January 2025
Addo Play, the award-winning British toy brand, proudly announces a multi-year global licensing agreement with Spin Master, a leading global children’s entertainment company, to carry forward the iconic construction toy brand Meccano, inspiring a new generation of builders and innovators worldwide.
Originally created in 1898 by Frank Hornby in England, Meccano is one of the oldest and most enduring model construction systems. For 125 years, its mission of “inspiring builders around the world to bring innovations to life” has remained timeless.
Under this long-term agreement, Addo Play will leverage its expertise in toy development and sourcing to design and manufacture a rejuvenated lineup of Meccano products. These will include core playsets, junior products, and innovative collaborations that promote creativity, problem-solving, and STEM learning.
The agreement is a bold step towards repositioning Meccano as a key player in global markets within the popular and growing construction toy category. Addo Play will reintroduce the brand to the UK through their partnership with the TEAL Group, gaining immediate access to over 1,200 retail outlets, including The Entertainer, Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Matalan, and Moonpig.
The brand’s expansion plans also target key international markets, including France, through a collaboration with Bandai, as well as the United States, Canada, Australia, and additional emerging markets.
Dave Martin and Mary Price, Co-Founders and CEOs of Addo Play, expressed their excitement:
“We are thrilled to work with Spin Master on this incredible journey to carry on the legacy of Meccano. Our goal is to create a stronger, more dynamic construction category and offer families a truly unique building experience that inspires creativity and learning.”
Andrew Murphy OBE, TEAL Group Chief Executive Officer said:
“It’s incredibly exciting to see the Addo Play team bringing new life to the iconic Meccano brand. Strong growth in private label ranges forms a key part of our retail strategy and we’re well on our way to our 40% participation target while also enabling Addo Play to become an even more powerful player in the international wholesale market.”
Spin Master also celebrated the collaboration:
“Through our collaboration with Addo Play we hope to inspire a new generation of builders by unlocking the creative possibilities of this timeless construction system,” said André Lake Mayer, Spin Master’s SVP of Global Strategic Partnerships & Consumer Products.
This construction venture builds on Addo Play’s proven success in global partnerships. In 2021, the company secured a multi-year licensing agreement with Spin Master for the Fuggler brand, which resulted in the creation of over 200 collectable plush monsters and generated $40M in global sales within just 2½ years.
With the vision to leverage the brand equity of Meccano, establish a contemporary construction system with a wider range of designs and products and assure accessibility and affordability year-round, the future of Meccano looks brighter than ever.