
Combined pre-tax profits at the retailer's Irish, UK, Northern Ireland, Central European and French units totalled €67.3m for 2024 - which was a 23% increase on the combined pre-tax profits of €54.6m for 2023.
Underlining the scale of the Smyths Toys business across the eight territories it operates in, the various accounts show numbers employed increased by 217 from 7,985 to 8,202 and the combined staff cost bill increased from €231m to €243m.
The Smyths Toys retail business today stretches to 311 stores across the island of Ireland, the UK, Germany, France, Austria, Holland and Switzerland.
In terms of sales amongst Irish owned retailers only Dunnes Stores is larger, but Smyths Toys - through its presence in a number of European countries - has a greater geographical spread of outlets.
The 311 stores compare to 225 outlets in operation in November last year.
The group operates 124 stores across England, Scotland and Wales and last year the unit recorded the highest revenues of the group at £953m (€1.086 billion) with pre-tax profits of £75.3m.
The second largest unit in the group was its Central European operation, Smyths Toys EU HQ UC, where pre-tax profits increased by 57% to €31.2m as revenues increased by 9% from €740m to €808m.
Smyths Toys EU HQ UC accounts for retail sales across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Holland and online sales and last year numbers employed increased to 2,435 as staff costs totalled €97.97m.
Separate accounts for Smyths Toys French unit, Smyths Toys FR Holding Ltd show that pre-tax profits increased by 45% to €7.4m as revenues rose by 3% from €273.8m to €281m.
The company last year invested €16m in the opening of five new stores in 2024.
Pre-tax profits at the company’s Irish arm, Smyths Toys Ltd, last year increased by 17% to €6.97m as revenues rose by 3% from €287m to €296.5m.
Numbers employed across its 21 strong store network here last year from 739 to 753 as staff costs rose from €18.5m to €19.97m.
The Irish based firm declared a dividend of €8m last year.
In the past year, Smyths Toys has expanded its presence in France to bring to 52 stores there today and it also operates four stores in Holland.
The firm's German business has also expanded in the past year where it today operates 76 stores.
The company also has a presence in Austria where it operates 16 stores and it also has 11 in Switzerland.
Reporting by Gordon Deegan
