Reliance Brands Ltd (RBL) will acquire a 40 per cent stake in Plastic Legno SPA’s toy manufacturing business in India. The investment serves a dual purpose in bringing in vertical integration for RBL’s toy business and helping diversify the supply chain with a long-term strategic interest in building toy manufacturing in India, according to a press statement.
Plastic Legno SPA is owned by the Sunino group that has more than 25 years of toy production experience in Europe. The group started it’s India business in 2009 out of a need to develop a strong production hub that would cater to global markets, but more importantly to the fast-evolving and growing Indian market.
“Keeping with our Prime Minister’s vision of Atmanirbhar India, this collaboration with Plastic Legno’s deep experience in world-class toy manufacturing coupled with our strong footing in the global toy retail industry would open new doors and unparalleled opportunities for toys manufactured in India. It is imperative for RBL to build design to shelf capability for a strategic advantage over the competition and to be an accelerator in building a robust toy manufacturing ecosystem in India not only for domestic consumption but also for global markets,” said a spokesperson of Reliance Brands.
RBL has a strong play in the toy industry with its portfolio of Hamleys, the British toy retailer and homegrown toy brand – Rowan. Hamleys currently has a global footprint across 15 countries with 213 doors and is India’s largest chain of toy stores.
“ Plastic Legno’s experience in toys production and Hamley’s commercial outreach will complement one another to enable the JV company to achieve greater heights and successes. We have important development plans to implement, always in the spirit of creating a cultural background in this specific sector in India. We are ready for the challenges of the future, but when there is a group like RBL alongside, we are sure that together we can do a great development,” said Paolo Sunino, Co-owner, Sunino Group.