Thalia Steps Up in the Toy Game: Swallowing Kromer and Toysino Whole
Thalia, a bookseller, acquires two toy manufacturing businesses. - Thalia, a book dealer, acquisitively invests in two toy manufacturing firms.
Listen up, y'all! Thalia, the Prince of bookstore chains hailing from Hagen, is shaking up the toy world with a double acquisition. The company announced its intention to gobble up Kromer GmbH and Toysino GmbH by October 2025—fingers crossed for that antitrust approval!
These toys-themed powerhouses belong to the Kromer brothers, two Bavarian gents who call Schrobenhausen home. Kromer operates 18 playful branches in Bavaria, while Toysino is busy zoomin' around the country with 21 stores. Things got a bit mixed up when the Kromer brothers rebranded Toysino, taking it from the Otto Group in 2023 to its current sweet toys'n'stuff identity.
So, what's Thalia's game plan here? They're keeping all 39 steps of the Kromer/Toysino stomping grounds operating and preserving them like the precious hidden gems they are. The price tag? They ain't tellin'—keep those secrets hidden, like a well-placed Lego in a sandbox!
The Kromer brothers won't be disappearing just yet. They're handing over their stake in Thalia, and in return, they're scoring cushy roles at Thalia and leading the charge in the toy retail segment like bosses.
Rockin' the Toy Market
Thalia's been rockin' the book world pretty solidly, but now they've got their sights set on toys. They're already got some playtime gear floating around, but things are about to get serious with these acquisitions. Word on the street is that Kromer/Toysino already have books for kiddos on the shelves, and Thalia's gonna use its magic touch to boost 'em even higher. No adult books planned to join the party, though.
The toy scene's in a bit of a shakeup. Parents are shying away from picking up plush toys, sandpit diggers, and kiddie books in stores, preferring the easy e-commerce route. Traditional retailers are feeling the heat, and some are packing up their bags. But fear not—other players like Müller and dm are stepping in to fill the gap. And now, Thalia's entering the fray with a vengeance!
"Toy Kromer and Toysino are two toys-tastic players in Germany's toy retail sector," says Thalia CEO, Ingo Kretzschmar. "We're hopin' to combat the retreat of classic toy retailers from city centers, and keep those awesome stores actin' as urban anchor points."
Christian Kromer's got his own take: "I truly believe the blend of our toy know-how and Thalia's infrastructure will bring us some sweet benefits—and secure a bright future for our teams."
- Toys
- Toy
- Hagen
- Schrobenhausen
- Christian Kromer
- Building block
- Board game
- Bookstore
- Online retail
- Market consolidation
- In addition to its bookstore chain, Thalia is planning to strengthen its presence in the toy market with the acquisition of Kromer GmbH and Toysino GmbH, aiming to combat the retreat of traditional toy retailers from city centers.
- Upon their acquisition by Thalia, Christian Kromer and his brother are expected to leverage their toy expertise and Thalia's infrastructure for the benefit of both companies, ensuring a promising future for their teams and enjoying new roles within the organization.
